About Boscobel

Overview

The mission of Boscobel House and Gardens is to engage diverse audiences in the Hudson Valley’s ongoing, dynamic exchange between design, history, and nature.

Boscobel opened as a nonprofit museum sixty years ago. Built between 1804 and 1808, it was originally the dream house of wealthy Loyalists. By the 1950s, after falling into disrepair, it was demolished. Preservationists saved as many architectural fragments as possible and reassembled them fifteen miles north, where the Neoclassical mansion was restored back to—and even beyond—its original grandeur. Boscobel was saved as a beautiful piece of art.

Now an esteemed Historic House Museum containing one of the finest collections of decorative arts from the Federal period, Boscobel offers admission to 68 acres of our grounds, featuring lush gardens and a woodland trail. Located in the heart of the Hudson Valley, Boscobel directly overlooks Constitution Marsh toward the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, showcasing dramatic views of the Hudson River.

Learn More About the House

Staff

Our team of dedicated experts

Jennifer Carlquist

Executive Director and Curator

Jennifer Carlquist is a 30-year museum professional celebrating historic landscapes, buildings, and interiors; their contents; and contexts; as powerful tools for community engagement. She joined Boscobel as Curator in 2015, creating the award-winning exhibitions Hudson Hewn: New York Furniture Now (2016), Make-Do’s: Curiously Repaired Antiques (2017), and as Executive Director has launched free exhibitions in the Visitor Center, digital tour options on the grounds, an annual Chamber Music Festival, a Community Tree Initiative, and led major site improvements including a 5,000-sq ft seasonal program Pavilion, ADA upgrades, and a Native Meadow.

A recognized field leader, Ms. Carlquist lectures on museum practice and design history, and has served on advisory and grants panels for the Greater Hudson Heritage Network, Preservation League of NYS, Victorian Society Summer Schools, and the Attingham Summer School. She holds a certificate in Museum Management and is a graduate of the Cooper-Hewitt’s M.A. Program in the History of Design and Curatorial Studies, the University of Minnesota.

Abby Addams

Communications and Marketing Manager

Abby Addams leads all marketing and communication efforts at Boscobel, overseeing media relations, social media strategy, graphic design, external communications, advertisements, and strategic partnerships. Abby brings over six years of public relations agency experience across the fine arts, design, and lifestyle categories, having worked with a variety of distinguished organizations including The Smithsonian Archives of American Art, Acquavella Galleries, Chairish, The City of Miami Beach Art in Public Places, RISD Museum, Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation, Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, among others.

Abby received her B.A. in Art History and Communications from Manhattan College. She lives locally and is on the board of the Croton Arboretum.

Diane Gocha

Interim Finance Director

Diane directs and implements finance, contracts, and Boscobel’s insurance policies. After working as an auditor for three years in New York City, she held business management positions at Bell Atlantic, a nonprofit childcare center in Massachusetts, and the Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum. Diane earned a B.B.A. from Pace in Business Administration, majoring in Accounting.

Riley Richards

Assistant Curator

Riley Richards is a historian of American decorative arts and material culture. She supports the interpretation, care, and growth of Boscobel’s historic collection and period rooms. She graduated from Wesleyan University with a BA in Art History and is a graduate of the Winterthur Program in American Material Culture. Riley formerly served as the Tiffany & Co. Foundation Curatorial Intern in American Decorative Arts at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she assisted with the exhibition Collecting Inspiration: Edward C. Moore and Tiffany & Co. and curated rotations of design drawings from Louis C. Tiffany and Tiffany Studios. Riley’s current research interests revolve around the making, use, and meaning of nineteenth century ceramics and glass in local communities.

Amber Stickle

Deputy Director of Operations and Facilities

Amber Stickle joined Boscobel with an an impressive toolkit for project management, program development, financial administration, and event planning. She spent 15 distinguished years as Director of Recreation and Parks for the Town of Philipstown, overseeing the acquisition, launch, and management of a 35,500 square-foot community center, a variety of sports fields, and multiple parkland sites within the community. Amber has collaborated with countless local schools, organizations, and citizens to provide learning and recreational opportunities for children, adults, and senior citizens.

Amber holds a B.A. in Public Administration and Policy with a concentration in education from SUNY Albany, and Masters Degree in Public Administration from Marist College. She is currently a member of the Melzingah Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution and Senior State Vice President for the New York State chapter of the Children of the American Revolution.

Angie Tocci

Event Manager

Angela joins Boscobel with ten years of experience designing and executing thousands of memorable, meaningful events, and 20 years as a social services professional. She is fiercely committed to making magic happen for her clients, be they wedding couples or individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Angela has an MBA from Mercy College, a National Certification in Event Planning from New York Institute of Art and Design. She is a Beacon resident and mother of two: daughter and Great Dane. Angela enjoys hiking, breathtaking views, shopping, and centering herself through her books, yoga, and crystals.

Board Members and Annual Report

Board Members:

Mr. Arnold S. Moss, Co-Chair
Mr. Alexander Reese, Co-Chair
Mr. William J. Burback
Mr. Gilman S. Burke, Esq.
Mr. Seamus Carroll
Mr. Henry N. Christensen, Jr.
Ms. Susan Davidson
Ms. Allegra Driscoll
Mr. Aaron Mair
Mr. Frederick H. Osborn III
Gov. George Pataki
Mr. John Sadlon
Ms. Maria Stein-Marrison
Ms. Margaret Tobin

Annual Report:

Click to open the 2020 report:

Open PDF

Careers

Development Director

Boscobel House and Gardens seeks an experienced Development Director to spearhead a growing fundraising program in support of our $3m annual operating budget and critical capital needs. As our organization navigates a transformative moment, this leadership role is vital to communicating and advancing our mission, building strong relationships, and attracting critical resources. Having recently completed a comprehensive an ambitious Master Site Plan, Strategic Plan, Business Plan, Boscobel is also re-envisioning interpretation and programming to deepen our impact and engage new audiences. This is an exciting moment for creative leadership to develop and execute fundraising strategies, institutional planning, and cultivation efforts to ensure short-term success and long-term sustainability.

The DD will be a compelling communicator, adept at persuasively advocating on behalf of Boscobel’s mission and its ascendance as a cultural and community hub. The winning candidate will demonstrate proven strategies and a willingness to test new approaches in a quickly-evolving technological landscape. This position involves crafting and executing strategies for major gifts from individuals, foundations, government entities, and corporations; and for high-yielding fundraising events, grant applications, donor cultivation; while also identifying opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships and institutional capacity-building.

The DD reports to the Executive Director (also a major gift solicitor), oversees a contract grant writer and part-time administrative support, and serves as the primary liaison and coach for the trustee Development Committee. The DD partners with the Membership + Guest Services Manager, Finance team, Communications Manager, Private Event Manager, and all department heads to identify, articulate, and fulfill funding needs.

This full-time, exempt position averages 35 hours/week, working at least 75% of hours onsite unless a specific project requires otherwise. All Boscobel employees are expected to work certain holiday and evening programs throughout the year including patron previews, parties, and outings; holiday Twilight Tours; Chamber Music Festival; and other events as needed. Boscobel uses Altru by Blackbaud for fundraising, CRM, ticketing, and other sales.

Specific Duties to be performed:

Strategic Planning: Collaborate with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to design and execute a comprehensive development plan that expands Boscobel’s donor base, grows contributed income, aligns with strategic goals, and optimizes resources.
Fundraising Leadership: Lead and manage fundraising initiatives, sponsorship proposals, and grant applications. Oversee acknowledgments, donor recognition, and reporting in collaboration with consultant grant writer. Partner with the Membership + Visitor Services Mgr and Private Events Mgr to align messaging and identify/cultivate $500+ donors and prospects.
Activate and Leverage Ambassadors: Prepare prospect research, call lists, and talking points for the Executive Director, trustees, and other ambassadors. Inspire and coach staff and trustees to foster a culture of donor engagement.
Donor Engagement & Communications: Understand and articulate Boscobel’s mission, operations, and strategic objectives, to engage potential donors. Draft and distribute donor communications including letters, proposals, reports, digital content, etc.
Data Management & Analytics: Work with key staff to develop, maintain, and distribute revenue reports, donor lists, and data analytics to support fundraising efforts. Track and analyze Key Performance Indicators for optimal efficiency.
Cultivation programming: Plan and execute fundraising, friend-raising, insider opportunities, and recognition events in coordination with key staff and trustees.
Stakeholder Relations: Represent Boscobel positively to prospects, donors, and within the fundraising community. Cultivate relationships with donors, programmatic partners, government officials, and the local fundraising community.
Financial Oversight: Collaborate with Finance to reconcile income and allocations, develop and manage budgets, reports, and support tracking and planning functions.
Other Duties as assigned

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree, with 5+ years of major gift fundraising
Demonstrably high degree of initiative and results-oriented execution
Highly organized and attentive to details, with a proven ability to work well under pressure and manage multiple projects and deadlines
Unquestioned ethics and professional standards; ability to manage records and information with discretion and sensitivity
Proficient in Fundraising/CRM software, Microsoft Office software (Outlook, Word, Excel); post and email marketing platforms, and willingness to maximize technological efficiencies
Strong interpersonal skills; capacity to comfortably communicate and interact with a wide variety of people at varying levels of the Museum community and collaborate with and engage colleagues, trustees, and other stakeholders

Salary and Benefits for qualified applicants

Salary range: $85,000-$115,000, depending on experience
Museum-paid medical, dental, and life insurance
403(b) retirement plan offering up to 7.5% in employer matches
Paid time off, including annual vacation, sick leave, personal days, office holidays
Standard worker’s compensation, short-term and long-term disability, unemployment insurance, and additional opt-in benefits
Access and free admission to numerous museums and cultural institutions
Professional development opportunities

Boscobel is committed to diversifying its audience and workforce. Veterans and candidates of any gender, ethnicity, race, religion, and cultural background are encouraged to apply by emailing a cover letter, resume, and 3-5 examples of relevant work product to Development@boscobel.org.

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Facilities Technician

The Facilities Technician (FT) is responsible for supporting site stewardship, security, and programming in accordance with Boscobel’s strategic goals and institutional values. The FT plays a key role in the museum’s operations, public service, and sustainability.

Facilities Techs reports to the Facilities Manager and works collaboratively with staff colleagues and vendors. They support programming by providing set-up and other services to other departments, guests, and clients; and are responsible for following policies, procedures, and using equipment and technologies that achieve the highest possible standards in safety, stewardship and sustainability, and professionalism. The position is a non-exempt, full-time position averaging 40 hours/week, with at least one weekend day/evening onsite per week. All Boscobel employees are expected to work periodic special events throughout the year, including certain holidays.

Specific duties to be performed:

Gardens and grounds stewardship

Mow, trim, prune, weed, deadhead, and water trees and plants, mulch, fertilize, plant, etc., safely and effectively using the equipment/materials provided
Remove litter, fallen leaves, invasives, cuttings, branches, debris, etc.
Keep drives, paths, and other areas clear of ice and snow
Alert management to hazards and potential (dangling branches, flooding, pests, poison ivy, etc.)
Welcome, support, and monitor site volunteers, guest experts, vendors, etc.

Building/vehicle/equipment Maintenance

Maintain a clean and safe workplace including in Boscobel vehicles
Dust/wash/polish surfaces, sweep and mop floors, clean toilets, remove garbage/recycling, etc.
Make minor building repairs such as malfunctioning doors, etc.
Keep light fixtures and security/safety devices in working order by changing bulbs/batteries
Maintain strictest standards for pest control (mice, wasps, feral cats, etc.)
Know how and when to use appropriately shut-offs/restarts for essential systems site-wide: water, electricity, HVAC, security, lighting, wi-fi, etc.
Welcome and support site volunteers, guest experts, vendors, etc.

Program/Guest Services Support

Politely enforce Visitor Guidelines and site perimeters, and support fellow team members, program partners, and outside vendors in doing the same
Shield guests as much as possible from potential noise, mess, disruption, and harm from groundskeeping and other maintenance activities
Provide set-up for programs, meetings, etc. (chairs, tables, av equipment, decorations, etc.)
Maintain amenities such as restrooms, seating, signage, trash receptacles, golf cart, etc.
Politely direct and/or escort guests to parking, Visitor Center, program spaces, etc.

General Duties

Understand and implement emergency response including guest/staff injuries, power outages, disruptive/violent behavior, fire, storms, etc.
Maintain equipment and vehicles as directed (refuel, clean, appropriately store/organize/label, replace parts, bring in for service, alert management to malfunctions, etc.)
Make pick-ups/deliveries in provided vehicles
Perform opening/closing procedures for buildings and site
Other duties as required

Eligibility Requirements:

Must have a valid driver’s license and be able to operate equipment such as snow blowers, tractors, lawn maintenance equipment, power tools, etc.
Must be physically and mentally able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodations. Work entails moving about the 112-acre site, extended periods outdoors in all weather conditions, working in areas only accessible by stairs or ladders, and the ability to lift and carry up to 80 pounds in dead weight
Must be service-oriented with guests, colleagues, volunteers, tenants, and other stakeholders
Must be able to uphold the museum’s dress code and other policies, procedures, and Core Values
Must be able to work days, nights, weekends, and holidays as needed

Compensation and Benefits for qualified applicants:

Hourly rate range of $18.00-$21.000 depending on experience
Medical, dental, and life insurance
Generous 401k retirement plan
Paid time off, including annual vacation, sick leave, personal days, and holidays
Staff discount in museum store
Access and free admission to numerous museums and cultural institutions
Professional development opportunities

Boscobel is committed to diversifying its audience and workforce. Veterans and candidates of any gender, ethnicity, race, religion, and cultural background are encouraged to apply. To apply, please send your resume to communications@boscobel.org.