Executive Director

POSITION SUMMARY

The Missoula Art Museum (MAM) is seeking a visionary Executive Director to lead and oversee its operations, ensuring the institution continues to serve as a dynamic contemporary arts hub for Western Montana. The Executive Director will be responsible for ensuring the long-term success and sustainability of the institution, while fostering relationships with artists, patrons, and community stakeholders. The position places strong emphasis on civic engagement that centers on the arts as a tool for dialogue, education, and human connections.

MAM’s Executive Director is an artistic and administrative leader. Reporting to the Board of Directors and providing supervision of the staff, the Executive Director captains MAM’s team and must cultivate an atmosphere of collaboration, respect, and accountability. The work demands strategic insight, inspiring vision, compelling artistic sensibility and energetic commitment. The Executive Director advances MAM’s mission and champions the institution’s core values.

A key member of Western Montana’s vibrant arts community, MAM’s Executive Director will continually explore partnerships with other cultural and educational advocates. MAM’s Executive Director will work together with the Board of Directors to develop partnerships and relationship across the community, including financial institutions, professional organizations, businesses, members, and donors. Fundraising skill is paramount. The Executive Director bears primary responsibility for securing the financial resources to ensure the vitality and sustainability of the museum.

The Executive Director must be inspired by Montana’s distinct culture and understand the history, contributions, and ongoing challenges of the state's Indigenous communities. Race, Equity, Access, Diversity, and Inclusion (READI) work is integral to MAM’s values and critical to the work of its Executive Director. MAM actively works to overcome cultural misunderstandings, and disrupt the cycle of objectifying, exotifying, and discriminating against communities and cultures.

Through MAM, the Executive Director promotes a community-wide environment of hospitality and support for artists. The Executive Director will play a central role in guiding the Missoula Art Museum towards its next phase of growth and impact, ensuring the museum continues to be a vibrant, inclusive, and visionary institution that nurtures the arts and serves the entire community.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

⬛ Strategic Vision and Planning: Collaborates with the board to set and maintains a strategic direction. Identifies and pursues new opportunities for growth, programmatic development, and increased impact within the community and beyond. The Executive Director will understand the importance of art in Montana, especially the intersection of culture, land, and history, and will help position MAM as a leading voice in Montana culture.

⬛ Administrative oversight: Leads MAM, demonstrating effective communication, accountability, and consistent focus on excellence. Provides administrative leadership, hiring and managing a highly qualified and talented staff. Alongside the excellent curatorial team, the ED projects artistic vision through an informed and strong curatorial sensitivity. Creates an environment conducive to attracting, recruiting, and hiring exceptional and diverse staff. Provides supervision, evaluation, and support for continued professional development. Ensures compliance with relevant workplace and employment laws including local, state and Federal regulations.

⬛ Artist and Community Hospitality:. Fosters an environment of care and support for artists by prioritizing open communication and ensuring the museum serves as a welcoming space for creativity and collaboration.

⬛ Indigenous Program Promotion: Develops programs and initiatives that amplify the work of Indigenous artists, reflecting MAM’s commitment to honoring Native communities in Montana. The Executive Director plays a key role in outreach, advocacy, and ensures that Indigenous voices are integral to the museum's exhibitions, collections, and programming.

⬛ Fundraising and Financial Sustainability: Ensures the financial viability and sustainability of the museum through active oversight of all financial planning and philanthropic engagement; Leads efforts to secure and grow financial resources; maintains a visible presence in the community, engages with stakeholders to promote MAM's mission and vision. Works with the Board of Directors to assure financial success and sustainability of the museum.

⬛ Community Engagement and Leadership: Fosters a collaborative environment that places the community at the heart of MAM’s mission. Works with local organizations, schools, and groups to ensure the museum’s programming reflects and responds to the needs and desires of Missoula’s diverse community. Engages staff, volunteers, Board, community leaders, business partners, donors, and Tribal communities in planning to help MAM succeed; Champions the role of the arts in enhancing quality of life and facilitating social change.

⬛ Board Management: Partners, galvanizes, and stewards the Board of Directors and its committees to ensure representation, expertise and knowledge will inform museum policies, strategic plan and mission, and that governance and key stakeholders are engaged. Serves as ex-officio member of the Board of Directors and on all committees and sub-committees of the Board.

⬛ Facilities Management: Provides focus and direction for the development and growth of MAM’s physical footprint in the community that allows for the continued growth, display, and protection of the collection and a thriving program. Maintains and preserves MAM’s building, the Historic Carnegie Library building, and the Missoula Art Park. Oversee the museum’s facilities, ensuring the physical environment is conducive to both the preservation of art and the enjoyment of visitors.

⬛ Marketing & Communications: Strategizes, develops, coordinates, and oversees cutting-edge communications and presence for MAM across social media platforms to advance MAM’s mission in collaboration with the program team. Oversees the development of museum catalogs and publications. Oversees strategy and execution of the promotion of museum programs, events, educational outreach, membership development, fundraising, and community relations. Participates with professional organizations, executive peers, community partners, and MAM’s member organizations to expand MAM’s visibility and ensure participation.

⬛ Racial Equity, Accessibility, Diversity, and Inclusion (READI) Centers the work of Racial Equity, Accessibility, Diversity, & Inclusion (READI) across all areas of the institution’s work.

REQUIREMENTS

⬛ Reports to Board of Directors

⬛ Full-time, exempt position

⬛ Organizational and community evening and weekend work expected.

⬛ Based in Missoula, Montana (not remote or hybrid)

EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, AND ABILITIES

⬛ Strong background in arts management and business, ability to thrive under pressure. Demonstrated passion for contemporary art. Ability to manage and prioritize competing activities, projects, and people.

⬛ Demonstrated executive leadership skills, including experience managing a nonprofit organization, including staff leadership, financial oversight, and facility management.

⬛ A deep commitment to learn and understand Indigenous cultures to respectfully and genuinely support and elevate Indigenous art and artists.

⬛ Strong background in fundraising and community engagement, with a proven history of cultivating partnerships and securing grants.

⬛ Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with a collaborative, inclusive leadership style. Ability to think strategically, develop and implement creative solutions, and adapt to a changing environment. Demonstrated writing skills.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

⬛ Any combination of education and experience equivalent to nine (9) years of fine art, museum management, organizational leadership, or another relevant field, including three (3) years of management level experience.

⬛ Advanced degree in art or a related field preferred.

COMPENSATION

⬛ Salary range $100,000-$125,000 annually, DOE.

⬛ Medical and dental benefits.

⬛ Retirement plan

⬛ Paid holidays and leave.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

APPLICATION LINK: HTTPS://MAM.SUBMITTABLE.COM/SUBMIT/0113B17E-CC82-4C84-8E3C658267DFBCAF/MISSOULA-ART-MUSEUM-EXECUTIVE-DIRECTOR-JOB-POSTING

⬛ Resume/CV (PDF document to upload)

⬛ Cover Letter (PDF document to upload) speaking to your interest in the position and description of your qualifications/experiences that makes you particularly well suited for the role.

⬛ References - two professional references that include the First and Last Name, email address, relationship and Organization name and website URL. (PDF document to upload)

⬛ In the application you will be asked to acknowledge the following:

• The applicant has read the Job Description, the description of the hiring process, and any other important links or attachments.

• The applicant understands that the position is to be in Missoula and is not a remote or hybrid position.

• The successful applicant will be expected to make Missoula their permanent residence by the date they are required to begin the job.

• The applicant agrees to consent to a background check to be completed prior to any onsite interview.

⬛ The application deadline is March 20, 2025. Applicants will receive acknowledgement when your application has been “submitted” and your application will automatically move into the review process.

⬛ If you are selected for final interviews, the final applicants will need to travel for an in-person, multi-day, interview during the month of May.

BRIEF APPLICANT QUESTIONS: (MAX 200 WORDS).

⬛ describe your experience with and/or work in contemporary western art and culture.

⬛ Please describe why you think you are uniquely qualified for this position.

QUESTIONS TO THE SELECTION COMMITTEE:

⬛ All must be submitted before March 14th, 5PM to transition@missoulaartmuseum.org.

⬛ All questions and answers will be shared with all applicants.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $100,000.00 - $125,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: In person

Salary : $100,000 - $125,000