About the Department

The Whatcom Museum Executive Director (Executive Director), serving also as the Chief Executive Officer for the Whatcom Museum Foundation’s Board of Trustees, will provide strategic leadership in planning, organizing, and directing all operations and activities of the Whatcom Museum (the Museum). In coordination with other City departments and the Foundation Board, the Executive Director will be responsible for overseeing the Museum’s financial health and sustainability; managing physical facilities and assets; ensuring effective and secure use of data systems; and developing and maintaining an effective workforce and culture of organizational excellence. The Executive Director will be a member of the City’s leadership team, collaborating with the Mayor of Bellingham and other City departments to align strategy, policy, and shared operations with the City’s critical objectives, vision, and values, ensuring the Museum is a vital cultural and educational resource for the community. 

To submit a cover letter, resume, and a summary of demonstrable accomplishments, please click here or visit ArtsConsulting.com/OpenSearches. 

The Executive Director will work independently, with general guidance from the Whatcom Museum Foundation’s Board of Trustees, to ensure proper prioritization of institutional goals to maximize the effectiveness of the museum’s operations for the good of the community, in alignment with broader goals as set forth by the City of Bellingham Mayor and City Council. The Whatcom Museum Executive Director will be responsible for shaping the Museum’s vision, enhancing its role in the community, and overseeing strategic planning and all day-to-day operations of the multi-facility campus. The Whatcom Museum Executive Director is an employee of the Whatcom Museum Foundation, reporting to the Whatcom Museum Foundation’s Board of Directors, and is the Chief Executive Officer for the Whatcom Museum Foundation’s Board of Trustees. The Executive Director’s leadership team includes the chief curator and director of exhibitions, the controller, the development director, the director of collections &operations, and the director of marketing & public relations. Additional employees include docents, interns, part-time visitor attendants, story associates, and Family Interactive Gallery associates. Of the team of 25 total employees, four are City employees, while the remainder are employees of the Whatcom Museum Foundation. The Whatcom Museum Foundation is currently bargaining its first union contract with Teamsters Local 231.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

The current full salary range for this position is $11,666/month - $14,000/month. Employees receive step increases bi-annually in accordance with the E-Team Handbook and City policy.

Research has demonstrated that salary negotiation can further inequality due to bias across gender and race. To prevent negotiation bias, the City places new employees within the published salary range based on qualifications and professional experience in accordance with City policy. 

At the City of Bellingham, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that helps you thrive in both your career and personal life. Join our team and enjoy peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are well cared for. Here’s a closer look at the outstanding benefits that come with being part of our team. You can find more details on our employment benefits page and labor agreements page.

• 20 hours of vacation leave per month, with increased accrual over time
• 12 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday per year
• 40 hours of sick leave upon hire + 8 hours accrued monthly
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families
• Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts and medical insurance opt-out program
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Washington State Retirement plan (DRS) for retirement security
• Optional 457 deferred compensation savings plan and 401(a) Retirement Savings Plan up to 3% with employer match

Leave accruals are based on 1.0 FTE and require employees to be in paid status at least 120 hours/month.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB:

1. Museum Leadership: Provides information and advice to the Foundation, Mayor, and City Council, and other City leaders on strategic planning and accomplishment of Museum goals and objectives. Coordinates the Museum's activities with those of the City of Bellingham to align with the City’s critical objectives, vision and values.
2. Planning: Leads the development and implementation of the Museum’s strategic plan in cooperation with the Foundation Board ensuring alignment with the City’s mission and core values.  Oversees the coordination of the Museum's financial strategies to support the needs of exhibitions, program planning, facilities development, and on-going operations. Maintains accreditation with the American Alliance of Museums, upholding professional standards and best practices.
3. Fiscal and Business Management: Assures the financial well-being of the Museum by establishing cost control measures and monitoring all fiscal operations. .  Prepares annual budgets for the Foundation and justifies budget requests and amendments. Projects and procures revenues and funding for the work of the Museum, including capital improvements, development and management of fees and charges, and accessing private and governmental funding sources. Assures the efficient and economical use of Whatcom Museum Foundation and City of Bellingham funds, personnel, assets, equipment, materials, facilities and time. Manages various funds, trusts and accounts. Negotiates contracts and agreements.
4. Policy Development and Implementation: Responsible for the development of policies and procedures under the guidance of the Foundation Board, and for the implementation of those policies and procedures.. Ensures compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and best practices in the industry. Ensures compliance with City Policies and Collective Bargaining agreements as applicable to City employees working at the Museum.
5. Personnel Management: Develops and maintains a workforce committed to, and with highly developed competencies in, customer service, results orientation, and teamwork. Responsible for position management, including the hiring, training, performance appraisal, work assignments, career development, safety, and corrective action of Museum staff and for the oversight of the volunteer program. Ensures compliance with federal and State laws as well as labor agreements and Museum policies and procedures. 
6. Revenue Enhancement and Fund Raising: Oversees the development, preparation and implementation of fund-raising activities. Oversees grant applications and work. Manages the development of long- and short-term fundraising strategies for the Museum Foundation. Oversees earned income and capital endowment activities. Implements requests to individuals, corporations, foundations and others that could assist the programs, acquisitions, goals and long-term needs of the Museum. Along with the Controller, provides leadership to the Foundation Finance Committee by recommending and initiating enhancement and investment strategies. Recommends fiscal goals.
7. Acquisitions, Collections, Exhibitions: Oversees collection-building and exhibition and program development. Works closely with the chief curator, director of collections, and the Board of Trustees’ Collection Committee to strategically expand the museum’s permanent collection, which the Whatcom Museum Foundation holds in trust for the City of Bellingham and its community.  Approves all major accessions and deaccessions from the collections. Ensures security and integrity of the collection and of exhibits.
8. Community Relations:  Engages with the community to foster accessibility, build positive relationships and promote a positive public perception of the Museum. Serves as a strategic leader in defining the role of the Museum in the arts and culture of the City. Ensures Museum staff collaboration with other City programs to deliver accurate, consistent information and services. 
9. Facilities Management: Oversees facilities management of the Museum’s multi-building campus in collaboration with city staff. Works with the City to ensure that physical facilities meet professional standards for safety, security, and environmental conditions in alignment with the American Alliance of Museums guidelines. Coordinates with the City on maintenance, custodial services, utilities, landscaping, and capital improvements as outlined in the Lease Agreement.  Communicates with the Foundation and City regarding proposed facility improvements, ensuring compliance with established review and consent processes.

Physical ability to perform the essential functions of the job, including:

• Frequently operate a computer and other office machinery such as a keyboard, mouse, phone, and printer/scanner
• Frequently communicate accurate information and ideas with others;
• Move between work sites.

Position Duties

• Bachelor’s degree in art, art history, history,museum studies, business, or finance. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of five years non-profit experience including at least three years in a leadership position.
• Training and/or experience in management, facilities and operations, finance and investment, and fund-raising practices.
• Experience and knowledge working with Tribal entities, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act., and sensitive issues around decolonizing museums preferred.

An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to provide the applicant with the knowledge, skill and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the job will be considered. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Employment contingent upon passing a criminal convictions check and child and vulnerable adult abuse records check (see Fair Hiring practices).
• Verification of ability to work in the United States by date of hire. 

Other Qualifications

To submit a cover letter, resume, and a summary of demonstrable accomplishments, please click here or visit ArtsConsulting.com/OpenSearches. 

For questions or general inquiries about this job opportunity, please contact: 
Josyanne Roche
Vice President, Arts Consulting Group
Tel: (888) 234.4236 Ext. 245 (Roche)
Email: [email protected] 

Equal Opportunity:

The City of Bellingham is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not make decisions on the basis of an individual's race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age (40+), disability, retaliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. All are encouraged to apply for employment.

 
Fair Hiring Practices

• The City provides individuals who have been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense an equal and fair opportunity to obtain employment. 
• The City will not inquire about an applicant's criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made. 
• The City will disregard the prior arrest and conviction record of an otherwise qualified individual unless the offense is directly related to the job position for which the individual has applied. 
• The City will notify an otherwise qualified applicant about a potentially disqualifying conviction and give the applicant an opportunity to submit information regarding the accuracy of the criminal records as well as evidence of mitigation or rehabilitation, as appropriate.