Position Summary
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. 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.
Organization The Whatcom Museum includes a three‑building campus in Bellingham’s growing downtown arts district and houses a collection of more than 250,000 artifacts and artworks of regional and national importance, including a vast photographic archive. Centered around the historic Old City Hall—with its iconic clock tower visible throughout downtown—and the nearby Lightcatcher building—featuring a spectacular, translucent wall designed to catch sunlight—the Whatcom Museum plays a central and visible role in Bellingham’s vibrant arts and culture scene.
Serving the local community as a regional destination, it is accredited nationally by the American Alliance of Museums, is a member of the American Association for State and Local History, and is a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate.
Museum Facilities and Programs The Museum’s original building is the beloved Old City Hall—the first site in the state of Washington to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Old City Hall is programmed with exhibitions and remains the site for many of the museum’s most popular programs. Exhibitions opening in Old City Hall in 2026 include Vivid Victorian and Painted Forest: The Science and Beauty of Petrified Wood.
The Lightcatcher building houses the bulk of the museum’s vast collections, rotating fine‑arts exhibitions, and community programs. Current exhibition highlights include Verdant: French Masterworks from the National Gallery of Art, Personal to Political, and a series of Whatcom Museum Collection exhibitions.
Old Fire Station No. 1 houses the Whatcom Museum Photo Archives. Funding has been secured to reopen the building with new photography and history exhibitions, slated for late 2028.
Community Bellingham, Washington is known for its natural beauty, outdoor recreation, vibrant arts scene, and strong sense of community. It is among the fastest growing cities in the Pacific Northwest, with a commitment to sustainable growth and inclusive development.
Roles and Responsibilities Strategic Museum Leadership
Lead the development and implementation of the Museum’s strategic plan, in cooperation with the Museum Foundation Board, ensuring alignment with the City’s mission and core values.
Oversee the Museum’s financial strategies and fund development to support the needs of exhibitions, programs, facilities, and ongoing operations.
Maintain accreditation with the American Alliance of Museums, upholding professional standards and best practices.
Work closely with the chief curator, director of collections, and the Board of Trustees’ Collection Committee to strategically expand the museum’s permanent collection.
Approve all major accessions and deaccessions from the collections while ensuring the security and integrity of the collection and exhibitions.
Embrace other strategic museum leadership responsibilities as needed.
Fundraising and Financial Oversight
Assure the financial well‑being of the Museum by establishing successful fundraising strategies and skilled donor development, as well as cost control measures, and monitoring all fiscal operations.
Prepare and review annual budgets for the Whatcom Museum Foundation and for the City of Bellingham, justifying budget requests and amendments.
Enforce the efficient and economical use of departmental funds, personnel, assets, equipment, materials, facilities, and time, while managing various funds, trusts, and accounts, and negotiate contracts and agreements.
Oversee fundraising activities across categories of giving, including individuals, corporations, foundations, government, and fundraising events.
Manage the development of long‑ and short‑term fundraising strategies for the Whatcom Museum Foundation.
Administer contributed income and capital endowment activities by identifying, cultivating, securing, and stewarding gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations, and others that could assist the programs, acquisitions, goals, and long‑term needs of the Museum.
Along with the Controller, provide leadership to the Board of Trustees’ Finance Committee by recommending and initiating enhancement and investment strategies, as well as fiscal goals.
Embrace other fundraising and financial oversight responsibilities as needed.
Personnel and Facilities Management
Coordinate the Museum’s activities with those of the Mayor and other City departments and offices to ensure alignment with the City’s critical objectives, vision, and values, and to help the City deliver the One City Initiative.
Create and implement policies and procedures for the work of the Museum and for staff.
Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, City policies, and best practices in the industry.
Develop and maintain a workforce committed to excellence, with highly developed competencies in customer service, results orientation, and teamwork.
Manage the hiring, training, performance appraisal, work assignments, career development, safety, and corrective action of Museum staff, and the oversight of the volunteer program.
Ensure compliance with Federal and State laws, as well as labor agreements and City and Museum policies and procedures.
Oversee facilities management of the Museum’s multi‑building campus in collaboration with city staff.
Embrace other personnel and facilities management responsibilities as needed.
Community and Stakeholder Engagement
Act as the Museum’s primary representative to the City, serve as a member of the City’s leadership team, and provide information and advice to the Mayor, City Council, and City Leadership on strategic planning and accomplishment of the Museum’s goals and objectives.
Engage with the community to foster accessibility, build positive relationships, and promote a positive public perception of the Museum.
Serve as a strategic leader in defining the role of the Museum in the arts and culture of the city.
Ensure Museum staff collaboration with other City programs to deliver accurate, consistent information and services.
Embrace other community and stakeholder engagement responsibilities as needed.
Traits and Characteristics The Executive Director will be a dedicated, enthusiastic, and visionary leader with the ability to build relationships with the community and communicate the importance of the arts to the City of Bellingham’s constituents. The Executive Director will be a strong communicator and team leader who will work with and leverage a focused and dedicated staff to further the Museum’s mission. The Executive Director will prioritize accessibility for the Museum’s buildings, collections, exhibitions, and programs, and will be a champion for educational initiatives for all ages. The Executive Director will welcome new ideas and improvements from staff, trustees, and community members and will manage resources to accomplish strategic goals.
Other key competencies include:
Leadership and Personal Accountability – inspire and support others while modeling integrity, setting clear expectations, and taking ownership of operational and strategic outcomes.
Diplomacy and Interpersonal Skills – navigate complex organizational structures and relationships with cultural sensitivity and emotional intelligence, building trust and fostering collaboration across a diverse range of stakeholders.
Teamwork and Flexibility – value shared successes, recognize and elevate individual contributions while cultivating an inclusive and respectful organizational culture.
Time and Priority Management – manage multiple demands simultaneously with focus and flexibility, ensuring efficient planning, clear prioritization, communication, and timely execution.
Qualifications A minimum of five years of leadership experience in an arts and culture organization is necessary. A bachelor’s degree in art, art history, history, museum studies, business, or finance is ideal, and a master’s degree is preferred. Training and/or experience in management, finance, investment, and fundraising practices is required. Experience and knowledge working with Tribal entities, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, and sensitive issues around decolonizing museums is a plus.
Familiarity with the museum profession, best practices, and standards of the field, including Museum Accreditation standards, is highly desirable, along with knowledge of legal issues surrounding museum practice; methods, procedures, and regulations related to Federal and State grants; methods and procedures related to corporate and nonprofit foundation grants; historic preservation; and relevant tax law and compliance issues. A candidate who does not meet all the qualifications but possesses transferable or equivalent skills, experience, or education is encouraged to inquire or apply and to highlight those areas in their cover letter.
Compensation and Benefits The Whatcom Museum Foundation provides a competitive and equitable compensation package with an estimated base salary in the range of $140,000 to $168,000. Benefits include medical insurance, dental, and vision coverage, with the Foundation paying 100% of the premium cost for the employee and 20% of dependents added to the plan. Additionally, the employee will be eligible to participate in the SIMPLE IRA retirement plan upon reaching eligibility, and will accrue vacation, sick, and personal days. Employment is contingent upon passing a background check.
Applications and Inquiries To submit a cover letter, resume, and a summary of demonstrable accomplishments, please visit
https://artsconsulting.com/opensearches/city-of-bellingham-whatcom-museum-seeks-museum-executive-director/
Equal Opportunity Statement Whatcom Museum Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization and an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a diverse work environment that fosters inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility.
Land Acknowledgement The Whatcom Museum acknowledges that we gather on the traditional territory of the Lhaq’temish—Lummi People—and the Nuxwsá7aq—Nooksack People—who have lived in the Coast Salish region from time immemorial. The Museum honors our relationship with all of our Coast Salish neighbors and our shared responsibilities to their homeland where we all reside today.
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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. 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.
Organization The Whatcom Museum includes a three‑building campus in Bellingham’s growing downtown arts district and houses a collection of more than 250,000 artifacts and artworks of regional and national importance, including a vast photographic archive. Centered around the historic Old City Hall—with its iconic clock tower visible throughout downtown—and the nearby Lightcatcher building—featuring a spectacular, translucent wall designed to catch sunlight—the Whatcom Museum plays a central and visible role in Bellingham’s vibrant arts and culture scene.
Serving the local community as a regional destination, it is accredited nationally by the American Alliance of Museums, is a member of the American Association for State and Local History, and is a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate.
Museum Facilities and Programs The Museum’s original building is the beloved Old City Hall—the first site in the state of Washington to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Old City Hall is programmed with exhibitions and remains the site for many of the museum’s most popular programs. Exhibitions opening in Old City Hall in 2026 include Vivid Victorian and Painted Forest: The Science and Beauty of Petrified Wood.
The Lightcatcher building houses the bulk of the museum’s vast collections, rotating fine‑arts exhibitions, and community programs. Current exhibition highlights include Verdant: French Masterworks from the National Gallery of Art, Personal to Political, and a series of Whatcom Museum Collection exhibitions.
Old Fire Station No. 1 houses the Whatcom Museum Photo Archives. Funding has been secured to reopen the building with new photography and history exhibitions, slated for late 2028.
Community Bellingham, Washington is known for its natural beauty, outdoor recreation, vibrant arts scene, and strong sense of community. It is among the fastest growing cities in the Pacific Northwest, with a commitment to sustainable growth and inclusive development.
Roles and Responsibilities Strategic Museum Leadership
Lead the development and implementation of the Museum’s strategic plan, in cooperation with the Museum Foundation Board, ensuring alignment with the City’s mission and core values.
Oversee the Museum’s financial strategies and fund development to support the needs of exhibitions, programs, facilities, and ongoing operations.
Maintain accreditation with the American Alliance of Museums, upholding professional standards and best practices.
Work closely with the chief curator, director of collections, and the Board of Trustees’ Collection Committee to strategically expand the museum’s permanent collection.
Approve all major accessions and deaccessions from the collections while ensuring the security and integrity of the collection and exhibitions.
Embrace other strategic museum leadership responsibilities as needed.
Fundraising and Financial Oversight
Assure the financial well‑being of the Museum by establishing successful fundraising strategies and skilled donor development, as well as cost control measures, and monitoring all fiscal operations.
Prepare and review annual budgets for the Whatcom Museum Foundation and for the City of Bellingham, justifying budget requests and amendments.
Enforce the efficient and economical use of departmental funds, personnel, assets, equipment, materials, facilities, and time, while managing various funds, trusts, and accounts, and negotiate contracts and agreements.
Oversee fundraising activities across categories of giving, including individuals, corporations, foundations, government, and fundraising events.
Manage the development of long‑ and short‑term fundraising strategies for the Whatcom Museum Foundation.
Administer contributed income and capital endowment activities by identifying, cultivating, securing, and stewarding gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations, and others that could assist the programs, acquisitions, goals, and long‑term needs of the Museum.
Along with the Controller, provide leadership to the Board of Trustees’ Finance Committee by recommending and initiating enhancement and investment strategies, as well as fiscal goals.
Embrace other fundraising and financial oversight responsibilities as needed.
Personnel and Facilities Management
Coordinate the Museum’s activities with those of the Mayor and other City departments and offices to ensure alignment with the City’s critical objectives, vision, and values, and to help the City deliver the One City Initiative.
Create and implement policies and procedures for the work of the Museum and for staff.
Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, City policies, and best practices in the industry.
Develop and maintain a workforce committed to excellence, with highly developed competencies in customer service, results orientation, and teamwork.
Manage the hiring, training, performance appraisal, work assignments, career development, safety, and corrective action of Museum staff, and the oversight of the volunteer program.
Ensure compliance with Federal and State laws, as well as labor agreements and City and Museum policies and procedures.
Oversee facilities management of the Museum’s multi‑building campus in collaboration with city staff.
Embrace other personnel and facilities management responsibilities as needed.
Community and Stakeholder Engagement
Act as the Museum’s primary representative to the City, serve as a member of the City’s leadership team, and provide information and advice to the Mayor, City Council, and City Leadership on strategic planning and accomplishment of the Museum’s goals and objectives.
Engage with the community to foster accessibility, build positive relationships, and promote a positive public perception of the Museum.
Serve as a strategic leader in defining the role of the Museum in the arts and culture of the city.
Ensure Museum staff collaboration with other City programs to deliver accurate, consistent information and services.
Embrace other community and stakeholder engagement responsibilities as needed.
Traits and Characteristics The Executive Director will be a dedicated, enthusiastic, and visionary leader with the ability to build relationships with the community and communicate the importance of the arts to the City of Bellingham’s constituents. The Executive Director will be a strong communicator and team leader who will work with and leverage a focused and dedicated staff to further the Museum’s mission. The Executive Director will prioritize accessibility for the Museum’s buildings, collections, exhibitions, and programs, and will be a champion for educational initiatives for all ages. The Executive Director will welcome new ideas and improvements from staff, trustees, and community members and will manage resources to accomplish strategic goals.
Other key competencies include:
Leadership and Personal Accountability – inspire and support others while modeling integrity, setting clear expectations, and taking ownership of operational and strategic outcomes.
Diplomacy and Interpersonal Skills – navigate complex organizational structures and relationships with cultural sensitivity and emotional intelligence, building trust and fostering collaboration across a diverse range of stakeholders.
Teamwork and Flexibility – value shared successes, recognize and elevate individual contributions while cultivating an inclusive and respectful organizational culture.
Time and Priority Management – manage multiple demands simultaneously with focus and flexibility, ensuring efficient planning, clear prioritization, communication, and timely execution.
Qualifications A minimum of five years of leadership experience in an arts and culture organization is necessary. A bachelor’s degree in art, art history, history, museum studies, business, or finance is ideal, and a master’s degree is preferred. Training and/or experience in management, finance, investment, and fundraising practices is required. Experience and knowledge working with Tribal entities, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, and sensitive issues around decolonizing museums is a plus.
Familiarity with the museum profession, best practices, and standards of the field, including Museum Accreditation standards, is highly desirable, along with knowledge of legal issues surrounding museum practice; methods, procedures, and regulations related to Federal and State grants; methods and procedures related to corporate and nonprofit foundation grants; historic preservation; and relevant tax law and compliance issues. A candidate who does not meet all the qualifications but possesses transferable or equivalent skills, experience, or education is encouraged to inquire or apply and to highlight those areas in their cover letter.
Compensation and Benefits The Whatcom Museum Foundation provides a competitive and equitable compensation package with an estimated base salary in the range of $140,000 to $168,000. Benefits include medical insurance, dental, and vision coverage, with the Foundation paying 100% of the premium cost for the employee and 20% of dependents added to the plan. Additionally, the employee will be eligible to participate in the SIMPLE IRA retirement plan upon reaching eligibility, and will accrue vacation, sick, and personal days. Employment is contingent upon passing a background check.
Applications and Inquiries To submit a cover letter, resume, and a summary of demonstrable accomplishments, please visit
https://artsconsulting.com/opensearches/city-of-bellingham-whatcom-museum-seeks-museum-executive-director/
Equal Opportunity Statement Whatcom Museum Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization and an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a diverse work environment that fosters inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility.
Land Acknowledgement The Whatcom Museum acknowledges that we gather on the traditional territory of the Lhaq’temish—Lummi People—and the Nuxwsá7aq—Nooksack People—who have lived in the Coast Salish region from time immemorial. The Museum honors our relationship with all of our Coast Salish neighbors and our shared responsibilities to their homeland where we all reside today.
#J-18808-Ljbffr