Museum Executive Director

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.

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 Light catcher 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.

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 Light catcher 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.

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.

• 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…