President & CEO

President and CEO

Fredericksburg Area Museum

Status:
Full-time, exempt employee

Salary: $95,000 - $105,000

Location:

Fredericksburg, VA

Reports to:

Board of Directors, with close partnership with the Board Chair

Deadline:
Apply by late November for best consideration.

About Fredericksburg Area Museum

Chartered in 1985, the Fredericksburg Area Museum (FAM) has worked to preserve history, interpret cultural heritage, and build community in the heart of Fredericksburg. FAM connects people to the history of Fredericksburg and its surrounding counties by telling stories from its earliest inhabitants through its contemporary residents.

With commitment to inclusion, integrity, credibility, and relevance, FAM collects and preserves the region's history and culture, while also facilitating an understanding and appreciation of how the past has shaped the community and the nation  is uniquely positioned to ignite inspiring conversations and learning that forge a greater future.

FAM holds a long-term lease on the City of Fredericksburg's historic Town Hall/Market House (circa 1816). FAM engages with regional residents and visitors through a range of exhibits, events, scholarship, and educational resources for teachers and students. The historical legacy of the Fredericksburg region is extensive. It was originally inhabited by Native Peoples, and became known as a colonial tobacco port, home to six American Revolutionary War generals, and George Washington's boyhood residence.

As a primary transportation corridor-past and present-between the North and South, Fredericksburg's history is entwined with the purchase and sale of enslaved people, and it was one of the first cities to be sacked during the Civil War.

FAM is particularly focused on the elevation and reinterpretation of African American history within the region. In 2017, the City of Fredericksburg began public discussions of removing a public auction block used in the sale of enslaved Africans that still stood in the historic district. The city removed the artifact in 2020 and entrusted FAM with its display in the museum and in a digital exhibition.

The Living Legacies project opened in 2025, a multi-year exhibition and community history initiative that documents and celebrates the African American experience in the Fredericksburg region from slavery to the present. Developed in partnership with local descendants and community members, it preserves stories, artifacts, and voices that illuminate both the struggles and achievements that continue to shape the city today.

FAM is an integral part of the dynamic culture of Fredericksburg, a thriving area with several higher education institutions, extensive outdoor recreation opportunities, a beloved minor league baseball team, and a tradition of supporting creative artisans.

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Position Overview

The President and CEO will bring strong operational skills to the business of running a regional history museum, balance the needs of internal and external stakeholders, build a stable revenue model to sustain and expand relevant programming, and guide a small professional staff.

The next President will be a charismatic and diplomatic leader tasked with engaging new audiences, raising visibility, and expanding FAM's base of support. They will be a passionate spokesperson, conveying enthusiasm for preserving the region's cultural heritage, history, and current affairs to civic leaders, community groups, and prospective donors from across the region. The President will understand FAM's unique contributions to the community and bring vision to realizing the museum's full potential.

FAM's FY26 budget is approximately $500,000; the next leader inherits an organization with a stable immediate financial position and a strong reserve. To continue to build upon this foundation long-term, they will be an agile and eager fundraiser to grow FAM's base of donors, community partners, and corporate sponsors. They have an opportunity to expand earned revenue through memberships, signature events, and facility rental strategies.

The position reports to a 16-member Board of Directors composed of civic, cultural,…