Executive Director

Direct message the job poster from Riverside Art Museum

Executive Director – Starting Salary Range: $135,000

Riverside, California | Full-Time | Arts & Culture Leadership

At the Riverside Art Museum (RAM), our mission is to uplift diverse artistic and cultural voices
, cultivate inclusive exhibitions, collections, and educational programming, engage in transformative conversations, and foster strong community connections.

We are seeking a bold, visionary Executive Director to lead the Riverside Art Museum into its next chapter of artistic excellence, operational innovation, and community impact. As the chief executive of a growing, multi-site organization rooted in deep cultural legacy, the Executive Director will guide RAM's strategic direction, build meaningful regional and national partnerships, and ensure operational excellence and fiscal sustainability.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a proven nonprofit leader with significant experience in operations, fundraising, and public‑private collaboration—someone who understands the power of the arts to transform lives and communities.

RAM consists of two locations: the community’s long‑time encyclopedic museum housed in a historic 1929 building designed by Julia Morgan
, and the first museum in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to Chicano art
. Together, these two institutions form a dynamic hub of creativity, education, and cultural preservation in the heart of the Arts and Culture District.

The Executive Director will work closely with the City of Riverside
, architectural preservation experts, cultural coalitions, and peer institutions throughout the Inland Empire and beyond to steward these buildings and their communities into the future.

• Empower, develop, and hold teams accountable to achieve high performance and mission alignment.
• Promote an adaptive, inclusive, and entrepreneurial workplace culture.
• Strengthen infrastructure, systems, and internal processes for a growing organization, while ensuring compliance, safety, and operational excellence across all activities.
• Work closely with city staff, trustees, consultants, and building experts to preserve and modernize facilities.
• Grounded, detail‑conscious leadership style that drives execution.
• Adept at developing integrated systems that enhance performance, accountability, and scalability.

• Oversee organizational budgeting, financial reporting, and cash flow.
• Experience leading major gift strategies and donor relationship management.
• Grow revenue through diversified sources: grants, major gifts, sponsor ships, and earned income.
• Develop and steward a pipeline of donors; lead major fundraising and capital campaigns.
• Direct all aspects of grant and contract life cycles—including negotiation, monitoring, and reporting with city, state, local partners and philanthropic funders.

• Serve as the organization’s chief ambassador across civic, philanthropic, and cultural sectors.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and communicate effectively with public officials and community influencers.
• Foster deep partnerships with elected officials, funders, nonprofit leaders, and the media.
• Oversee marketing and communications to build awareness and audience engagement.
• Skilled in fostering cross‑organizational and community‑based collaborations.

• Lead execution and evolution of RAM’s multi‑year strategic plan.
• Align decisions with long‑term growth, cultural impact, and sustainability.

• Uphold RAM’s commitment to diverse, socially relevant programming.
• Promote innovative exhibitions, public programs, and education initiatives reflective of the Inland Empire’s rich cultural tapestry.

We seek a leader who embodies both vision and execution
, someone who can inspire, advocate, and operate at a high level. The ideal candidate will possess:

• Proven experience leading large or complex nonprofit organizations.
• Expertise in operations, systems development, and team…