Executive Director

Company:
University of Washington

Location:

Seattle, WA
Date Posted:
October 26, 2026

The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture (the Burke) is one of the oldest and most distinguished natural history and cultural institutions in the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1885 and located on the campus of the University of Washington in Seattle, the Burke holds a singular place in the region's intellectual and civic life, serving simultaneously as a world‑class research repository, a public museum, and a living expression of the Pacific Northwest's extraordinary natural and human heritage.

Its collections span archaeology, biology, paleontology, and the arts and cultures of Indigenous peoples across the Northwest and the Pacific region, North and South America, Central Asia, and Africa. The Burke's expansive and distinguished collections make it one of the most diverse and scientifically significant collections‑based institutions in the western United States. The Burke's mission is to care for and share natural and cultural collections so that all people can learn, be inspired, generate knowledge, feel joy, and heal.

That mission is notable for what it includes: joy and healing alongside knowledge and learning. It signals an institution that understands its collections not merely as scientific assets but as sources of meaning, identity, and connection for the communities it serves. This mission animates everything from curatorial decisions to public programming to the museum's deepening relationships with Indigenous communities across the region.

The Burke Museum is administered by the University of Washington, operating under the governance of the College of Arts and Sciences. This relationship with one of the nation's leading public research universities gives the Burke access to extraordinary scholarly resources, faculty partnerships, and a global network of researchers and collections professionals. At the same time, the museum maintains its own distinct identity and public presence, functioning as both an academic institution and a community anchor in Seattle and the broader Pacific Northwest.

The museum operates with an annual budget of approximately $15 million. Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of sources: general operating funds from the College of Arts and Sciences and University of Washington, earned revenue streams including admissions, memberships, the Burke Store, programs, collections‑based services, and facility rentals. The remainder is drawn from endowment proceeds and contributed revenue, reflecting the museum's ongoing commitment to philanthropic engagement and long‑term financial sustainability.

The Burke Museum Association plays an important role in supporting the institution's annual fundraising efforts, and the museum maintains active relationships with major gift donors, foundations, and corporate partners.

The Burke's relationship with Indigenous communities is central to the institution's identity and operations. A Native American Advisory Board provides essential guidance on policy, programming, and advocacy, reflecting the museum's commitment to decolonization and cultural equity. The Burke holds significant collections of Indigenous cultural materials and its approach to stewardship, access, and interpretation of those collections is shaped by ongoing dialogue with the communities from which they originate.

This work positions the Burke as a national model for how natural history and cultural institutions can engage authentically and respectfully with Indigenous peoples.

The museum's values are deeply rooted in diversity, inclusion,…