Director

National Museum of Wildlife Art; Corpus Christi (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Art Museum of South Texas is seeking a Director to serve as chief executive and fundraiser, providing strategic leadership, financial stewardship, and audience growth for a premier Gulf Coast cultural institution.

The role drives fundraising, external relations, and organizational excellence while partnering with the Board and university leadership to advance exhibitions, programs, and community impact.

Responsibilities

• Provide visionary leadership for future growth and sustainability.
• Develop strategic initiatives to increase attendance, membership, philanthropic support, community impact, and organizational effectiveness.
• Collaborate with staff, Board of Trustees, and University leadership to set priorities and achieve goals.
• Identify opportunities for partnerships, programming, revenue generation, and advancement.
• Serve as the chief ambassador and principal fundraiser for the Museum.
• Cultivate relationships with donors, foundations, corporations, government agencies, and community stakeholders.
• Work with advancement personnel to secure philanthropic support.
• Oversee operations, facilities, and financial activities; manage budgets.
• Ensure compliance with university policies and applicable laws and regulations.
• Evaluate and improve organizational performance and operational effectiveness.
• Support development of high-quality exhibitions and educational programs; grow the permanent collection.
• Promote innovative programming to enhance visitor engagement and educational impact.
• Strengthen relationships with educational institutions, cultural organizations, tourism partners, and governmental agencies.
• Expand the Museum's visibility and role as a regional cultural/educational resource.
• Develop collaborative partnerships that increase community engagement and support goals.
• Foster leadership, accountability, collaboration, and excellent board relations.

Job description

The Director serves as the chief executive and chief fundraising officer of the Art Museum of South Texas. Reporting to the President and CEO of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and working in partnership with the Board of Trustees, the Director provides strategic leadership for one of the Gulf Coast's premier cultural institutions.

The Director is responsible for the overall leadership, financial sustainability, strategic growth, community engagement, and stewardship of the Museum's collections, facilities, programs, and resources. The successful candidate will be an entrepreneurial leader who can inspire philanthropy, cultivate partnerships, expand audiences, and strengthen the Museum's reputation as a leading cultural destination and educational resource for South Texas.

The Director must possess strong business acumen, fundraising experience, and the ability to effectively engage donors, community leaders, elected officials, educators, foundations, corporations, members, and other stakeholders. A passion for the visual arts and a commitment to excellence in museum operations are essential.

Functional Area 1: Strategic Leadership

Percent Effort: 25%

• Provide visionary leadership and direction for the Museum's future growth and sustainability.
• Develop and implement strategic initiatives that increase attendance, membership, philanthropic support, community impact, and organizational effectiveness.
• Collaborate with staff, the Board of Trustees, and University leadership to establish priorities and achieve organizational goals.
• Identify innovative opportunities for partnerships, programming, revenue generation, and institutional advancement.

Functional Area 2: Fundraising and External Relations

Percent Effort: 25%

• Serve as the Museum's chief ambassador and principal fundraiser.
• Develop and execute fundraising strategies that support annual operations, special projects, collections, educational programs, endowments, and capital needs.
• Cultivate relationships with donors, foundations, corporations, government agencies, and community stakeholders.
• Work closely with the Development Officer, Board of Trustees, and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi advancement personnel to secure philanthropic support.

Functional Area 3: Financial and Operational Management

Percent Effort: 20%

• Oversee all Museum operations, administrative functions, facilities, and financial activities.
• Manage annual operating and capital budgets.
• Ensure responsible stewardship of financial, physical, and workforce.
• Maintain compliance with university policies, applicable laws and regulations, accreditation requirements, and professional museum standards.
• Evaluate and improve organizational performance and operational effectiveness.

Functional Area 4: Exhibitions, Collections, and Programs

Percent Effort: 10%

• Support the development and presentation of high-quality exhibitions and educational programs that advance the Museum's mission.
• Ensure responsible stewardship, preservation, documentation, and growth of the permanent collection.
• Promote innovative programming that enhances visitor engagement and educational impact.

Functional Area 5: Community Engagement and Partnerships

Percent Effort: 10%

• Strengthen relationships with educational institutions, cultural organizations, tourism partners, governmental agencies, and community organizations.
• Expand the Museum's visibility and role as a regional cultural and educational resource.
• Develop collaborative partnerships that increase community engagement and support organizational goals.
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Functional Area 6: Organizational Leadership and Board Relations

Percent Effort: 10%

• Recruit, develop, mentor, and retain high-performing staff.
• Foster professionalism, accountability, collaboration, innovation, and service.
• Establish performance expectations and support staff development.
• Ensure compliance with university policies and procedures.
• Partner effectively with the Board of Trustees to advance strategic priorities and organizational goals.
• Provide timely reports, recommendations, and information to support Board decision-making.
• Support trustee recruitment, orientation, engagement, and committee activities.
• Foster strong communication and collaboration among the Board, staff, and University leadership.