Executive Director

James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art; Saint Petersburg (FL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The James Museum seeks a visionary Executive Director to helm a growing cultural institution in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, partnering with founders Tom and Mary James to shape strategy, fundraising, and community engagement while guiding a 45-member staff and a $6.8 million budget.

The successful candidate will advance strategic priorities, expand partnerships, elevate visitor experiences, and serve as the museum’s chief ambassador across the Tampa Bay region and beyond.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience, including at least 5 years in a senior executive role.
• Experience in museums, cultural institutions, higher education, foundations, or nonprofit organizations.
• Strong financial and operational acumen with budget oversight and growth.
• Ability to leverage data and analytics in decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a long-term strategic plan for institutional growth and impact.
• Increase visibility, relevance, and regional influence of the museum.
• Strengthen philanthropic support and lead major donor campaigns.
• Lead and develop staff, foster collaboration, and maintain high-performance culture.
• Serve as chief spokesperson and ambassador to diverse stakeholders.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Visionary leadership

Community engagement

Fundraising

Executive presence

Public speaking

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree

Job description

About The James Museum

The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art opened in 2018 as the realization of founders Tom and Mary James' lifelong passion for art, history, storytelling, and the American West. Located in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, the museum houses one of the nation’s premier collections of Western, wildlife, and Native American art, featuring works that celebrate the spirit, landscapes, cultures, and peoples of the American West.

Since opening, The James Museum has become an important cultural destination for residents and visitors alike. The museum serves as both a steward of an extraordinary collection and a vibrant community gathering place, offering exhibitions, educational programming, special events, and experiences that inspire curiosity, learning, and connection.

As the museum enters its next chapter, it is poised to expand its impact, deepen community engagement, strengthen philanthropic support, and further establish itself as a leading cultural institution throughout the Southeast and beyond.

About St. Petersburg & Tampa Bay

St. Petersburg, Florida, has emerged as one of the nation’s most vibrant arts and cultural communities. Known for its thriving downtown, entrepreneurial spirit, waterfront beauty, and exceptional quality of life, the city has become a destination for creativity, innovation, and civic engagement. The city is home to a remarkable concentration of museums, galleries, performing arts organizations, public art installations, and cultural events. Supported by an engaged philanthropic community and a strong network of civic leaders, St. Petersburg offers an exceptional environment for a dynamic cultural leader seeking to make a lasting impact.

While downtown St. Petersburg offers a dense concentration of arts and cultural assets along its waterfront -including the internationally acclaimed Dali Museum, the Mahaffey Theater, home of The Florida Orchestra, and numerous galleries and cultural institutions-, the city is part of the broader Tampa Bay region, one of the nation’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas.

Across Tampa Bay, the City of Tampa is home to the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, the Tampa Museum of Art, the University of Tampa, and the main campus of the University of South Florida, one of the largest universities in the United States. The region also includes Ybor City, Tampa’s historic Latin quarter and a nationally recognized cultural destination. Together, the Tampa Bay region offers a rich and collaborative arts, business, philanthropic, and civic landscape that creates exceptional opportunities for institutional growth, partnership, and community engagement.

The Opportunity

The James Museum seeks a visionary, relationship-driven leader to serve as its next Executive Director. This is a rare opportunity to lead one of America’s newest and most distinctive museums while partnering with founders Tom and Mary James to shape the institution’s next era of growth and influence. The Board seeks a dynamic executive who combines strategic leadership, cultural stewardship, fundraising excellence, and community engagement. The successful candidate will be a visible and inspiring ambassador for the museum, someone who can build meaningful relationships, foster a high-performing organizational culture, engage diverse audiences, and elevate the museum’s profile throughout the Tampa Bay region and beyond.

While an appreciation for art, history, and culture is important, this role is first and foremost about leadership. The museum benefits from an accomplished curatorial team and strong operational foundation. The next leader will focus significant energy on advancing the museum’s strategic direction, including the development and execution of a comprehensive long-term strategic plan, strengthening philanthropic support, expanding community partnerships, enhancing the visitor experience, and leading a talented staff toward ambitious goals.

The Board welcomes exceptional candidates from museums, cultural institutions, higher education, foundations, destination organizations, nonprofit enterprises, and other mission-driven organizations who possess the leadership, fundraising, community engagement, and organizational development experience necessary to lead a growing and ambitious cultural institution.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, chaired by founder Tom James, the Executive Director serves as the museum’s chief executive and public face. The ED oversees approximately 45 employees, a $6.8 million annual operating budget, and six departments: Curatorial; Education & Public Programs; Visitor Experience; Communications & Advancement; Rental Events; Facilities; and Finance & Operations.

The Executive Director will play a critical role in positioning The James Museum as an essential cultural institution, educational resource, community gathering place, and philanthropic priority for the region.

Working with the Founders

A unique and rewarding aspect of this opportunity is the ability to work closely with founders Tom and Mary James, whose vision, generosity, and passion brought the museum to life. As active supporters and ambassadors of the institution, Tom and Mary remain deeply invested in the museum’s continued success. The next Executive Director will have the opportunity to collaborate closely with the founders during an important period in the museum’s evolution while helping steward their vision for future generations.

The ideal candidate will appreciate the unique dynamics of founder-led organizations and possess the emotional intelligence, diplomacy, and leadership skills necessary to honor the founders’ legacy while helping shape the museum’s next chapter. The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to navigate thoughtfully the opportunities and complexities associated with a founder-led institution.

Key Priorities for the next Executive Director

• Develop and execute a compelling long-term vision for the museum, including the creation and implementation of a comprehensive strategic plan that guides institutional growth, priorities, and impact.
• Build and sustain a high-performing, mission-driven organizational culture.
• Increase the museum’s visibility, relevance, and impact throughout the Tampa Bay region and beyond.
• Strengthen relationships with community leaders, cultural organizations, educational institutions,and civic partners.
• Expand philanthropic support through major gifts, donor cultivation, foundation relations, campaign leadership, and long-term donor stewardship.
• Strengthen and optimize diversified revenue streams, including earned income opportunities such as the museum shop, food and beverage offerings, and facility rentals.
• Grow museum attendance, membership, and audience engagement while ensuring exceptional visitor experiences.
• Partner closely with the Board of Directors to advance strategic priorities and governance excellence.
• Lead, inspire, and develop talented staff while fostering collaboration, accountability, innovation, and professional growth.
• Serve as the museum’s chief spokesperson, advocate, and ambassador.

Leadership Profile

Visionary & Strategic Leadership

• Demonstrated success leading complex organizations through growth, innovation, and change.
• Ability to articulate a compelling vision and translate strategy into measurable results.
• Experience developing and implementing strategic plans that drive organizational growth and impact.
• Strong executive presence and the ability to inspire and unite diverse stakeholders around a common purpose.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a record of identifying and pursuing new opportunities for growth and impact.
• Ability to balance respect for institutional history with a forward-looking perspective.

Community & Civic Leadership

• A visible and engaged leader who embraces the role of community ambassador.
• Demonstrated ability to build authentic relationships with civic leaders, cultural organizations, educational institutions, government officials, and community partners.
• Exceptional public speaking, storytelling, and communication skills.
• Comfort representing the organization in media interviews, public forums, donor events, and community gatherings.
• Passion for creating meaningful experiences that broaden audience engagement and deepen community connection.

Fundraising & Philanthropic Leadership

• Proven success cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major donors.
• Experience leading capital campaigns, endowment initiatives, comprehensive fundraising efforts, or transformational gift strategies strongly preferred.
• Ability to inspire philanthropic investment through compelling relationship-building and storytelling.
• Understanding of donor-centered fundraising and long-term relationship management.

Founder Partnership

• Experience working effectively with founders, philanthropists, influential board leaders, or entrepreneurial stakeholders.
• Emotional intelligence, diplomacy, and sound judgment in navigating founder-led environments.
• Ability to honor and advance the founders’ vision while helping the institution evolve and thrive for future generations.
• Appreciation for the unique opportunity to partner with Tom and Mary James during an important period in the museum’s history.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience, including at least 5 years in a senior executive role.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution required; advanced degree preferred.
• Experience in museums, cultural institutions, higher education, foundations, destination organizations, nonprofit enterprises, or other mission-driven organizations is preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary teams and building high-performance, mission-driven organizational cultures.
• Strong financial and operational acumen, including budget oversight, resource management, and revenue growth.
• Ability to leverage data and analytics in decision-making.
• Demonstrated commitment to integrity, accountability, openness, and organizational excellence.
• Understanding of and sensitivity to the diverse communities the museum serves locally, regionally, and beyond.