Director of the Florida Museum of Natural History

University of Florida•Gainesville, FL

About The Position

The Director serves as the Florida Museum of Natural History’s chief executive, providing strategic vision and leadership for research, collections stewardship, education, public programming, fundraising, external partnerships, and financial sustainability. Reporting to the UF Provost, the Director will guide the Museum through a period of growth and innovation as expanded public facilities reopen and the Museum develops a comprehensive strategic plan. The Director represents the Museum throughout the University of Florida, across Florida, and within national and international scientific, cultural, philanthropic, and museum communities. As the Museum’s principal advocate and chief fundraiser, the Director builds relationships with donors, foundations, government agencies, and external partners. The Director oversees an annual operating budget of approximately $30 million and an endowment of $40 million, leads a team of 350 employees—including 30 tenured faculty members—and 400 volunteers, and has seven direct reports.

Requirements

Hold a terminal degree, Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate.
Have at least 10 years of faculty experience.

Nice To Haves

Be a distinguished scholar and researcher in a field related to the Museum, with a record meriting appointment as a full professor.
Demonstrate a deep commitment to the Museum’s mission and values.
Understand or appreciate the role of a university museum and its integration with the academic mission of a large public research university.
Have a proven ability to work with faculty, staff, and students and to promote teaching, research, and scholarship.
Have expertise in museum best practices, including collections management, exhibition development, community engagement, and educational programming.
Demonstrate high ethical standards in research and collections policy, including NAGPRA compliance.
Have a strong record of measurable fundraising success and cultivating donor and corporate relationships.
Have experience leading strategic planning, formulating long-term actionable institutional goals, and setting policy.
Possess exceptional communication skills, including the ability to listen, connect with, and inspire diverse audiences and stakeholders.
Have extensive experience with financial management and administration, an understanding of financial operations, and the ability to facilitate strategic decisions with financial implications.
Demonstrate success leading and motivating a team and fostering cross-departmental collaboration, communication, and accountability.
Have deep familiarity with the broader museum community, peer networks, and regional, national, and international partnerships.
Be able and willing to build partnerships, identify opportunities, and expand the Museum’s engagement regionally, statewide, and beyond.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic vision and executive leadership for the Museum’s research enterprise, collections, exhibitions, educational initiatives, public programs, and financial sustainability.
Lead the development of the Museum’s next comprehensive strategic plan and establish ambitious, actionable institutional goals.
Strengthen the Museum’s integration and collaboration with the University of Florida, including engagement with university leadership, colleges, divisions, faculty, staff, and students.
Represent and advocate for the Museum throughout the University, across the state, and in national and international scientific, cultural, philanthropic, and museum communities.
Serve as the Museum’s chief fundraiser by cultivating donors, foundations, government agencies, and external partners, and growing contributed revenue and the stakeholder base.
Maintain a strong grant program while diversifying revenue through philanthropic giving and assessment of earned-revenue opportunities.
Oversee the Museum’s operating budget, endowment, financial operations, and long-term sustainability.
Lead and support Museum employees and volunteers, fostering collaboration, collegiality, respect, transparency, communication, morale, and accountability.
Promote museum best practices and oversee collections stewardship, exhibition development, community engagement, and educational programming.
Communicate the Museum’s mission and impact clearly to the University and stakeholder communities.