Museum Director - Buffalo Bill Museum

City and County of Denver • Golden, CO

3d • $74,276 - $122,555 • Onsite

About The Position

The City and County of Denver’s Denver Mountain Parks is seeking a collaborative, forward-thinking leader to direct the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave in Lookout Mountain Park. The museum is the only museum fully owned and operated by the City and County of Denver. Its site includes the gravesite of William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody and his wife, the historic Pahaska building, scenic overlooks, a historic picnic shelter, a hiking trail, and museum galleries, offices, a research library, and curatorial space. The museum welcomes approximately 80,000 visitors annually, and Lookout Mountain Park attracts more than 500,000 visitors each year.

The director will lead the museum through strategic growth, including long-term planning, capital improvements, greater community engagement, and expanded interpretation. The museum is developing a broader and more inclusive narrative while maintaining Buffalo Bill as central to its identity. The director will also serve on the Denver Mountain Parks leadership team and work with park rangers, the on-site concessionaire, city leadership, community organizations, elected officials, and Tribal partners.

This is an onsite position at the Buffalo Bill Memorial Museum in Golden, Colorado, with a typical Monday–Friday schedule. Evening, weekend, and/or holiday hours may be required for events, special engagements, or operational needs. The position is listed as unlimited. The posted salary range is $74,276–$122,555, with a target pay range of $86,000–$98,000 per year based on experience and education.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in history, public history, museum studies, public administration, management, or a related field.
• Three years of full-performance, professional-level experience developing, implementing, and administering programs.
• A year of appropriate experience may substitute for each required year of post-high-school education; additional appropriate education may substitute for the minimum experience requirement.
• Valid U.S. work authorization that does not require visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in history, public history, museum studies, or a related field.
• At least five years of leadership experience successfully managing a small- to mid-sized museum, historic site, or cultural nonprofit, including developing and implementing policies and procedures.
• Experience supervising, mentoring, and developing staff and fostering a collaborative, supportive work environment.
• Experience leading strategic planning, interpretive planning, and implementation.
• Community engagement experience, including work with advisory boards, local organizations, government officials, and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers.
• Experience in financial management and grant writing.
• Knowledge of current museum practices, professional ethics, compliance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), inclusive public programming, and emerging trends in the field.
• Strong knowledge of the history of the United States and the American West.

Responsibilities

• Participate as a subject matter expert in strategic planning for Lookout Mountain Park and ensure the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave’s needs and opportunities are incorporated; develop and implement museum-specific interpretive, strategic, financial, and other plans.
• Build and maintain relationships with community partners, elected officials, city departments, nonprofit partners, scholars, Tribal Nations representatives, local Indigenous community members, and descendants of Wild West crew and performers.
• Oversee museum marketing and outreach, collaborate with Denver Parks and Recreation’s Marketing & Communications team, and serve as the museum’s official spokesperson.
• Guide the design and delivery of educational programs, events, and temporary and permanent exhibits for visitors of all ages.
• Develop and oversee the annual museum budget, ensure efficient use of resources and compliance with city policies, and write, secure, and manage public and private grants and other funding.
• Oversee recruitment, daily supervision, and performance management of museum personnel, and foster continuous growth and skill development.
• Oversee daily maintenance, routine repairs, and facility enhancements to maintain a safe, operational, visitor-ready museum, collaborating with Denver Mountain Parks facilities maintenance staff.
• Ensure compliance with legal requirements, city policies, and ethical standards to protect the museum and maintain public regard.

Benefits

• Guaranteed lifelong monthly pension once vested after five years of service.
• 457B Retirement Plan.
• 140 hours of PTO earned within the first year.
• 12 paid holidays, one personal holiday, one Wellness Day, and one volunteer day per year.
• Competitive medical, dental, and vision plans effective within one month of the start date.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager