Description

Executive Director
 

• Full Time, Exempt 
• Reports to: Board of Directors 
• Directs Reports: Operations Director, Communications Director,  Engagement Director, Development Director, and Enterprise Director 

The Executive Director is a dynamic leader, relationship builder, and strategic thinker, responsible for the leadership of the organization, including its artistic vision and all of its programming, strategic, fiscal and institutional priorities, as well as local engagement, statewide, and national relations. The Executive Director leads all facets of the organization, including developing and managing the organization’s operating budget, and guiding and developing a talented staff of professionals responsible for executing this vision. The Executive Director leads the strategy and leverages staff, board, volunteers, and partnerships to ensure MMAM is a committed and engaged partner in the Winona community, across the state of Minnesota, and beyond. 

Key Responsibilities

Administration, Governance, and Strategy

• Manage, mentor, and support a dedicated, talented, and knowledgeable staff
• Partner with the Board of Directors on the governance and fiscal stability of the organization
• Serve on MMAM’s committees as a non-voting member
• Guide the development and implementation of  the organization’s strategic plan 
  

Engagement

• Set the strategy for the curatorial team to plan a dynamic roster of exhibitions and programs, representing a wide variety of artistic mediums and diversity of artists
• Set the strategy for collections growth and ensuring standards for collections stewardship and care
• Grow the lending partners and museum partners 
  

Advancement

• Set the strategy to execute a strong, effective, and measurable communications plan and ensure a consistent and strong brand is visible and broadcast widely
• Set the growth strategy and implement a rigorous fundraising strategy to grow the museum’s annual fund, membership program, planned giving and related development strategies
• Develop and implement an annual plan to secure grants and maintain relationships with granting agencies and foundations
• Maintain strong and consistent relationships with major donors, volunteers, and key constituents 
  

Enterprise 

• Set the growth strategy and implement an aggressive enterprise strategy to grow the museum’s earned revenues
• Develop and implement an annual plan for mission-related and non-mission related revenue generating activities 
  

Other 

• Assists with other tasks (membership, donor, foundation, and sponsor relations)

SPECIFICS 

• Full-time , Salary Exempt
• Salary $80,500 - $130,000 
• Flexibility to work a varied schedule including evenings and weekends required. 
• Work location: Onsite

Benefits: eligible for our full benefits package including medical, dental, vision, Life Insurance and Short Term Disability, SIMPLE IRA plan with employer match, discounts in store, cafe and programs, PTO, Paid Family and Medical Leave, Paid Holidays and much more.

Research shows that women and people from underrepresented groups often only apply to jobs if they meet 100% of the qualifications. As no one ever meets 100% of the qualifications, we encourage you to apply if you feel that much of the following matches your experience:

Values 
You are a champion of:

• Centering your work in Relationships and Collaboration.  
• Stewarding Sustainability, Equity and Hospitality.
• Operating with Honesty, Transparency and Trust.
• Being Bold and Brave.
• Always Enterprising, Always Outstanding.

The Minnesota Marine Art Museum is committed to being an inclusive workplace. Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the communities and audiences we serve. We are dedicated to fair and inclusive employment practices for all individuals.  The Minnesota Marine Art Museum is an equal opportunity employer and will consider requests for reasonable accommodations based on disability or sincerely-held religious beliefs possible without undue hardship.

Mission
To create meaningful art experiences that explore our relationship with water.

Vision 
To spark wonder and create a more compassionate and connected world for all. 

About MMAM
Before there ever was a Minnesota Marine Art Museum, there was a Maritime Heritage Society, a community group dedicated to preserving and sharing stories about life on the river. Their commitment set in motion the creation of a museum to showcase art inspired by water. MMAM opened in 2006 with the vision of creating a nationally recognized center for arts and culture in Southeast Minnesota. The initial collections consisted of traditional marine paintings and regional folk art. After expanding the quality and diversity of its collections, evolving the exhibition program, adding an annual roster of educational programs and temporary exhibitions, and enlarging its facility, today’s MMAM is a dynamic and surprising experience for tens of thousands of visitors a year.

MMAM operates from Mni Sota Makoce (Land Where the Waters Reflect The Clouds), the traditional homeland of the Dakota people. Residing here since time immemorial, Dakota still call Mni Sota Makoce home, with four federally recognized Dakota nations and many more Dakota people residing in what is now the state of Minnesota. Due to continued legacies of colonization, genocide and forced removal, generations of Dakota people remain disenfranchised from their traditional homeland. Presently, Mni Sota Makoce has become a refuge and home for many Indigenous nations and peoples, including seven federally recognized Ojibwe nations. We humbly encourage our audiences to reflect upon the historical legacies held in the lands they occupy.  

MMAM is committed to ecological stewardship. We strive to make our communities—social, cultural, and natural— better off than we found them. Built on a former industrial site, the museum’s five-acre gardens—our 7th Gallery—are not only a source of natural beauty, they are the base of MMAM’s sustainability goals. The land has transformed to become a biodiverse ecosystem that sequesters carbon and improves climate sustainability. 

About Winona
Winona, Minnesota is located in southeastern Minnesota in the Driftless region, on the Mississippi River and is surrounded by bluffs. With a permanent population of around 28,000, Winona is a beautiful and livable small city with an active arts and culture calendar, burgeoning foodie scene, and home to three higher education institutions: St. Mary’s University, Winona State University, and Minnesota State College Southeast. The city benefits from continued strength in its K-12 education systems, a diverse economy, and employment opportunities.

To apply
Please submit a full academic and employment history, a letter of interest, and three professional references. The deadline for receipt of materials is 5pm (CST) July 20, 2026. Submit all materials to [email protected]

Minnesota Marine Art Museum (MMAM) is an equal opportunity employer. No recruiters or contract solicitations, please.

Requirements

Position Specifics

You likely demonstrate

• A post secondary degree in business, arts management, or non-profit organization management and/or equivalent experience in a pertinent field
• Experience working in a museum, arts or cultural organization
• A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent plus three to five years of related experience 
• Superior supervisory skills
• The ability to work effectively with a board of directors, staff, volunteers, members, patrons, donors, media, and the community
• The ability to work independently, under pressure, and resolve complex problems as they arise
• Precision time-management and organizational skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Inspirational leadership style that combines organizational competence with strong management and interpersonal skills
• Collaborative spirit and desire to engage with a variety of MMAM departments and outside organizations
• Experience in customer service and administrative procedures 
• Possess ability to problem solve in a quick and resourceful manner
• Data management and reporting experience
• Ability to handle a variety of operations simultaneously and prioritize tasks
• Proven ability to work with a wide range of personalities and people across a variety of generations, backgrounds and abilities
• Stellar interpersonal social skills 
• Collaborative spirit and desire to engage with a variety of MMAM departments and outside organizations to support the MMAM’s operational and organizational goals 
• Possess ability to problem solve in a quick and resourceful manner
• Budget and project management experience
• Ability to handle a variety of operations simultaneously
• Proven ability to work with a wide range of personalities and people across a variety of generations and cultural backgrounds