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Executive Director Jobs in Silver Spring, MD (NOW HIRING)

Shabach

Executive Director

Landover, MD · On-site

$120 - $150/hr

Executive Director Regular Full-Time Full-time Landover, MD, US 1 Attachments Salary Range: $120,000.00 To $150,000.00 Annually EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR About SHABACH! Ministries, Inc. SHABACH! Ministries ...

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Stryker Corporation

Executive Director

Alexandria, VA · On-site

$140 - $210/hr

The Board of Directors is seeking an accomplished executive who has successfully built organizations, cultivated transformational partnerships, inspired philanthropic investment, and is energized by ...

New

The MusicianShip

Executive Director

Washington, DC · On-site

$95K - $130K/yr

Executive Director The MusicianShip, Washington, DC The MusicianShip transforms lives through the power of music. We provide high-quality, accessible music education and performance opportunities to ...

The MusicianShip

Executive Director

Washington, DC · On-site

Executive Director The MusicianShip, Washington, DC The MusicianShip transforms lives through the power of music. We provide high-quality, accessible music education and performance opportunities to ...

The Downtown Cluster of Congregations

Be Seen First

Executive Director

Washington, DC · On-site

$80K - $100K/yr

Executive Director for non-profit, ecumenical association. Community organizing and fundraising experience essential as well as administratie skills and familiar with quikbooks. Strong personal and ...

CAN

Executive Director

Baltimore, MD · On-site

$145K - $155K/yr

Community Assistance Network (CAN) is seeking an exceptional, visionary, and mission-driven Executive Director to lead one of Baltimore County's most impactful human services organizations. This is ...

Birch,-Stewart,-Kolasch-

Executive Director

Vienna, VA · On-site

$165 - $250/hr

The Executive Director works in a wide array of management areas, supporting managers and staff in the areas of administration, human resources, accounting, finance, information technology, marketing ...

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Executive Director information

See Silver Spring, MD salary details

$37.7K

$92.9K

$171.1K

How much do executive director jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for executive director in Silver Spring, MD is $92,852.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $51,700.00 and $121,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by an executive director when balancing strategic leadership with day-to-day operations?

Executive Directors often face the challenge of balancing high-level strategic planning with the demands of overseeing daily operations. While setting long-term goals and ensuring organizational sustainability, they must also address immediate issues such as team management, resource allocation, and stakeholder communication. Effective delegation, time management, and maintaining open communication with both staff and the board are key to navigating these challenges successfully. Building a strong leadership team can also help distribute responsibilities and ensure smooth organizational functioning.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an executive director, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Executive Director, you need strong leadership, strategic planning, financial management, and organizational development skills, typically supported by a relevant bachelor's or master's degree and significant managerial experience. Familiarity with budgeting software, CRM systems, and nonprofit or corporate governance frameworks is often required. Excellent communication, decision-making, and relationship-building abilities are crucial soft skills for inspiring teams and engaging stakeholders. These competencies are essential for driving organizational growth, ensuring operational efficiency, and achieving long-term mission success.

What is the difference between Executive Director vs Nonprofit Program Manager?

AspectExecutive DirectorNonprofit Program Manager
CredentialsBachelor's degree often required; advanced degrees preferredBachelor's degree typically required; relevant experience valued
Work EnvironmentOversees entire organization, strategic planningManages specific programs or projects within the organization
Employer & Industry UsageCommon in nonprofits, associations, foundationsCommon in nonprofit organizations, community services
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding leadership roles, organizational oversightFocus on program management, project execution

The Executive Director holds a top leadership position, responsible for overall organizational strategy and governance. In contrast, a Nonprofit Program Manager focuses on managing specific programs or projects within the organization. While both roles require relevant experience and similar educational backgrounds, the Executive Director has broader responsibilities, including fundraising and stakeholder relations, whereas the Program Manager concentrates on program delivery and operational details.

What does an executive director do?

An Executive Director is the senior leader responsible for overseeing the operations and strategic direction of an organization, often in the nonprofit or public sector. Their duties include managing staff, developing policies, ensuring financial sustainability, and working with the board of directors to fulfill the organization's mission. Executive Directors also represent the organization to stakeholders, secure funding, and ensure compliance with laws and regulations. Their leadership is crucial for driving organizational growth and achieving long-term goals.
More about Executive Director jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Executive jobs in Silver Spring, MD? The most popular types of Executive jobs in Silver Spring, MD are:
What job categories do people searching Executive Director jobs in Silver Spring, MD look for? The top searched job categories for Executive Director jobs in Silver Spring, MD are:
What cities near Silver Spring, MD are hiring for Executive Director jobs? Cities near Silver Spring, MD with the most Executive Director job openings:
Executive Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Executive Director job openings in Silver Spring, MD as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, and 10% Part Time. Highlights an 97% In-person, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $92,852 per year, or $44.6 per hour.

Executive Director

Korn Ferry Executive Search

Washington, DC • On-site

Other

Re-posted 8 days ago

Job description

About the Organization
The International Spy Museum is an independent nonprofit museum with a mission to create compelling exhibitions and other learning experiences that shed light on the shadow world of espionage and intelligence, educating and challenging each of us to engage critically with the complex world around us.

Since the International Spy Museum (SPY) opened our doors in 2002, we are proud to have become part of the cultural and educational fabric of Washington, DC: a museum that is propelled by a dedication to serving our community and preserving espionage history.

With the incredible support of our leadership, team, Board, donors, partners, and community, the International Spy Museum's momentum continues to reach new heights. 700,000 visitors walk through our doors each year, including thousands of young people who participate in our workshops and field trips, leaving excited and engaged in learning. Beyond the walls of the Museum, millions more continue to learn through innovative, award-winning virtual programs and online content.

Our leadership team and Board of Directors will complete work on five-year strategic plan in 2027 and then kick off a new five-year strategic plan that is empowering and inspiring to our team. We are thinking big about what is next: reimagined exhibits, new temporary exhibits, dynamic technology-enabled educational programs, community partnerships, strategic fundraising, and more.

The foundation of everything we do is our culture. The Spy Museum is a vibrant and lively culture where you'll find constant innovation, a tremendous sense of fun, teams rowing in the same direction with strong communications, a focus on transparency plus specific and shared goals.

Key Responsibilities & Role Overview
The Executive Director serves as the public face, principal spokesperson, and external ambassador of the International Spy Museum. This role is responsible for advancing the Museum's reputation, relevance, and public impact by authentically representing its mission, content, and values to the intelligence community, policymakers, donors, media, and the broader public.

Drawing on a personal background in intelligence, espionage, or the national security community, the Executive Director brings lived experience, authority, and storytelling credibility to the Museum's work. This is a highly visible, nontraditional leadership role that centers on public engagement, content leadership, and relationship-building rather than operational or administrative management. The Executive Director works in close partnership with the President, Board, and senior leadership, who retain responsibility for the organization's strategy, operations, finances, and administration.

The Executive Director's direct management responsibility is the Museum's Exhibits & Collections and Programs departments, which together comprise a team of approximately 16 employees. Oversight of these teams focuses on content quality, historical integrity, storytelling, and public impact, rather than personnel administration or operational management.

Specific functions and responsibilities of this position include:
Serving as the Museum's primary spokesperson and external representative, engaging regularly with national and international media, public audiences, and opinion leaders, often on short notice and outside traditional business hours.
Playing a central role in donor cultivation and stewardship by participating or initiating meetings, events, and conversations that translate the Museum's mission into compelling philanthropic narratives. The Executive Director works closely with the Development team, President and Board to engage donors, foundations, and sponsors.
Representing the Museum at conferences, symposia, events, panels, lectures, intelligence and national security forums, and community gatherings, and being a trusted voice during moments of heightened public interest related to intelligence, national security, or global events.
Leveraging personal experience within the intelligence, military, national security, or policy community to provide authoritative interpretation and context for the Museum's exhibitions, programs, educational content and public commentary.
Leading high-profile museum tours for senior leaders, donors, policymakers, and visiting delegations, as well as frequent engagement with children, school groups, and youth organizations such as scouts and student programs. These engagements inspire curiosity, critical thinking, and understanding of intelligence history and global affairs.
Cultivating and sustaining strong relationships with current and former intelligence professionals, government and military leaders, policy experts, educators, cultural institutions, and strategic partners.
Responding in real time to global events, conflicts, wars, and intelligence-related developments by providing historical context, educational perspective, and informed public commentary, while remaining nonpartisan and mission-aligned.
Providing leadership and oversight of the Exhibits and Programs departments, including two vice presidents and a total team of approximately 16 staff.
Determining how contemporary events, emerging threats, and evolving global dynamics are reflected, interpreted, or contextualized within exhibitions and public programming.
Chairing or supporting advisory councils related to content and programming and convening respected subject-matter experts whose insights inform and strengthen the Museum's exhibitions and initiatives.
Reporting to and working in close partnership with the President to ensure strong alignment, mutual respect, and effective communication.
Serving as a steward of the Museum's values by modelling ethical leadership, sound judgment, discretion, and personal integrity in all public-facing activities, communications, and relationships, recognizing the sensitivity of intelligence history and the public trust placed in the institution.

MINIMUM AND PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS
A distinguished career within the intelligence, military intelligence, national security, defense, or closely related policy community, with senior-level experience that confers national or international credibility to convene senior leaders, influence discourse, and gain access to high-level forums, events, and conversations.
Clear alignment with the mission, values, and educational purpose of the International Spy Museum.
Demonstrated experience representing institutions or issues of national or global importance in public settings, serving as a trusted spokesperson, speaker, commentator, or thought leader.
Exceptional communication and storytelling ability, with a proven capacity to interpret and convey complex intelligence, security, and geopolitical issues accurately, responsibly, and compellingly to broad public audiences.
Ability to inspire curiosity, wonder, and critical thinking among young audiences, including children, students, and educators, and to translate intelligence history into engaging, age-appropriate learning experiences.
Ability to play a central and influential role in fundraising and institutional advancement by leveraging personal credibility, visibility, and relationships to inspire confidence, open doors, and materially advance philanthropic support for the Museum.
Demonstrated commitment to nonpartisan, balanced, and historically grounded communication, with the credibility to engage audiences across ideological perspectives and maintain trust in polarized environments.
Comfort operating as a highly visible public figure, with availability for nontraditional hours, frequent travel, short-notice media engagement, and sustained external presence.
Experience engaging thoughtfully with current global events, including wars, conflicts, intelligence crises, or national security developments, by providing context, education, and historical perspective rather than advocacy.
Familiarity with museums, cultural institutions, educational organizations, or other mission-driven public-facing nonprofits, or a demonstrated appreciation for their civic and educational role a plus.
A collaborative leadership style, with the maturity and confidence to partner closely with the President and Board.
Intellectual depth, curiosity, and discipline, with a willingness to immerse fully in the Museum's content, exhibitions, history, and stakeholder community over time.
A strong record of sound judgment, discretion, ethical leadership, and personal integrity, particularly when operating in highly visible roles or addressing sensitive topics during periods of global conflict or political tension.

Education
Bachelor's degree required. Preferred, but not required: Master's or other relevant advanced degree.

Work Arrangements
This person must be in the Washington, DC area. This person is expected to travel regularly to represent the International Spy Museum at conferences and events and engage with stakeholders both domestically and internationally. Must have valid travel credentials (e.g. passport, driver's license, etc.)

Work Visa
In compliance with U.S. federal law, the successful candidate hired for the Executive Director role will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification upon hire.

Procedure for Candidacy
The International Spy Museum has retained Korn Ferry to assist the President and Board of Directors in this search. Screening will begin in April 2026 and continue until an appointment is made. For consideration, candidates must submit a resume and cover letter. Submissions in strict confidence may be emailed to sophia_carr@kornferry.com

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Korn Ferry shall provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified candidates, and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected basis. Artificial Intelligence tools may be used in connection with the recruitment process for this position.

Employment Type: OTHER

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