Museums Jobs in Utah (NOW HIRING)

MUSEUMS DIRECTOR
Department: Community & Economic Development
Division: CED Administration
Pay Grade: GRADE 165: $84,122.15 - $121,977.12 Annual Salary ($40.44 - $58.64) Hourly Rate
FLSA Status: Full-Time Contract, Exempt, Non- Merit, & Eligible for Benefits
BACKGROUND
The Union Station building in Ogden was abandoned by the Union Pacific Railroad around 1975 and had fallen into significant disrepair. Recognizing its historic importance, the Union Station Foundation worked with Union Pacific Railroad to facilitate the conveyance of the building to Ogden City. Since that time, the Foundation has played a pivotal role in preserving and revitalizing Union Station by helping establish the museums, donating significant private collections, preserving invaluable railroad artifacts, and transforming the station into a vibrant community gathering place.
In 2022, Ogden City entered into an agreement with Union Pacific Railroad to purchase the land beneath and surrounding Union Station, creating the opportunity for a comprehensive restoration of the historic station and redevelopment of the surrounding district. The long-term vision includes modernized museum facilities-which may include a new museum building-along with new housing, commercial development, hospitality uses, public spaces, and enhanced transportation connections, all intended to strengthen the vitality of downtown Ogden.
This transformational initiative presents an exceptional opportunity for a Museums Director to provide visionary leadership for the Museums at Union Station. The Director will lead the development and implementation of a long-term strategic vision that reimagines the museums as a premier regional cultural destination while ensuring they remain an integral component of the broader Union Station redevelopment and a catalyst for downtown Ogden's continued economic, cultural, and community vitality.
GENERAL PURPOSE / JOB DESCRIPTION
The Museums Director serves as the chief executive leader for the Museums at Union Station and is responsible for the overall leadership, management, strategic direction, and future development of the Utah State Railroad Museum, the Browning Firearms Museum, and the Browning-Kimball Car Collection. The Museums Director ensures excellence in collections stewardship, exhibitions, educational programming, visitor experience, community engagement, and the long-term organizational sustainability of the museums.
As Ogden City advances the redevelopment of Union Station and surrounding district, the Museums Director will play a central role in shaping the future of the Museums at Union Station. Working collaboratively with Ogden City, the Union Station Foundation, museum staff, and community stakeholders, the Museums Director will develop and implement a comprehensive strategic vision for the Museums at Union Station, guiding the future of its exhibitions, collections, educational programming, public spaces, community partnerships, and visitor experience while leading the fundraising, capital development, and implementation strategies necessary to realize that vision through renovation and/or new museum facilities.
The Museums Director will champion excellence in museum leadership by inspiring meaningful storytelling, preserving and interpreting history, expanding public access, creating engaging experiences for residents and visitors, and fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Success in this role requires cultivating strong relationships with staff, volunteers, donors, the Union Station Foundation, community partners, elected officials, and other stakeholders, recognizing that the long-term success of the museums depends upon broad community engagement and shared stewardship. Working under the general administrative direction of the Executive Director of the Community and Economic Development Department, the Museums Director will advance Ogden City's broader objectives for economic development, historic preservation, tourism, education, placemaking, and cultural enrichment while positioning the Museums at Union Station as a premier regional cultural destination and an integral component of the Union Station redevelopment.
While the Museums Director remains an employee of Ogden City and operates under the City's policies, administrative procedures, and reporting structure, the position partners closely with the Union Station Foundation Board of Directors to advance strategic planning, fundraising, organizational development, community partnerships, and the long-term vision for the Museums at Union Station.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Museums Leadership, Administration & Performance

• Provide executive leadership and strategic direction for the Museums at Union Station, ensuring excellence in museum operations, long-range planning, organizational sustainability, community impact, and alignment with the City's redevelopment objectives.
• Direct and oversee museum operations, collections, exhibitions, educational programming, and visitor services consistent with recognized museum best practices and accreditation standards.
• Ensure the responsible stewardship, preservation, interpretation, and accessibility of the museums' collections in accordance with professional museum standards.
• Foster a collaborative, innovative, and mission-driven organizational culture that emphasizes accountability, professional development, continuous improvement, and exceptional public service.
• Establish, monitor, and evaluate key performance indicators (KPIs) for museum operations, attendance, visitor engagement, educational programming, fundraising, financial performance, and organizational effectiveness to support continuous improvement and informed decision-making.
• Coordinate with City leadership and the Union Station Foundation to align strategic priorities, budget development, resource allocation, and long-term institutional sustainability.

Project Development & Oversight

• Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategic plan for the Museums at Union Station, ensuring integration with the broader Union Station restoration and redevelopment project and alignment with Ogden City's vision and goals.
• Lead organizational change associated with the long-term transformation of the Museums at Union Station, building organizational capacity, stakeholder support, and operational readiness for future museum facilities and programs.
• Develop long-range plans for museum facilities, exhibits, collections, educational programming, public spaces, and community partnerships.
• Select, direct, and coordinate consultants for museum planning, exhibit design, collections planning, and related professional services.
• Manage project schedules, budgets, funding milestones, and implementation strategies associated with museum redevelopment and capital improvements.
• Monitor project performance, schedules, budgets, and funding milestones, providing regular progress reports to department leadership, City administration, and the Union Station Foundation.

Fundraising & Financial Strategy

• Lead comprehensive fundraising initiatives, including annual giving, major gifts, capital campaigns, grants, sponsorships, memberships, and other earned and contributed revenue opportunities.
• Develop and implement multi-year fundraising strategies with measurable performance objectives.
• Identify and secure diverse funding sources, including grants, tax credits, public funding, philanthropic investments, corporate sponsorships, and public-private partnerships.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with major donors, corporate sponsors, foundation partners, and philanthropic leaders in collaboration with the Union Station Foundation.
• Prepare grant applications and funding proposals while ensuring compliance with all grant administration, reporting, and stewardship requirements.

Communications & Governance

• Serve as the principal spokesperson and public advocate for the Museums at Union Station in coordination with the City's Marketing and Communications Division.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with the Union Station Foundation, City leadership, elected officials, donors, community organizations, educational institutions, tourism partners, and other stakeholders.
• Present strategic plans, operating updates, redevelopment progress, financial reports, and fundraising initiatives to City leadership, the Union Station Foundation, and community organizations.
• Serve as the City's primary executive liaison to the Union Station Foundation and its Board of Directors, partnering to advance shared strategic priorities, fundraising initiatives, organizational planning, and the long-term success of the Museums at Union Station while operating within the City's established administrative structure.

General Responsibilities

• Respond to and assist in resolving complex and sensitive issues involving stakeholders, donors, elected officials, businesses, community members, and partner organizations.
• Promote sound fiscal management, risk management, public accountability, and compliance with applicable City policies and procedures.
• Perform all other related duties as required/assigned.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Required:

• Demonstrated leadership experience (at least 1-3 years) managing museums, cultural institutions, nonprofit organizations, or comparable mission-driven organizations.
• Demonstrated success providing executive leadership in strategic planning, organizational development, and building collaborative partnerships among public, private, and nonprofit stakeholders.
• Experience leading capital development initiatives, major gift fundraising, or comprehensive development programs.
• Experience developing and managing organizational budgets and financial resources.
• Bachelor's degree in Museum Studies, Museum Administration, Public Administration, History, Art History, Communications, or a closely related field.

Preferred:

• Progressively responsible executive leadership experience within a museum, cultural, historical, or heritage organization.
• Experience leading or supporting major capital projects, museum expansion, historic preservation, or organizational transformation initiatives.
• Demonstrated success securing and administering federal, state, foundation, and private grant funding.
• Experience working effectively with governing boards, nonprofit foundations, volunteers, and elected officials.
• Knowledge of museum accreditation standards, collections stewardship, and museum best practices.
• Master's degree in Museum Studies, Museum Administration, Public Administration, Business Administration, History, Art History, Cultural Resource Management, Communications, or related fields.

An equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible experience that demonstrates the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Submit cover letter and resume with application.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid Utah driver's license within 180 days of hire.
• Employees will be required to complete NIMS IS100, IS200, ICS300, ICS400 IS700, IS800, IS703, IS706, IS2200, course(s), and position-specific ICS courses based on assignment within one year of hire.
• Employees will be required to complete G191 & G2300 within 2 years of hire, and IEMC if and when assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES - IDEAL CANDIDATE
Knowledge of

• Museum administration and governance
• Collections stewardship and interpretation
• Strategic planning
• Organizational leadership
• Nonprofit governance and board relations
• Cultural tourism
• Visitor experience
• Capital campaign strategy and donor stewardship practices
• Historic tax credits and preservation funding mechanisms
• Public-private partnership financing structures
• Principles and practices of municipal budget preparation and administration
• Municipal procurement and public contracting processes
• Municipal ethics laws and public transparency requirements

Skills in

• Executive leadership
• Consensus building
• Strategic planning
• Organizational change management
• Public engagement
• Negotiation
• Budget management
• Fundraising
• Relationship management
• Communicating clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
• Working professionally both independently and as part of a team

Ability to

• Inspire and lead organizational change
• Balance competing public and private interests
• Develop long-term organizational vision
• Build trust among diverse stakeholders
• Cultivate high-level funding relationships
• Build effective partnerships between public and nonprofit organizations
• Comply with all city policies and regulations, including safety and risk management standards

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Participate in safety and risk management initiatives and implement measures to mitigate liability exposure for the City related to museum operations.
• Consistent on-site presence and punctual attendance are essential requirements for this position. This role is fully in-person and not eligible for remote work.
• Evening and occasional weekend meetings and events are required.
• Some travel between city offices and other locations is required, exposing the employee to the hazards associated with travel.
• The work environment is primarily inside, with moderate noise and moderate temperature.
• The work is generally sedentary work, which requires exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally an