Executive Director

Job: Executive Director – Museum at the Bighorns
Location: Sheridan, Wyoming
Position Type: Full-Time, Exempt
Reports To: Executive Committee of the MATB Board of Directors
The Museum at the Bighorns seeks a visionary, community‑minded Executive Director to serve as a leader of the organization and steward of its mission. This role oversees museum operations, collections management, exhibitions, educational programming, development, marketing, and staff leadership. The Executive Director is a key public representative for the institution—building partnerships, strengthening community engagement, and ensuring long-term organizational stability.
Key Responsibilities
Exhibitions, Education & Community Programs

• Lead planning, administration, and execution of all exhibitions—physical and digital.
• Manage rotating exhibit schedules, interpretive materials, partnerships, temporary loans, and copyright agreements.
• Oversee and proof exhibition-related print and digital materials; coordinate exhibit-related museum store merchandise.
• Develop educational content, community programs, and interpretive materials for web, social media, and marketing platforms.
• Plan and implement exhibit installations and deinstallations in collaboration with the Operations Director.
• Create and evaluate community programs, special events, and school outreach initiatives.
• Maintain resources related to regional and local history; incorporate Wyoming educational standards and tribal review when appropriate.
• Build and maintain partnerships with schools, tribes, civic organizations, and regional agencies.
• Assist with volunteer recruitment, training, and management.

• Serve as spokesperson and ambassador for the museum.
• Research, write, and manage grants; maintain grant records and reporting requirements.
• Cultivate donor, funder, and partner relationships.
• Support annual fundraising events and development strategies.
• Process memberships and donations, including data entry and acknowledgment letters.
• Represent the museum at professional meetings and community boards.

• Manage museum policies, procedures, and best practices related to collections, exhibitions, loans, storage, and risk management.
• Prepare and administer departmental budgets.
• Track volunteer hours and scheduling.
• Support nonprofit administrative needs and staff development.
• Prepare monthly board reports and assist with long-range planning.
• Supervise, train, and evaluate staff; foster a collaborative team environment.
• Provide guidance, delegate tasks, and manage performance.

• Develop strategic marketing plans to increase visibility and promote exhibitions, programs, and the museum store.
• Maintain consistent brand voice and visual identity across all platforms.
• Create marketing materials, graphics, photography, and advertising content.
• Plan seasonal and annual marketing campaigns.
• Contribute to digital marketing, social media, website content, and email outreach.
• Manage press releases and media relations.
• Track and evaluate marketing effectiveness.

• Bachelor’s degree in American/Western History, Humanities, Anthropology, Museum Studies, Museum Administration, or a related field preferred
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible museum or nonprofit management experience (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
• Experience with Microsoft 365, Adobe Suite, website development, Canva, fundraising databases, digital collections platforms, and archival programs.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to pass a pre-employment background check.

• Strong commitment to the Museum at the Bighorns’ mission and community role.
• Financial management skills, including grant writing, budgeting, and fiscal planning.
• Visionary leadership with enthusiasm for engaging exhibits and community programs.
• Expertise in collections and archives management, preservation standards, and metadata practices.
• Excellent time management, organizational skills, and ability to prioritize and delegate.
• Strong communication, human relations, and long-range planning abilities.
• Knowledge of museum legal standards and nonprofit operations.

• Primarily indoor office and museum environment; some outdoor work for tours and programs.
• Requires periods of standing, walking, and occasional lifting up to 25 lbs.