Museum Director

Position Title:  Museum Director 

Department:    NAMM Museum of Making Music 

Classification:  Full-time, Exempt 

Position Reports to:   Executive Director of The NAMM Foundation 

Location:   Carlsbad, CA 

Salary Range:   $110,000-$130,000 

Individual compensation will be commensurate with the candidate’s experience. 

(Relocation stipend will be considered for highly qualified candidates)   

Please submit a cover letter and a resume. Both items will need to be submitted as one document. 

Please apply via Paylocity; no phone calls, please.   

 JOB OVERVIEW 

The Museum of Making Music offers access to the history, innovation, and leadership of the music products industry while serving as a unique cultural destination for the broader San Diego County community. 

For the right leader, this is an exceptional opportunity to steward an institution with a strong foundation and shape its next chapter. We are seeking a visionary, collaborative, and community-centered Director who brings strategic leadership know-how; experience in museum management; strong operational and fundraising acumen; and a demonstrated ability to build partnerships, inspire teams, and expand audience engagement. The ideal candidate will honor the Museum’s unique connection to the music products industry while advancing its relevance within the greater San Diego County community. 

RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Provide visionary leadership for the museum in alignment with the mission of NAMM and The NAMM Foundation  
• Oversee museum operations, collections management, public programs, visitor services, and facilities
• Direct exhibition curation and installation
• Lead fundraising efforts, including donor cultivation, corporate sponsorships, grants, and growth in earned revenue  
• Develop and manage the annual budget, ensuring strong financial stewardship and diversified revenue streams  
• Recruit, mentor, and lead a professional staff of 3, volunteers, and contract personnel  
• Serve as the Museum’s spokesperson   
• Cultivate strategic partnerships with industry leaders, artists, educators, and community organizations  

QUALIFICATIONS 

The ideal candidate will have:  

• Minimum 7–10 years of leadership experience in a museum-related field  
• Bachelor’s degree is required, master’s degree is preferred  
• Fluency in museum management best practices  
• Strong financial management, marketing, and fundraising skills  
• Knowledge of CRM systems (Salesforce and/or Altru a plus)  
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite 
• Comfort with public speaking 

EXPERIENCE 

• Demonstrated success developing and executing strategic plans that drive audience growth, financial sustainability, and mission impact  
• Ability to steward an institution with a strong legacy while identifying and implementing opportunities for innovation and growth  
• Experience overseeing day-to-day operations of a museum, including exhibitions, collections and artifacts, risk management, compliance, public programming, education, and visitor services  
• Ability to effectively manage facilities, vendor relationships, and contracted services.  
• Financial acumen, including budget development and management, forecasting, and financial reporting  
• Comfort serving as the chief fundraiser, including grant writing, making direct fundraising asks, and representing the organization in donor-facing settings  
• Demonstrated ability to diversify revenue streams, including earned income, contributed revenue, and strategic partnership  
• Demonstrated success recruiting, developing, and retaining high-performing staff and volunteers. Commitment to fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and mission-driven workplace culture  
• Understanding of, or ability to quickly develop fluency in, the history and innovation of the music products sector  
• Experience building and sustaining partnerships with industry stakeholders, artists, educators, cultural organizations, and community leaders  
• Ability to serve as a compelling public spokesperson at industry events, including The NAMM Show, and within the broader San Diego County community  
• Demonstrated ability to engage guest artists, curators, and creative collaborators to deliver compelling, mission-aligned programming  
• Track record of developing marketing and communications strategies that broaden reach and deepen community relevance  
• Commitment to honoring the Museum’s industry roots and ties to NAMM while advancing its community relevance and accessibility  

BENEFITS 

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package 
• Opportunities for professional development and growth within the company 
• Collaborative work environment with a focus on innovation and passion for music 

NAMM Values commitment
At NAMM we strive to do the right thing with respect, passion, humor, teamwork and accountability. 

Do the right thing - This requires courage, discipline, and dedication but not permission. So, just do it. 

• Do it with respect - Respect builds trust and energizes people to live responsibly and ethically at work, in our community, and in our world. 
• Do it with passion - Passion drives creativity, innovation, commitment, and loyalty. 
• Do it with humor - Humor lightens the load and makes the journey more enjoyable. 
• Do it with teamwork - Teamwork unites us in our shared Mission and fosters an open expression of ideas. 
• Do it with accountability - Accountability raises the bar, rewards achievement, and invites us to grow. 

Diversity Commitment 

NAMM is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. 

Physical Activities and Requirements of position 

The physical activities described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.  However, at the Trade Shows, the noise level is usually high. Hearing protection is provided. 

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is possible that conditions and requirements may be modified to reasonably accommodate disabled individuals. However, no accommodation will be made which may pose serious health or safety risks to the employee or others or which impose undue hardships on the organization. 

About the NAMM Museum of Making Music 

Located in Carlsbad, California, the NAMM Museum of Making Music celebrates the people, products, and stories that shape how music is made. A program of The NAMM Foundation, the Museum explores the history and innovation of the music products industry through engaging exhibitions, live performances, and educational programs. As both a cultural destination and an industry touchstone, the Museum connects nearly 35,000 visitors a year to the instruments, technology, and visionaries that bring music to life.  

About The NAMM Foundation 

The NAMM Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) and serves the association’s mission of strengthening the music products industry and promoting the pleasures and benefits of making music. The NAMM Foundation is classified as a Supporting Organization of NAMM (501c3, 509a, Type I). NAMM’s Foundation invests in reducing barriers that prevent youth and adults from participating in music making and music careers. The foundation accomplishes this through Global Grantmaking, the Consider a Career in Music program, Scholarships and Awards, and the Museum of Making Music.