Executive Director

Santa Fe’s Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian (WMAI) is seeking an experienced and ambitious Executive Director with a deep knowledge of Native American art and culture. The Wheelwright’s unique origin story, rich exhibition history, and acclaimed collections have driven current institutional momentum. Now with a focus on the future, the next Executive Director will bring strategic vision, strong fundraising skills, and a collaborative leadership style to guide the Museum into an ambitious new chapter as it approaches its 2037 Centennial.

The successful candidate will be an experienced museum director or an institutional leader with a minimum of five years of museum or related organizational experience. Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the Director will work with staff, Board, and external partners to broaden the impact of the Wheelwright’s mission and vision through its exhibitions, collections, and programs locally and beyond. They will bring first-hand, practical experience working with Indigenous communities and artists, a demonstrated commitment to ethical museum practices, and a reputation for engaging a variety of communities and constituencies.

The Museum enters this leadership transition from a position of excitement and opportunity. Recent years have brought further strengthened professional practices, strategic staff investment, disciplined fiscal stewardship, and renewed fundraising activity, including a $2 million Mittler Foundation gift for facility enhancement for collection presentation. Curatorial ambition has continued to expand, prioritizing Native-curated and artist-led exhibitions, stronger integration of community voices into programming, and a celebration of contemporary Indigenous innovation, not solely tradition.

The Wheelwright Museum’s mission is to respect, support, record, and present the living traditions and creative expressions of Native American peoples. Located within Santa Fe’s nationally recognized cultural landscape, WMAI occupies a distinctive position among Native American museums nationwide and is well positioned to expand its influence and reach in the years ahead.

Opportunity 

The Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian (WMAI) enters an exciting new chapter, building on its legacy of researching and preserving Diné ceremonial traditions while embracing contemporary Native art and emerging Indigenous voices. With a strong institutional foundation, dedicated staff, and an engaged Board, the Museum is positioned for thoughtful growth and expanded national impact.

WMAI operates with an annual budget of approximately $1.8 million, a $7.6 million General Endowment, and a $900,000 Collections Endowment. The 11-member staff delivers a broad range of exhibitions, programs, collections stewardship, and community engagement. The Board is committed to strengthening governance, fundraising, and long-term sustainability.

Located in Santa Fe, one of the nation’s most vibrant cultural centers, WMAI benefits from close connections to artists, scholars, museums, collectors, and cultural travelers. Recent grants from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts demonstrate national recognition of the Museum’s scholarly and artistic leadership.

Challenges and Opportunities

As the Museum grows its visibility and impact, the next leader will balance ambitious goals with the realities of a relatively small organization. Santa Fe’s highly competitive arts ecosystem requires strong fundraising, audience development, institutional positioning, and collaborative leadership. The Executive Director must also navigate relationships with Tribal communities, particularly the Navajo Nation, while expanding audiences and national recognition.

Key Qualifications

• Demonstrated knowledge of Native American art, cultures, communities, and NAGPRA-related practices.
• Proven success securing major philanthropic support and working effectively with boards and donors.
• Experience leading and developing staff, volunteers, and organizational culture.
• Graduate degree in a relevant field preferred; bachelor’s degree required.
• Five or more years of senior museum or comparable nonprofit leadership experience.
• Track record of developing exhibitions, educational programs, publications, and collections initiatives.
• Experience with strategic planning, budgeting, operations, staffing, and facilities oversight.
• Strong financial management skills and understanding of nonprofit revenue challenges.
• Commitment to serving diverse audiences and maintaining meaningful Tribal relationships.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and ambassadorial skills.

Responsibilities

The Executive Director will provide strategic, operational, and financial leadership while advancing the Museum’s mission and long-term sustainability.

Leadership and Strategic Planning

• Finalize and implement the Museum’s long-range strategic plan.
• Partner closely with the Board on governance, fundraising, advocacy, and institutional priorities.
• Build a culture of excellence, accountability, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Strengthen organizational capacity through strategic hiring and development.

Fundraising, Finance, and Operations

• Lead fundraising efforts with the Development Director, including major gifts, grants, planned giving, and potential capital campaigns.
• Expand and diversify the donor base and philanthropic partnerships.
• Oversee financial planning, budgeting, cash flow, and earned-income opportunities.
• Steward and grow endowment resources.
• Supervise policies, facilities, human resources, and campus improvement projects, including the Mittler Gallery renovation.

Museum Programs and Collections

• Support a dynamic multi-year exhibition and program schedule.
• Advance audience engagement through exhibitions, education, publications, and digital initiatives.
• Uphold ethical standards in collections management and Indigenous cultural stewardship.
• Strengthen relationships with the Navajo Nation and other Tribal communities.
• Increase access for scholars, visitors, and virtual audiences.

Community Engagement and Audience Development

• Serve as the Museum’s primary spokesperson locally, regionally, and nationally.
• Build partnerships with cultural, civic, educational, and business organizations.
• Expand visitation, membership, and public engagement through effective marketing and outreach.
• Leverage professional networks to increase collaboration, visibility, and cultural exchange.

WMAI encourages applications from candidates who meet many, though not necessarily all, of the listed qualifications and who are excited by the opportunity to lead a nationally respected institution dedicated to Native American art, culture, and community engagement.