President & Chief Executive Officer

President & Chief Executive Officer

Rochester Museum & Science Center

Rochester, New York

The Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) seeks a visionary President and CEO to lead one of the most distinctive cultural and educational institutions in New York State and the Northeast through a transformational period of growth. For more than a century, RMSC has inspired curiosity through science, history, and the natural world, and today the institution encompasses a dynamic museum, a renowned planetarium, and an 850-acre nature center. RMSC sits at the heart of one of the nation’s most historically significant technological centers, with ties to major research institutions and industries that have shaped the world. It stewards more than 1.2 million objects and artifacts, including the largest and most comprehensive Seneca-Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) collection on earth, along with a diversity of exhibits unmatched under a single roof anywhere in Western New York. Its span of activities, its stewardship of Rochester’s cultural and economic heritage, and its significance to the future of the region make it a singular force for education and influence.

RMSC enters this search at a moment of real momentum. Recent strategic and campus planning efforts have set a clear direction for the institution’s future, one that calls for meaningful investment in facilities, exhibits, collections stewardship, community building, and the visitor experience. RMSC’s key stakeholders and leadership, together with Rochester’s civic and private sectors, are enthusiastically aligned behind these efforts. The President and CEO will join RMSC as it moves from planning to implementation, advancing an ambitious agenda while building on the energies and efforts already underway. 

The President and CEO will work alongside an engaged Board of Trustees, a staff deeply committed to RMSC’s mission, and a network of supporters invested in the institution’s future. Success in this role will require a relationship-oriented leader who can navigate complexity while maintaining focus on the RMSC’s mission and long-term priorities. The next President and CEO will bring strategic judgment, sound financial acumen, and the ability to move ambitious initiatives from concept to execution. Equally important is a leadership style characterized by transparency and collaboration, which builds trust, values expertise, and creates space for diverse perspectives. The successful candidate will be a strong communicator and powerful advocate for the RMSC, able to connect with staff, trustees, donors, community leaders, elected officials, and public audiences.

The target salary range is $200,000 to $210,000 and will be commensurate with experience. Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the search process is complete. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website.