Director of the Florida Museum of Natural History

Classification Title:	DIR & PROF
Classification Minimum Requirements:	Hold a terminal degree, Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate, and bring at least 10 years of faculty experience.
Job Description:	The next Director will inherit a thriving institution distinguished by exceptional scholarship, talented faculty and staff, strong support, and deep public engagement. The Director will serve as the chief executive providing strategic vision for research, collections stewardship, education, public programming, fundraising, and external partnerships. Working closely with University leadership, faculty, staff, students, donors, and community stakeholders, the Director will guide the Museum through its next era of growth and innovation. The Director will join the Museum at a pivotal moment as it reopens expanded public facilities, develops a new strategic plan to articulate an ambitious vision for the Museum's future while ensuring its continued relevance, sustainability, and impact. The Director will champion research and innovation, strengthen the Museum's role within the University of Florida, expand public outreach and engagement, and build the partnerships and resources necessary to advance the institution's mission for decades to come. The Florida Museum of Natural History has retained Isaacson, Miller, a global executive search firm, to assist in the recruitment of its next Director. Please direct all applications, nominations, and inquiries to Isaacson, Miller as indicated at the end of this document.

Reporting to the UF Provost, the Museum’s next Director will assume the helm of an organization with an excellent reputation as a leader in the natural history field. The Director provides leadership for the Museum's research enterprise, collections, exhibitions, educational initiatives, public programs, and financial sustainability while cultivating an organizational culture grounded in excellence, collaboration, innovation, and service.

The Director represents the Museum throughout the University of Florida, across the state, and within national and international scientific, cultural, philanthropic, and museum communities. As the Museum's principal advocate and chief fundraiser, the Director will build strong relationships with donors, foundations, government agencies, and external partners to secure the resources necessary to fulfill the Museum's ambitions.

The Director is responsible for overseeing an annual operating budget of approximately $30 million and an endowment of $40 million. When the Museum is open to the public it regularly generates $3-5 million in earned revenue. The Director leads a team of 350 employees, including 30 tenured faculty members in the department of natural history, and 400 volunteers. The seven direct reports to the Director are the executive director, advancement; associate director of research and collections; associate director of museum operations; associate director of finance; associate director of communications; associate director of exhibits and public programs; and the assistant to the Director.

Building upon a strong foundation, the Director will be empowered to address the following opportunities and challenges:

The Director will work with staff, faculty, stakeholders, and UF leadership to create the next strategic plan including ambitious goals that advance the Museum’s record of distinction. The most recent strategic plan, for 2022-2025, focused on the themes of relevance, people, unity, excellence and sustainability. The Museum is currently developing an internally focused interim strategic plan to provide guidance until the new Director leads the development of a comprehensive plan. The next strategic plan will continue the Museum’s positive trajectory, and the new leader will engage staff and supporters in an ambitious vision that raises the Museum’s profile and strengthens its role as an innovator in the field.

The Museum is an integral part of many academic programs, and UF faculty, staff, and students frequently engage with the Museum. The Director will prioritize connection and synergy between UF and the Museum. As part of a premier research university, the Museum supports of the UF mission in partnership, scholarship, rigor, and access. The Director will also widely engage in communication with leaders of various colleges, divisions, and units to strengthen and broaden a strong campus collaboration and identify new opportunities for collaboration. The Museum will continue to be an active resource for members of the University community and a key partner advancing the goals of the University.

The Museum is in a strong financial position, and the next leader will continue to grow resources to increase sustainability. Deepening existing relationships and establishing new connections throughout the community will be an essential element to build philanthropic support. The Director serves as the chief fundraiser for the Museum and will grow contributed revenue and the stakeholder base. The Museum has a strong track record in receiving grants to support its work. In FY26 the Museum had $8 million in grants and contracts revenue. With the funding landscape for grant-supported research changing, the Director will lead the Museum in maintaining a strong grant program while also increasing other revenue sources. A robust effort to increase philanthropic giving and assess opportunities for earned revenue will be important strategies for diversification of support. Providing clear and robust storytelling around understanding of the Museum and its mission throughout UF and stakeholder communities is a key priority for the next Director.

The Museum faculty and staff are highly accomplished and deeply devoted. They are a remarkable source of institutional knowledge with many serving for long tenures. The next Director will maintain a positive culture characterized by collaboration, collegiality, respect, and transparency in order to sustain high morale. The Director will communicate across all levels so the entire team can flourish in a manner equally inclusive of all departments. The Director will be a seasoned leader and manager who will promote best practices in the field and set clear expectations and goals.

Find more detailed information about the opportunity here: Director, Florida Museum of Natural History 

Expected Salary:

Salary is competitive and will be determined based on the selected candidate’s education and experience, as well as market conditions and internal equity.

Required Qualifications:

Hold a terminal degree, Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate, and bring at least 10 years of faculty experience.

Preferred:

The next Director will possess many, if not all, of the following qualifications, skills, and experience:

• A distinguished scholar and researcher in a field related to the Museum with a record that merits appointment as a full professor;
• A deep commitment to the mission and values of the Museum;
• Understanding of and/or appreciation for the role of a university museum and its integration with the academic mission of a large public research university;
• Proven ability to work with faculty, staff, and students and sophistication in promoting teaching, research, and scholarship;
• Expertise in implementing museum best practices, including collections management, exhibition development, community engagement, and educational programming;
• High ethical standards in approach to research and collections policy, including NAGPRA compliance;
• A strong record of measurable success in fundraising and cultivating donor and corporate relationships;
• Demonstrated experience leading overall strategic planning, formulating long-term, actionable institutional goals, and setting policy;
• Exceptional communication skills, including the ability to actively listen to, connect with, and inspire the public, staff, faculty, students, community partners, and science and cultural leaders;
• Extensive experience with financial management and administration and understanding of financial operations; an ability to facilitate both short- and long-term strategic decisions with financial ramifications;
• Demonstrated success in leading and motivating a team, fostering cross-departmental collaboration, communication, and collective and individual accountability;
• A deep familiarity with the broader museum community, peer networks, and regional, national, and international partnerships;
• A desire and ability to build partnerships, identify opportunities, and expand the Museum’s engagement within the region, state, and beyond.

 The University of Florida is an equal opportunity employer.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

APPLICATIONS, INQUIRIES, AND NOMINATIONS: Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/florida-museum-natural-history/director. 

• Andrew Lee, Managing Partner
• Ryan Leichenauer, Managing Associate
• Madeline Fitzpatrick, Managing Search Coordinator

Health Assessment Required: Not Required

 

Advertised: 09 Nov 2026 Eastern Standard Time
Applications close:

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