The Museum of the Southwest
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Midland, TX
APPLICATION DEADLINE: June 5, 2026
APPLY ONLINE: https://rcr.li/SSGX
The Museum of the Southwest, an AAM-accredited institution located in Midland, Texas, seeks an Executive Director to chart new pathways for growth, engagement, and sustainability. The Museum inspires exploration and interaction with the arts, science, history, and culture through a multidisciplinary campus of facilities including an art museum, planetarium, historic mansion, and children’s museum. The Museum is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2026.
The Museum of the Southwest
Opened in 1966, The Museum of the Southwest has for sixty years served Midland-Odessa and West Texas with history, art, science, and learning. Originally housed in a modest commercial building, the Museum in 1968 moved to the historic Turner Mansion, a 5,300 square-foot showplace built in 1936 by oil wildcatter Fred Turner as a family home and stables for their thoroughbred racing horses, two of which won the Kentucky Derby.
Today, the mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has become the Turner Memorial Art Museum, which along with the Lissa Noël Wagner Wing built in 1987, houses a collection of more than 1,700 works of art and Midland-area history in galleries designed by internationally acclaimed exhibition firm Ralph Applebaum & Associates. The permanent collection includes the Hogan Collection of paintings by the Taos Society of Artists as well as paintings and prints by important American artists, including Norman Rockwell, Grant Wood, and Thomas Hart Benton. The six-acre Museum campus features open space with public art including sixteen large-scale works by contemporary Southwestern artists, accessible free to the public.
The Museum’s Blakemore Planetarium offers star talks and dome shows on a 360-degree state-of-the-art Digistar 7 system in a 99-seat theater, plus education spaces, and Earth and space-science exhibits including the popular Science on a Sphere. The planetarium was designed by noted architect Frank Welch, who won the Texas Society of Architects' Award for Excellence when the building opened in 1972. It was renovated and expanded in 2009.
The adjacent Fredda Turner Durham Children’s Museum, built in 1986, is a vibrant, interactive space designed to inspire curiosity and hands-on learning for area children and families. The Museum encourages young people, visiting with their caregivers or in groups, to explore through play, with exhibits and events highlighting science, art, and creativity, and the popular “Texas Backyard” interactive exhibit that celebrates community. The Museum is an active member of the Association of Children’s Museums.
The Museum of the Southwest offers a robust lineup of programs, including lecture series, workshops, and seasonal events such as Summer Sunday Lawn Concerts, Septemberfest Art Fair, Works of STEM, and Sci-Fridays. Educational outreach is a cornerstone of the Museum’s mission, with initiatives that bring art and science programs to local schools and underserved communities. The Museum’s vision is to be the “Leonardo DaVinci of museums” offering an inspiring, innovative, welcoming, and fun experience for community members and out-of-town visitors.
With an annual budget of approximately $2 million and an endowment of $5.2 million, the Museum relies on a combination of earned revenues, private donations, grants, memberships, and special events to fund its operations and programs. It was first accredited by the AAM in 1992 and reaccredited in 2002 and 2022. The Museum serves 100,000 visitors annually, most of whom are drawn from the communities of Midland-Odessa and the West Texas region. It is governed by a 21-member Board of Trustees and has a full and part-time staff of around twenty.
The Opportunity
The Museum of the Southwest Executive Director (“ED”) will begin their tenure during a period of transition and opportunity. For a variety of reasons, the Museum over the past few years has experienced fluctuations in executive leadership. Because of this, the new ED will have the opportunity to envision and implement a grander design for the Museum’s role in the everyday lives of its patrons.
The new ED will be responsible for leading the Museum and embracing its legacy in the community as it looks toward the future. Together with the Board, they will develop a strategy and business plan, deepen engagement with supporters, expand visibility and visitation, and cultivate community partnerships that enhance the organization’s mission, relevance, and sustainability. A successful ED is one that embraces the community and culture of the Museum’s uniquely poised location.
The ED, along with the Museum’s Board and staff, will focus on several initiatives that make this an outstanding time to offer an important contribution.
Lead a strategic planning and rebranding initiative which includes facility upgrades, unifying the Museum campus, and realizing potential for growth in visitation and revenues.
Develop a business plan along with relevant policies and procedures that address financial stewardship and sustainability.
Provide leadership support for a capital campaign focusing on creating a new Visitor Center from adaptive reuse of the Museum’s historic stables, increasing staffing support, and endowment growth.
Celebrate and commemorate the Museum’s 60th anniversary in 2026.
Leverage the Museum’s status as an AAM accredited institution for greater visibility, impact, and community engagement.
Lead the Museum’s Board and staff through the AAM re-accreditation process.
Support the Museum’s commitment to attracting diverse talent at staff and board levels in an effort to reflect the footprint of the community it serves.
Usher in the next chapter of organizational maturity and sustainability with the support of an energetic professional staff team and an effective, policy-oriented board.
Responsibilities, and Expectations
The Executive Director will have a background that includes proven effectiveness as an executive or senior-level professional in nonprofit organizations such as museums, art galleries, science centers, academic institutions, or other similar mission-driven organizations. The successful candidate will demonstrate passion for museums and their missions, as well as have accomplishments as a strategic thinker, team builder, fundraiser, financial manager, communicator, networker, and leader adept at translating organizational vision into action. They will:
Advance the Museum’s mission of immersing visitors in experiences that will transform their universe and reveal new possibilities, and inspire exploration and interaction with the arts, science, history, and culture.
Guide the organization in developing and implementing a new strategic plan that focuses on campus unification, rebranding, financial sustainability, visitor engagement, and community impact.
Provide budgetary and financial oversight, accountability, and sustainability; manage revenue streams from earned income, philanthropy, and governmental sources.
Steward a successful fundraising program; actively develop and maintain relationships with donors, sponsors, and the community; prepare for a capital campaign.
Maintain positive and productive Board relations, ensuring transparency and best practices for Board development and governance.
Nurture, support, and manage staff, inspiring teamwork and accomplishment. Empower staff to develop leadership skills. Work with the staff to advance the curatorial, collection, programmatic, and educational directions of the Museum.
Cultivate partnerships to support the Museum’s programs, and new initiatives.
Serve as the primary spokesperson for the Museum. Lead an energetic outreach and marketing program that lifts the Museum’s profile. Participate in community organizations and/or serve on boards.
Experience, Skills, and Attributes
A minimum of five years of executive or management experience in nonprofit environments, preferably at a museum, art gallery, science center, academic institution, or other similar mission-driven organization.
Strategic planning acumen; ability to see the big picture and communicate a vision, facilitating consensus on organizational change.
Proficiency with financial and nonprofit business management; ability to oversee the annual budget, interpret financial statements, and articulate performance to the Board and stakeholders.
Success in fundraising, working with donors, foundations, and corporate and governmental funding sources.
Management and organizational skills for leading staff and volunteer teams to maintain a culture of trust and respect.
Strong communication, advocacy, and interpersonal skills to network and connect with audiences.
Experience working in collaboration with diverse constituents, partner entities, and stakeholders across a broad network.
B.A. degree or equivalent life experience.
We recognize that it is highly unlikely that someone meets 100% of the qualifications for a role. If much of this job description describes you, then please apply for this position.
Compensation
The salary range is $130,000 - $160,000 commensurate with experience, plus an attractive benefits package including long-term and performance-based incentives.
How to Apply
To apply in confidence, submit application online at https://rcr.li/SSGX by June 5, 2026.
A complete application should include:
A cover letter expressing interest in the position and giving brief examples of past related experience.
A résumé or C.V.
The names and contact information for three professional references able to evaluate the candidate’s leadership and work, indicating their relationship with the candidate.
Applicants are encouraged to apply early as candidates will be considered on a rolling basis. All applications and nominations are kept confidential; we will not contact references without your permission. EA/EO. For more details, visit: www.museum-search.com/open-searches.
Questions should be directed to Dan Yaeger, Senior Search Consultant, Museum Search & Reference, via SearchandRef@museum-search.com.
Nominations are welcome.
About Midland-Odessa and the Permian Basin
The Museum of the Southwest is located in Midland in the heart of the Permian Basin of West Texas, a vibrant region defined by its rich oil and gas industry, deep historical roots, and dynamic cultural life. Known as a leading hub for worldwide energy production, the area has experienced significant growth over the years, bringing with it a mix of modern amenities, economic opportunities, and cultural diversity. These are the traditional homelands of the Nʉmʉnʉʉ Sookobitʉ (Comanche) and Ndé Kónitsąąíí Gokíyaa (Lipan Apache) peoples.
Midland and nearby Odessa are often considered “twin cities” because of their close proximity (only about 20 miles apart) and shared economic, cultural, and social ties. Both cities serve as central hubs within the Permian Basin and together form the Midland-Odessa metropolitan area with a combined population of 250,000. Despite their “twin cities” designation, each city maintains its unique character—Midland is known for its corporate environment and urban development, while Odessa has a strong cultural heritage and a vibrant arts scene. This complementary relationship fosters a sense of community and shared identity while offering a variety of lifestyles, amenities, and commuting options within a relatively small geographic area.
Outdoor recreation and cultural activities are abundant in the Midland-Odessa area. For nature enthusiasts, the Permian Basin is home to parks and nature trails, such as Hogan Park in Midland and Comanche Trail Park in Odessa, where residents can enjoy hiking, biking, and picnicking. The I-20 Wildlife Preserve is a popular spot for bird-watching and exploring natural wetlands. Nearby Monahans Sandhills State Park offers unique desert landscapes, perfect for sand surfing, horseback riding, and camping. The Permian Basin is known for spectacular sunsets.
Cultural attractions include the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center, which hosts concerts, theater performances, and art exhibits, while the Ellen Noël Art Museum, Permian Basin Petroleum Museum, and Bush Presidential Family sites highlight the region’s artistic, industrial, and political heritage. The renowned art colony at Marfa is a three-hour drive away.
The city offers both public and private school options, and the University of Texas Permian Basin in Odessa provides access to higher education opportunities. With a strong focus on community engagement, Midland-Odessa also features numerous family-friendly amenities, from parks and sports leagues to local festivals and community events.
While Midland-Odessa has a strong local community feel, it remains within reasonable distance of larger metropolitan areas. The cities are located about 330 miles from Dallas, 400 miles from Santa Fe, and about 300 miles from both San Antonio and Austin, making it possible to reach these larger cities within a five-hour drive. Additionally, Midland International Air & Space Port offers convenient regional and international flights, connecting residents to major hubs across the United States.
