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The Museum
Founded in 1842 with a vision for infusing art into the American experience, the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is home to a collection of over 55,000 works of art, spanning 5,000 years and encompassing European art from antiquity to contemporary as well as the art of the Americas from Pre-Columbian through today. The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is the oldest continuously-operating public art museum in the United States, opening its doors to the public in 1844.
The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art was founded by Daniel Wadsworth (1771–1848), one of the first major American art patrons. Daniel Wadsworth donated his extraordinary collection of paintings to create a public “Gallery of Fine Arts,” but was persuaded to additionally support a library, an historical society, and a natural history society under the same roof, thus forming an atheneum, a term popular in the 19th century to describe an institution devoted to the promotion of learning, art, and culture.
The Wadsworth Atheneum has paved the way for public museums across the country, being at the forefront of collecting works by artists as diverse as Caravaggio, Frederic Church, Joseph Cornell, Salvador Dalí, and Joan Miró as well as presenting engaging and groundbreaking exhibitions that explore every era of art history. Today, visitors to the Wadsworth’s galleries in downtown Hartford, Connecticut find captivating and innovative installations that illustrate the breadth and quality of the world-class collection.
Highlights include the JP Morgan collection of Greek and Roman antiquities and European decorative arts; world-renowned Baroque and Surrealist paintings; an unsurpassed collection of Hudson River School landscapes; Modernist masterpieces in painting and works on paper; the Serge Lifar collection of Ballets Russes drawings and costumes; the Wallace Nutting collection of American colonial furniture and decorative arts; the Samuel Colt firearms collection; costumes and textiles; African American art and artifacts; and contemporary art.
Purpose of the Position
The CEO’s primary responsibilities include strategic leadership, business planning, external relations, and stewardship of the Wadsworth brand and reputation. This passionate and entrepreneurial individual will oversee a $12.5 million-dollar annual operating budget, approximately $90 million in investment assets, an urban campus of five historic buildings and over 200,000 square feet of building space housing over 55,000 works of art. Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the CEO is responsible for providing strategic, financial, and operational leadership for the institution and will serve as the primary liaison to the Board as well as taking the lead on all external affairs, including fundraising, communications, and political advocacy. Under a distributed leadership model, the CEO works closely and in parallel with the Director in collaboratively shaping major institutional initiatives, articulating shared priorities, and ensuring organizational alignment at all levels. The success of this model depends on strong communication, shared values, and a deep commitment to collegial leadership—qualities the CEO must exemplify and foster. The CEO and Director both serve as ex-officio members of the Wadsworth Atheneum Board of Trustees.
The next CEO will be a dynamic and externally facing leader with a strong background in nonprofit administration, financial strategy, and relationship-building. This leader will champion the museum’s mission and steward its financial sustainability, philanthropic growth, and community relevance. The CEO must possess business acumen, political dexterity, and the ability to navigate complex civic landscapes—including state and federal advocacy. The CEO is charged with ensuring that the financial, operational, administrative, and strategic infrastructure of the organization are strong and forward-looking, providing a solid foundation for the Wadsworth to fully realize its artistic and cultural mission.
Experience in board development, fundraising from major donors, and implementing capital campaigns is essential. A successful candidate will demonstrate proven success in managing and inspiring cross-functional teams, empowering staff, and sustaining a positive and transparent organizational culture.
The CEO must drive results across key priority areas including revenue generation, strategic communications, and departmental performance. Immediate goals include significant fundraising, reducing the museum’s deficit, securing new trustee and donor commitments, expanding the paying membership base, and supporting the implementation of a major rebrand. The incoming leader will need to advance current development of a long-range facilities plan and earn the trust of a wide array of stakeholders, from staff across the museum, to board members, and regional political leaders.
This role requires not only expertise in leadership and nonprofit management, but also a high degree of interpersonal skill, cultural facility, and respect for artistic independence, quality, and integrity. The CEO will play a crucial role in helping the organization thrive in a rapidly changing cultural environment by bringing financial insight, operational clarity, and a clear strategic organizational mindset to bear in support of an innovative and ambitious artistic program mapped out by the Director. As a key member of the executive leadership team, the CEO will demonstrate strong HR leadership by fostering a high-performance culture grounded in accountability, inclusion, and continuous improvement. To this end the CEO will oversee the development and refinement of organization-wide performance evaluation processes that support individual growth and organizational excellence. They will ensure robust new hire onboarding practices that promote early engagement and alignment with the organization’s mission, vision, and values. Additionally, the CEO will lead ongoing efforts to refine position descriptions, ensuring clarity and alignment with strategic goals, and will work to continually assess and define roles and responsibilities across the organization to promote operational efficiency and team effectiveness.
Ideal candidates will bring deep competencies in non-profit and/or corporate environments, with the sensitivity to honor artistic vision and cultural heritage while innovating for future impact. A strong candidate will be comfortable with ambiguity and rapid change, exhibit humility alongside executive presence, and possess a mastery of human-centered leadership. The CEO must have the emotional intelligence to navigate a complex and passionate institution while demonstrating clear vision and fiscal responsibility.
Key Responsibilities
- Advance an innovative vision for museum operations and management by bringing new philosophies, ideas, and approaches.
- Lead and manage with the Director strategic planning, operational priorities, and long-term institutional vision.
- Act as the primary liaison to the Board of Trustees; build strong relationships and instill confidence through transparency, presence, and a demonstrated ability to manage governance relationships.
- Partner with internal leadership (e.g., Director of Finance, Director, Development Director) to sustain momentum in financial restructuring, fundraising, and infrastructure improvement.
- Prioritize and systematize ongoing deferred maintenance issues—spanning facilities, staffing, HR, and collection care—with a triage-to-strategy mindset.
- Help manage and support the new Director of Development in meeting the organization’s philanthropic and engagement goals.
- Spearhead reaccreditation efforts and rebranding initiatives.
- Lead Board and staff in development and execution of strategic plans with clearly defined priorities, goals, funding expectations, and measures of success and galvanize and coalesce staff, Board, community and other stakeholders in ensuring successful implementation of such plans.
- Oversee the organization’s financial structure, ensuring adequate and sound funding for the purpose, mission and goals of the museum.
- Ensure the museum’s compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, and standards.
- Serve as an inspiring, accessible, and supportive leader, promoting an organizational culture that attracts, retains, and motivates a highly talented work force who bring a broad range of lived experiences by reinforcing rigor, quality, clarity, and transparency of communication and decision-making, promoting constructive and collegial collaboration among departments, and working closely with the management team to develop effective hiring, training, performance management and compensation plans
- Develop a management structure and hire and lead a diverse leadership/management team that embraces and fosters the museum’s desired organizational culture.
- Work in partnership with the Director in the development, implementation and oversight of the museum’s artistic, curatorial and interpretive strategies.
- Provide leadership and oversight for the construction, revitalization, and maintenance of the Wadsworth’s physical plant including the prioritization of capital projects plus development of capital spending and maintenance budgets.
- Assure the museum’s technology infrastructure, connectivity and equipment is up-to-date and supports the institution’s operational needs and strategic goals.
- Actively work to build strong positive working relationships with Trustees to foster Board member participation and engagement in various aspects of the Museum’s operations, goals and objectives.
- Build positive relationships with community stakeholders, collectors, donors, artists, art institutions and public officials to ensure that the museum is responsive to community needs.
- Oversee the planning, development and execution of the museum’s marketing and advertising initiatives, public relations and all internal and external communications.
- Represent the Museum as a thought leader and advocate for the arts on a local, national and international level.
- Continue to acquire professional knowledge of current developments in the artworld by attending seminars, workshops or professional meetings, and by conducting research.
- Performs related duties as needed or required.
The above description of essential functions is designed to indicate the primary areas of responsibility for the work performed by the employee in this job position. It is not meant to be all inclusive of every task or responsibility. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign functions, duties and responsibilities related to this job at any time.
Measures of Success
- Enhanced reputation and recognition of the museum locally, nationally and internationally as a first-rate quality art museum and destination among the general public, art aficionados, and the art world.
- Positive, collaborative, collegial organizational culture and work environment, where employees feel valued, and achievements are recognized.
- Open communication, transparency and clearly defined roles and responsibilities throughout the organization.
- Leadership team that is aligned and accountable.
- Successful implementation of a strategic plan, museum goals, and objectives.
- Sound fiscal and budgetary management practices.
- Increased public awareness of museum offerings and exhibitions.
- Increased engagement with diverse audiences and community stakeholders.
- Increased public attendance at museum and participation in museum-sponsored events (in-person and virtual) among all community demographic groups.
- Patron enjoyment and satisfaction with museum offerings, inspiring “moments of beauty” experiences into the lives of the community and visitors.
- Enhanced relationship with the communities the museum serves as well as outside entities (e.g., State and local entities, nonprofit organizations).
- Identification of the museum as aligned with, and relevant to, the social fabric of the times.
- Opportunities for museum innovation are identified and activated.
- Strong and positive Board member relationships.
- Welcoming physical space in and around the Museum.
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut is increasingly recognized as a hub for culture, innovation, research, and cross-sector collaboration. In the past five years, more than 700 companies have established a presence in the state — including 44 technology startups featured on Inc. Magazine’s watch list. This momentum reflects the region’s growing potential as a center for ideas and practical problem-solving across industries.
Hartford is home to a strong concentration of institutions focused on healthcare, research, and education. Major hospitals located in the city include Hartford Hospital, The Institute of Living, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, and Saint Francis Hospital & Medical Center. These institutions not only provide advanced medical care but also serve as anchors for clinical research and professional training in the health sciences.
The city is also the historic international center of the insurance industry, with a longstanding presence of major firms and a continuing influence on the global market. This legacy has created a strong foundation for new ventures and partnerships in areas such as risk management, data science, health insurance, and financial services.
Together, these sectors create an environment where interdisciplinary collaboration is not only possible but encouraged. Professionals in Hartford benefit from proximity to a network of organizations that support both innovation and applied research, offering opportunities to develop programs, test new ideas, and contribute to meaningful change across a range of fields.
Key Relationships
- Reports To: Board Chair; accountable to the Board of Trustees
- Direct Reports: Director; Director of Learning & Engagement; Director of Advancement; Director of Facilities; Director of Finance; Director of Marketing & Communications
- Key Internal Contacts: Staff, visitors, and volunteers
- Key External Contacts: Individual donors, foundations, government officials, artists, art historians, professional colleagues, VIP guests, community stakeholders and members of the public.
The Candidate
This role represents a unique leadership opportunity during a pivotal moment of transformation. The institution is in the third phase of a multi-year reconstruction process having stabilized and strengthened many internal aspects and are now entering a strategic implementation phase. The new leader will be instrumental in shaping long-term vision and direction, while ensuring continuity and progress in key areas such as operations, finance, development, facilities, and collections care.
Leadership Model
The institution currently operates under a dual-leadership structure that has proven essential for managing the scale of organizational transformation required. The successful candidate must thrive in a shared leadership model, bringing clarity, strategic thinking, and a collaborative spirit while balancing operational command with strategic foresight.
Ideal Candidate Profile
- A strategic thinker with proven experience in complex organizational environments—experience outside the museum or nonprofit field is welcome and encouraged.
- Adept at change management and comfortable questioning legacy systems with tact, curiosity, and sound rationale.
- Strong relationship builder with high emotional intelligence, capable of earning staff and Board trust quickly.
- Measured, confident, collaborative, and inclusive; able to listen deeply while providing clear, consistent direction.
- Financial fluency is helpful, though the current Director of Finance brings significant nonprofit finance expertise, allowing the President and CEO to focus more on leadership, strategy, and relationship management.
- A systems-thinker, experienced in navigating and structuring organizations through sustained transformation.
Current Organizational Landscape
- All staff now have clear position descriptions and an active performance review process.
- Financial systems have been consolidated and clarified, including legal vetting and classification of 150+ distinct funds.
- Development efforts are aligned and focused, with a strong Director of Development in place.
- Facilities continue to require attention and planning, and this remains a key focus area.
- Cultural shifts are ongoing, and the next leader must continue to reinforce a healthy, transparent and empowering work culture.
Experience and Professional Qualifications
Any combination of education and experience providing the required knowledge, skills and abilities for successful performance would be qualifying. Typical qualifications would be equivalent to:
- Bachelor’s degree in the Humanities or Social Sciences, Art Administration, Museum studies, or related field.
- Graduate study or Master’s Degree in art-related, business management, or other related field.
- Strong track record of innovative leadership in museum administration, nonprofit or other organization.
- Successful supervisory experience.
- Successful experience overseeing and managing the fiscal and budgetary responsibilities for a multi-million dollar business operation.
- Proven track record of fostering a positive, collaborative and inclusive work environment.
- Bilingual (Spanish/English) a plus.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Knowledge of Wadsworth history and art collections.
- Knowledge of all applicable federal, state and local laws covering museum operations.
- Knowledge of principals of sound fiscal management, budget preparation, and fiduciary obligations.
- Understanding of the value of diversity and inclusion and how to foster it in an organization.
- Emotional intelligence skills, including the ability to adapt to unforeseen situations, the ability to influence key stakeholders, and the ability to negotiate to achieve a desired outcome.
- Excellent organization and time management skills, including the ability to manage multiple simultaneous projects and conflicting time constraints.
- Positive public relations and customer service skills.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, including active listening skills.
- Proficiency with collection/exhibition management software and experience with Google and Windows Office applications required (including Gmail, Google Docs, Word, and Excel), as well as a working knowledge of Skype, Zoom, and other virtual video communications programs.
- Demonstrated understanding of the strategic role of technology in advancing institutional goals, including audience engagement, digital content delivery, and operational efficiency.
- Ability to lead others, supervise, motivate and evaluate staff.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with others contacted in the course of work.
- Ability to maintain composure under stressful situations.
- Ability to approach issues and problems with flexibility and unique approaches, openness to different perspectives and a solution orientation.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality of information.
- Ability to work as part of a team and with a diverse group of individuals
- Ability to engage in self-evaluation with regard to leadership, performance and professional growth.
- Ability to read, write and speak English fluently.
Terms of Employment and Work Schedule
- The normal work week generally is Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A flexible work schedule or additional work hours may be necessary in order to meet the requirements of this job position, which could encompass evening hours and weekend work.
Travel Requirements
- Local, regional and international travel as required to successfully perform essential functions.
Physical, Mental, Sensory and Environmental Demands
- Standard climate-controlled art museum building with office, art display and public spaces as well as storage areas. Work is performed primarily indoors and occasionally outdoors. Compliance with Museum health and safety-related protocols.
- Note: Also see the Summary of Physical, Mental, Sensory and Environmental Requirements Needed to Perform Essential Functions for this position.
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