Executive Director

Executive Director, Kitimat Museum & Archives

The Board of Directors of the Kitimat Museum & Archives is seeking an experienced and forward-looking leader to serve as its next Executive Director.

Deadline to Apply: July 31, 2026

Anticipated Start Date: September 1, 2026

Terms of Employment: Full-Time, Permanent

Salary: $100,000 (plus a comprehensive benefits package including superannuation)

About the Museum

The Kitimat Museum & Archives sits on the traditional and unceded Territory of the Haisla Nation in Kitimat, B.C. Its mandate is the natural and cultural history of the Kitimat Valley, the surrounding coastal regions, and the interior. The Museum exercises its mandate for Haisla heritage and culture in consultation with the Haisla community and Nation Council, and in support of Council's aspirations for repatriation and control of Haisla heritage. Its cultural mandate also includes the contemporary culture of Kitimat residents.

The Museum's mission is to deepen appreciation and understanding of the natural beauty of the area, its Indigenous heritage and culture, and the history of area settlement and development. Its values are community, trust, service, and collaboration. Learn more at www.kitimatmuseum.ca and www.haisla.ca.

The Opportunity

The next Executive Director joins an organization on a strong footing. In the past year, the Museum has modernized its governance, moved to a digital-first operating model, restored fiscal sustainability, secured multi-year industry sponsorships, and revitalized its gallery spaces, work recognized on a local and international level. This is a role that builds on momentum rather than rebuilds from difficulty.

The defining opportunity is the proposed shared Haisla Nation and District of Kitimat museum and cultural centre, now advancing through Master Plan and Business Plan development with a joint Task Force being established. The outgoing Executive Director will continue as lead consultant on that work, so the incoming leader can focus on operations and community leadership while contributing to the project rather than carrying it alone.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is the day-to-day face of the Museum and is responsible for operations, strategic planning, financial management, fundraising, community outreach, and program and collections development. The role calls for someone strategic, transparent, and approachable with a genuine passion for museums, history, the arts, and culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage staff and daily operations, fostering a creative, positive work environment and values of diversity, equity, cultural safety, and inclusion.
• Steward the collections, including expanding access to the Haisla Heritage Collection through display and digital means, and honouring the Haisla Photographic Image Collection MOU.
• Oversee the Museum's permanent and temporary exhibitions and its annual children's programs.
• Lead financial sustainability: prepare and manage budgets, sustain and grow diversified revenue, write grants, advance municipal funding, and report regularly to the Board.
• Support and help advance the proposed shared museum and cultural centre, working with the Board, the joint Task Force, and the lead consultant on the Master Plan and Business Plan.
• Maintain strong working relationships with the District of Kitimat, the Haisla Nation, community organizations, and the media.
• Work with the Board on strategic direction, governance, transparency, and risk management.

What You Bring

• An arts or heritage degree, supplemented with museum studies and management or financial training.
• A minimum of 3 to 5 years of museum leadership, with a record of success in fundraising, financial management, and strategic planning.
• Experience building meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities and organizations.
• Strong financial and budget management skills.
• Strong people leadership, with the ability to address and resolve conflict with sound judgment.
• Strong written and verbal communication, including presentations, reports, and policy.

How to Apply

Submit a CV and cover letter outlining your qualifications and relevant experience to ***email_hidden***. Applications will be reviewed beginning as they come in and accepted until the position is filled. Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

The Kitimat Museum & Archives is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and cultural safety. It is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified candidates.