Executive Director

The City of Riverside and the Riverside Art Museum:  A Story of Cultural Legacy & Civic Collaboration

The City of Riverside has long stood as a cultural crossroads in Southern California—a city rich in history, civic pride, and a deep, ongoing commitment to the arts. Within this vibrant community, the Riverside Art Museum (RAM) anchors two architectural and cultural landmarks: the historic Julia Morgan-designed museum and The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture—each serving as a pillar of creativity, inclusion, and community engagement.

At the heart of RAM is a building designed by Julia Morgan, one of the most influential architects of the 20th century and the first woman licensed to practice architecture in California. Completed in 1929, the building originally served as a YWCA—a hub of social progress and women’s empowerment. Today, it serves as a dynamic space for rotating exhibitions, arts education, and cultural dialogue. Preserving and programming within this historic space is both an honor and a responsibility.

Just steps away, another story unfolds at The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture—affectionately known as “The Cheech.” Opened in 2022 through a groundbreaking public-private partnership, The Cheech is the nation’s first permanent museum space dedicated to Chicano art. It houses the personal collection of actor, comedian, and art advocate Cheech Marin, comprising more than 500 works by Chicano artists. Located in the city’s former public library—a 1964 modernist building thoughtfully repurposed—the center represents not just an evolution of space, but an evolution of purpose: celebrating identity, voice, and representation in the arts stewardship.

This visionary endeavor was made possible through a collaborative agreement between RAM, the City of Riverside, and Cheech Marin, who together built a new model for civic and cultural partnership. The city invested in the renovation and preservation of the library building; Cheech Marin contributed his extensive collection and public support; and RAM stepped forward to serve as the operating partner—bringing deep curatorial, administrative, and educational experience to the effort.

The Riverside Art Museum, inclusive of these two institutions, reflect the City of Riverside’s commitment to honoring its past while boldly investing in the future of art, culture, and community inclusion. They stand as powerful examples of what can happen when a city, its citizens, and its cultural leaders come together to create something truly transformative.

The Executive Director of the Riverside Art Museum is pivotal in connecting the city’s cultural legacy with innovative civic collaboration in these significant historic spaces.

Job Opportunity: Executive Director                         Salary Range: $135,000 - $160,000

Riverside Art Museum 

Riverside, California | Full-Time | Arts & Culture Leadership

Our Mission

At the Riverside Art Museum (RAM), our mission is to uplift diverse artistic and cultural voices, cultivate inclusive exhibitions, collections, and educational programming, engage in transformative conversations, and foster strong community connections.

About the Role

We are seeking a bold, visionary Executive Director to lead the Riverside Art Museum into its next chapter of artistic excellence, operational innovation, and community impact. As the chief executive of a growing, multi-site organization rooted in deep cultural legacy, the Executive Director will guide RAM's strategic direction, build meaningful regional and national partnerships, and ensure operational excellence and fiscal sustainability.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a proven nonprofit leader with significant experience in operations, fundraising, and public-private collaboration—someone who understands the power of the arts to transform lives and communities.

A Legacy of Culture & Innovation

RAM consists of two locations, the community’s long-time encyclopedic museum housed in a historic 1929 building designed by Julia Morgan, the first licensed female architect in California and famed designer of Hearst Castle. Just steps away is The Cheech—our contemporary cultural jewel and the first museum in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to Chicano art. Together, these two institutions form a dynamic hub of creativity, education, and cultural preservation in the heart of the Arts and Culture District.

The Executive Director will work closely with the City of Riverside, architectural preservation experts, cultural coalitions, and peer institutions throughout the Inland Empire and beyond to steward these buildings and their communities into the future.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Operational Management

• Empowers, develops and holds teams accountable to achieve high performance and mission alignment.
• Promote an adaptive, inclusive, and entrepreneurial workplace culture.
• Strengthen infrastructure, systems, and internal processes for a growing organization, while ensuring compliance, safety, and operational excellence across all activities.
• Work closely with city staff, trustees, consultants, and building experts to preserve and modernize facilities.
• Grounded, detail-conscious leadership style that drives execution.
• Adept at developing integrated systems that enhance performance, accountability, and scalability

Financial Management & Fund Development

• Oversee organizational budgeting, financial reporting, and cash flow.
• Experience leading major gift strategies and donor relationship management
• Grow revenue through diversified sources: grants, major gifts, sponsorships, and earned income.
• Develop and steward a pipeline of donors; lead major fundraising and capital campaigns.
• Direct all aspects of grant and contract lifecycles—including negotiation, monitoring, and reporting—with city, state, local partners and philanthropic funders

Relationship Building & Communications

• Serve as the organization’s chief ambassador across civic, philanthropic, and cultural sectors.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and communicate effectively with public officials and community influencers
• Foster deep partnerships with elected officials, funders, nonprofit leaders, and the media.
• Oversee marketing and communications to build awareness and audience engagement.
• Skilled in fostering cross-organizational and community-based collaborations

Strategic Planning & Vision

• Lead execution and evolution of RAM’s multi-year strategic plan.
• Align decisions with long-term growth, cultural impact, and sustainability.

Artistic & Educational Programs

• Uphold RAM’s commitment to diverse, socially relevant programming.
• Promote innovative exhibitions, public programs, and education initiatives reflective of the Inland Empire’s rich cultural tapestry.

Who We’re Looking For

We seek a leader who embodies both vision and execution, someone who can inspire, advocate, and operate at a high level. The ideal candidate will possess:

• Proven experience leading large or complex nonprofit organizations.
• Expertise in operations, systems development, and team leadership.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, capital campaign management, and major donor engagement.
• Understanding of cultural equity, inclusion, and community engagement in the arts.
• Strong relationship-building skills with public and private stakeholders, including city staff and elected officials.
• Experience with contract negotiation, monitoring, and public-private partnerships.
• Pragmatic, detail-oriented management style with a passion for mission-driven service.
• Proven experience collaborating with a nonprofit board of trustees and familiarity with nonprofit board operations and governance required.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, Arts Administration, or related field
• Minimum 7 years of career progression in leadership roles, preferably in a museum or cultural nonprofit
• Demonstrated experience with strategic planning, financial management, and board governance
• Background in advocacy, partnership development, and coalition-building
• Grant writing and compliance experience with city, county, and foundation contracts
• Strong communication, facilitation, and public-speaking skills
• History of successful fundraising, including capital campaigns and major gifts
• Ability to pass a background check

Why Join Us?

• Be part of shaping the next chapter of two nationally recognized cultural institutions
• Lead at the intersection of art, heritage, social justice, and community empowerment
• Work in a region known for cultural diversity, creativity, and historical significance
• Collaborate with a dynamic and committed team of staff, artists, educators, trustees, and civic leaders

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Interested candidates should submit a single attachment that includes a resume and/or cover letter to careers@riversideartmuseum.org The subject of your email should be: Position Name/Your Name. Thank you in advance for your interest in the Riverside Art Museum. Due to the volume of applicants, only candidates invited to interview will be contacted. Position is open until it is filled.