Description

The Vice President of Museum

U.S. Space & Rocket Center Commission

Huntsville, Alabama

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center seeks a strategic, creative, and collaborative leader to serve as its Vice President of Museum. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Vice President will provide leadership for the Center's museum, collections, archives, exhibits, planetarium, and visitor experience functions while advancing a bold vision for one of the nation's most recognized institutions dedicated to space exploration and STEM learning.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of a museum that stewards world-renowned artifacts, inspires millions of visitors and learners, and occupies a unique position at the intersection of science, education, innovation, and discovery. The Vice President joins USSRC at a pivotal moment as the Center advances a campus-wide master planning effort focused on enhancing the museum experience through improved arrival and entrance experiences, stronger wayfinding, more immersive exhibits, and greater connectivity across campus. The successful candidate will bring a demonstrated record of transforming visitor-focused environments, balancing immediate opportunities with a long-term vision that drives engagement, repeat visitation, and institutional impact.

USSRC is a world-class visitor destination and STEM education hub that welcomes more than 650,000 guests annually. As the official Visitor Center for NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and an agency of the State of Alabama, the Center houses one of the world's most comprehensive collections of rockets and space artifacts, including the Saturn V Moon rocket and Pathfinder space shuttle stack. Through immersive exhibits, simulators, the top-ranked INTUITIVE Planetarium, and the internationally recognized Space Camp® program, USSRC inspires visitors of all ages to explore, learn, and innovate while reinforcing Huntsville's identity as "Rocket City."

A proud Smithsonian Affiliate, the Center not only houses the Smithsonian's largest artifact but also curates the world's largest assemblage of space hardware. Recent investments, supported by a successful $65 million capital campaign, include the new Space Camp Operations Center and the restoration of Rocket Park. These initiatives reflect an institution that is building on a remarkable legacy while investing in its future.

Success in this role requires a collaborative, data-informed executive with strong museum leadership experience, financial acumen, and the ability to translate institutional vision into exceptional visitor experiences. The Vice President will be responsible for aligning talented teams around a shared strategy, elevating the guest experience, and helping guide the next chapter of one of the nation's most distinctive museums and educational destinations.

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/us-space-rocket-center/vice-president-museum

Jacqueline Mildner, Partner

Ivan Ceballos, Managing Associate

Pamela Carty, Senior Search Associate

Isaacson, Miller

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.