Deputy Director

The National Food Museum is a bold new nonprofit that looks at the world through the lens of food. The Museum is seeking an experienced, entrepreneurial, visionary Deputy Director to help lead the organization at a pivotal moment in its growth. This is a rare opportunity to help build a national institution from the ground up and shape how millions of people understand food’s impact on our bodies, our communities, and our planet.

As we prepare increased virtual and in-person activities, the Deputy Director will serve as a strategic thought partner to the Founder and a driving force behind the museum’s next stage of development. If you thrive in start‑up environments, love building relationships, and want satisfying work with national impact, this role may be for you.

What Makes This Full-time Position Unique

• • You will help create a unique museum—one that blends culture, science, storytelling, public health, and the environment.
  • Your ideas will directly shape the institution’s identity, from programming to partnerships to national visibility.
  • You’ll work with an exceptional advisory network across food, agriculture, health, climate, and culture.
  • You’ll have room to innovate, experiment, and build new models for engagement—online, in communities, and eventually in a physical museum space.

Key Responsibilities

Working closely with the Founder, Board of Directors, and Advisory Council, the Deputy Director will:

• • Lead fundraising strategy and execution, cultivating major donors, sponsors, and institutional partners to build a strong financial foundation for the museum.
  • Help build the Board of Directors, identifying, cultivating, and engaging prospective board members who bring philanthropic leadership, networks, and strategic insight.
  • Build public engagement by organizing events—including community events, pop‑up exhibitions, webinars, and special programs in the Washington, DC, region and elsewhere.
  • Guide strategic planning and organizational development as the museum grows.
  • Manage relationships with collaborators and supporters, ensuring that partners feel inspired, valued, and connected to the museum’s mission.

The Ideal Candidate must have:

• • A strong track record of fundraising success—especially with major donors, foundations, and others—at museums or similar cultural institutions,
  • Experience building and working with boards of directors
  • Experience in museum administration, cultural nonprofits, or mission‑driven institutions
  • Experience building public engagement through in-person and virtual activities
  • The ability to build trust and enthusiasm among donors and collaborators
  • A passion for educating the public, especially on topics pertaining to food, culture, public health, or environmental sustainability

The work is fully remote, but living in the Washington–Baltimore or New York City regions or in California may be advantageous

To Apply

Please submit a cover letter and résumé.

The National Food Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and an equal opportunity employer.

Health insurance, standard holidays, sick leave

Fluent English; Spanish helpful.