Executive Director – Southern Utah Museum of Art, Southern Utah University, Cedar City

Southern Utah University / College of Performing & Visual Arts –
Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA)

• Position: Executive Director
• Status: Full-Time (1.0 FTE), Professional, 12 months / 40 hours per week
• Location: Cedar City, Utah
  Position Overview / Summary:
  Southern Utah University (SUU) and the College of Performing & Visual Arts (CPVA) invite applications for the position of
  Executive Director of the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA). Reporting to the Dean of the College of Performing & Visual
  Arts, the Executive Director provides visionary leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight for SUMA—an award-
  winning museum that serves as a cultural anchor for SUU, Cedar City, and the broader region.
  This role requires a dynamic, collaborative, and forward-thinking leader who can balance artistic vision with organizational
  sustainability. The Executive Director shapes SUMA’s future by cultivating meaningful partnerships, advancing community
  engagement, and ensuring the museum’s programs, collections, and operations reflect excellence, relevance, and innovation.
  Date of First consideration: 03/03/2026. Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.
  Applications must be submitted online at: www.suu.edu/employment
  Direct link: https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/suu/jobs/5222894/executive-director-southern-utah-museum-of-art
  For additional information, contact Michael T. Schmidt, Dean, College of Performing & Visual Arts:
  Email: michaelschmidt1@suu.edu | Phone: 435-865-8185
  Essential Functions

1. Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Develop, implement, and maintain SUMA’s long-term vision, mission, and strategic plan.
• Collaborate with SUU administration, the SUMA Advisory Board, museum staff, and community partners on strategic
  initiatives and future planning.
• Ensure policies, procedures, and best practices support the museum’s core values and operational effectiveness.
• Manage high-level decisions related to collections management, audience development, exhibitions, and
  departmental budgets.

1. Operational Management

• Oversee all daily operations of SUMA, ensuring smooth, safe, and effective execution of exhibitions, programs,
  events, and visitor services.
• Lead the SUMA Advisory Board.
• Serve on the CPVA Leadership team, attending bimonthly meetings.
• Manage the museum’s finances, resources, and annual budget, with support from administrative staff.
• Conduct regular team meetings and one-on-one meetings with direct reports; support professional development and
  team-building activities.
• Attract, mentor, retain, inspire, and empower exceptional staff, fostering a positive, collaborative, and accountable
  organizational culture.
• Provide leadership in establishing clear expectations and fostering a culture of peer-to-peer accountability.
• Attend SUMA and CPVA events, including exhibitions, openings, the Annual Art Auction, the annual Día de Muertos
  Festival, and other key public programs.
• Maintain SUU Motor Pool certification for the SUMA van.

1. Finance, Development, and Fundraising

• Lead comprehensive fundraising initiatives, including donor cultivation, stewardship, major gifts, sponsorships, and
  grant acquisition.
• Collaborate closely with SUU Advancement and the Sponsored Programs, Agreements, Research & Contracts (SPARC)
  Office on fundraising, grants, and acquisitions.
• Identify new grant opportunities and provide oversight for proposal development and required presentations.
• Serve as spokesperson in donor engagement and development activities.
  Associated Boards & Committees: SUMA Fundraising Committee, UA&M Grants Task Force.

1. Artistic Vision, Exhibitions, and Collections

• Define and champion SUMA’s artistic direction and exhibition vision.
• Oversee innovative exhibitions, publications, and public programs aligned with the museum’s mission and long-term
  goals.
• Work with SUMA staff in acquiring works that strengthen the permanent collection.
• Collaborate with artists, curators, and cultural institutions to deliver high-quality, relevant, and accessible
  programming.
• Serve as liaison with SUU Enterprise Risk Management and Legal Affairs on exhibition-related contracts and inter-
  museum agreements.
  Associated Boards & Committees: SUMA Collections Committee.

1. Community Engagement & Partnerships

• Represent SUMA at campus, community, state, regional, and national events, conferences, and public engagements.
• Build and sustain strong partnerships with arts organizations, educators, elected officials, and community leaders.
• Ensure dynamic public programming that enhances academic integration, audience development, and community
  participation.
• Develop new collaborations and strengthen existing relationships across campus and the broader region.
• Serve as the museum’s primary spokesperson, strengthening SUMA’s reputation locally, regionally, and nationally.
  Associated Boards & Committees: SUMA Advisory Board, Utah Division of Arts & Museums Services Board.

1. Additional Duties

• Perform other duties as assigned.
  Education & Experience
  Minimum Qualifications
• Graduate degree
  o Preferred: Masters Degree in Museum Studies, Art History, Arts Administration, or a related field.
• Proven leadership experience in a museum, gallery, or cultural institution.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, donor cultivation, and financial management.
• Demonstrated ability to foster an inclusive, collaborative, and professional environment.
• Exceptional leadership, organizational, and managerial skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal abilities; skilled at engaging with diverse audiences and stakeholders.
• Deep knowledge of art, art history, and contemporary practices.
• Passionate advocate for the arts and committed to SUMA’s mission.
• Innovative, adaptable, and forward-thinking.
• Able to maintain a positive, calm disposition during rapid change or high-demand periods.
• Must hold a valid driver’s license and be eligible to obtain and maintain SUU Motor Pool certification for operation of
  the SUMA van.
  Application Materials Required
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Letter of Interest / Cover Letter addressing qualifications and alignment with SUMA’s mission
• Statement of Leadership Philosophy (including approaches to accountability and team culture)
• Optional Writing Sample (e.g., fundraising appeal, strategic plan excerpt, major communication)
• Unofficial Transcripts
• Contact information for at least three professional references
  In accordance with Utah State Code 53A-3-410, appointment to this position is contingent upon the successful passing of a
  background check.
  Due to recent changes in H1B visa fees, Southern Utah University is no longer able to sponsor international faculty and staff that
  require an H1B visa and are currently living outside of the United States.
  Position is contingent on funding.
  About the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA)
  Located on the campus of Southern Utah University, SUMA features the artwork of significant regional artists such as Maynard
  Dixon, Edith Hamlin, and Jimmie F. Jones, as well as emerging and established artists from across the nation and world. The
  museum houses a robust print collection, including works by Marc Chagall, James McNeill Whistler, Kawase Hasui, Thomas Hart
  Benton, and Käthe Kollwitz.
  Named “the best-designed museum in Utah” by Architectural Digest, SUMA’s award-winning facility—designed by Brooks +
  Scarpa and inspired by southern Utah’s iconic slot canyons—is an architectural landmark in its own right. More information:
  www.suu.edu/suma
  About the College of Performing & Visual Arts
  CPVA includes the Departments of Filmmaking, Art & Design; Music; and Theatre, Dance & Arts Administration. With
  approximately 70 faculty/staff and more than 900 students, the College offers a range of undergraduate and graduate
  programs and maintains accreditation through NASAD, NASM, NAST, and NASD. Our collaborative outreach, including SUMA,
  the Ballroom Dance Company, Shakespeare Studies at SUU, and our partnership with the Utah Shakespeare Festival positions
  us as a creative beacon for the campus and community. With hundreds of performances, exhibitions, and events each year, the
  Arts at SUU are central to the cultural foundation of our region. More information: www.suu.edu/pva
  About Southern Utah University and Cedar City
  Founded in 1897 as the Branch Normal School and elevated to university status in 1990, Southern Utah University is located in
  scenic Cedar City, Utah (population ~45,000), a stunning rural setting in the southwest corner of the state. The main campus
  spans 130 acres and is complemented by a 2,800-acre mountain property and an 800-acre farm. SUU serves more than 16,000
  students and is known as The University of the Parks for its proximity to Zion, Bryce Canyon, and more than a 20 national parks,
  monuments, and recreation areas. The region offers unparalleled outdoor recreation, world-class arts, and convenient access
  to Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. More information: www.suu.edu | www.visitcedarcity.com
  Benefits
  SUU offers a comprehensive benefits package to full-time employees including:
• High-Deductible Health Plans
  o Health Savings Account
• Traditional Health Plans
  o Flexible Spending Account
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
  o Basic
  o Supplemental
  o Long-term Disability Retirement
• Retirement Options:
  o TIAA (14.2% Contribution)
  o Fidelity (14.2% Contribution)
  o URS- if eligible (10% Contribution)
• Tuition Waivers
• Vacation and Sick Leave
• Paid Parental Leave
  To learn more details, visit our benefits page, and view total
  compensation estimates here.
  Southern Utah University does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex
  discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy,
  pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in
  employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.. For
  more information or contact information, please visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination/.