Director & President
Norfolk, Virginia
About the Museum
Recognized as one of the nation’s top art museums, the Chrysler Museum of Art is housed in an
Italianate-style structure facing the picturesque Hague Inlet of the Elizabeth River. The Museum is home
to a collection of nearly 30,000 objects spanning 5,000 years of history.
The Chrysler’s holdings of Old Master European painting and sculpture stretch from Renaissance
masterworks by Jan Gossaert and Paolo Veronese to major productions by Giovanni Battista Pittoni and
Francois Boucher, with particularly strong concentrations of work by French and Italian Baroque masters.
The Museum’s 19th-century French collection is even richer, ranging from the Romanticism of Eugene
Delacroix and Realism of Jean-Francois Millet to academic masterpieces by Bouguereau and Gerome and
incomparable Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works by Renoir, Degas, Tissot, Gauguin and Signac.
The Museum possesses signature works by many of the European early modernists, from Georges
Rouault and Henri Matisse to Georges Braque and Giorgio de Chirico.
The American collection is remarkably strong and comprehensive, stretching from extraordinary 18thcentury portraiture by Copley and West, and major history and genre images (Durand, Homer) and
Hudson River School landscapes of the 19th-century (Bierstadt, Cropsey), to the generation of post-Civil
War Americans working in Europe (Cassatt, Knight), chief among them the Impressionists. The Museum
also possesses one of the nation’s richest holdings of 19th-century century American marble sculpture.
The 20th-century American collection begins with rich holdings of works by members of The Eight and
their circle, including Robert Henri, William Glackens, and George Bellows. American modernism of the
1920s is represented by masters such as Edward Hopper and Stuart Davis. Depression-era America is
especially well-documented in major works by Reginald Marsh, Walt Kuhn, Thomas Hart Benton, and
Philip Evergood. The collection continues into the 20th-century from Ashcan (Glackens, Bellows) through
the New York School of the 1970s (Pollock to Wesselmann).
The Chrysler Museum of Art has amassed one of the top three collections of glass in America. The
Chrysler collection spans from the earliest periods of glass making to the present day. This includes
ancient pieces from Egypt, Rome and the Islamic countries, international glass from Germany, Italy,
England, the Czech Republic, and many other countries from around the world. The strengths of the
collection are in English Cameo, Tiffany, and contemporary glass. The masters of the Studio Glass
Movement are well represented in the Chrysler collection. The recently constructed glass studio has been
praised by visiting artists as one of the best and most modern glassmaking facilities in the country.
Among these visiting artists are Lino Tagliapietra, Nancy Callan, Stephen Powell, Ben and Debora
Moore, Janusz Pozniak, Paul and Dante Marioni, John Miller, Beth Lipman, April Surgent, Gianni Toso,
Therman Statom, Fritz Dreisbach, and others.
The Chrysler Museum is also recognized for being a well-run and financially strong institution.
 Charity Navigator, the nation's top philanthropic evaluator, rated the Chrysler as the number one
(1) museum in the country.
 Three years of research by museum experts focused on what it takes to make a museum
successful. After analyzing dozens of institutions, they named the Chrysler Museum as one of
only six museums that illustrated common traits of what they called "magnetic museums." These
traits include an institution-wide shared vision of core values, a sense of engagement that builds
from the inside out, the empowerment of others with a people-first, service-first mentality, and
the building of trust by way of superior performance
The Chrysler Museum of Art is being assisted in this recruitment by Development Resources, inc. All resumes and
questions should be sent to search@driconsulting.com.
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Chrysler Museum of Art
Director & President
Opportunity
The Chrysler Museum is seeking a new Director & President to lead the Museum at this defining
moment. With the Chrysler’s solid financial foundation, this is a spectacular opportunity for a new
Director to work with accomplished curators, talented staff, prestigious Board members, and committed
and generous donors and volunteers to expand the current vision of the Museum and continue to grow an
internationally recognized institution.
The Director is responsible for increasing the visibility, prominence, financial resources, relevance and
impact of the Chrysler Museum. S/he must be a leader who can garner the respect and support of donors,
government leaders, other non-profits, and experts in the field. The new Director must be a recognized
expert within the museum world, be passionate about art, visionary, inspirational, and be able to lead and
inspire a talented team of staff and volunteers.
This remarkable opportunity requires a special person who can build upon the important work the
Chrysler Museum has done by expanding exhibition, increasing charitable support, growing partnerships,
engaging the community, and leading the Chrysler into a new era of innovation and national presence.
S/he must be a passionate individual who can increase the recognition of the Museum’s extraordinary
collection of art, glass, photography, ancient artifacts, and sculpture.
Successful Candidate
The new Director must be a recognized expert within the Museum world, be passionate about art,
visionary, inspirational, and be able to lead and inspire a talented team of staff and volunteers. The ideal
candidate will have at least 10 years of experience in a senior leadership role in an art museum,
established success as an effective communicator, a track record in fundraising and in gaining internal
respect and building consensus within a museum. The successful candidate will also be adept at working
and building a relationship with a not-for-profit Board of Trustees.
Museum Growth
The Chrysler Museum of Art is continuing to expand and is currently completing the third phase of a
three-part plan funded by the recent $45 million Capital Campaign.
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In the initial phase, the Chrysler Museum Glass Studio was created. Since its opening in
November 2011, the Glass Studio has generated enormous excitement through a program of free
daily demonstrations, classes, and workshops for would-be glassmakers at all levels, as well as
through educational partnerships and visiting artist residencies.
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The second phase of the three-part plan strengthened the long-term financial foundation of the
Museum by putting in place dedicated endowments to support curators, programs and operations.
A remarkable anonymous gift has fully endowed the Chrysler's free-to-all general admission
policy, ensuring that access to the Museum and its programs will continue to be barrier-free in
perpetuity. New endowments have also enabled the Museum to double the size of the curatorial
department by fully funding three of the four curator positions. Additional endowments will
support educational programs and special exhibitions.
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The final phase of the plan is currently underway, which involves the renovation and expansion
of the Museum building. Renovation began in January 2013 and will continue until the
reopening in May 2014. As part of the renovation, the Chrysler will add 8,000 square feet of new
galleries, a state-of-the-art warehouse for collection storage, and a new café complete with
garden dining. Every gallery will also be revamped.
The next Director will guide the next expansion of the Chrysler Museum. With the movement of the
Museum’s research library to Old Dominion University, more than 7,000 square feet is available for
expanded education and exhibit space.
The Chrysler Museum of Art is being assisted in this recruitment by Development Resources, inc. All resumes and
questions should be sent to chrysler@driconsulting.com.
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Chrysler Museum of Art
Director & President
Key Relationships
Reports to:
Board of Trustees
Staff:
10 Direct Reports: Chief Curator, Deputy Director, Communications Director, Director
of Visitor Services, Director of Education, Director of Finance and Operations (CFO),
Director of Development, Information Technology Director, Human Resources Manager,
Executive Assistant
70 fulltime staff and 30 part time staff
Financials (2012)
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$75 million in net assets
$60 million in endowment
$7.2 million annual operating ($2.7 million from the City of Norfolk)
Community
Norfolk, Virginia is the central city of the "Hampton Roads” area which also includes Virginia Beach and
Newport News. With a population of approximately 1.7 million people, Hampton Roads is the largest
metro area between Washington, D.C., and Atlanta GA.
Norfolk is a warm and welcoming family-friendly community of approximately 237,764 residents with 144
miles of shoreline along lakes, rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay. It is one of the top 10 markets for business
relocation and expansion, according to Expansion Management Magazine. USA Today called Norfolk one
of the top 10 booming downtowns, recognizing a decades-long housing, retail, and financial boom in
Norfolk. The city is home to the largest Navy base in the world along with one of NATO’s two Strategic
Command headquarters.
Norfolk has a growing economy but also has the charm of a historic city that values culture. In addition to
the Chrysler Museum, Norfolk is home to the Virginia Opera, the Virginia Stage Company, the Virginia
Symphony, the Virginia Arts Festival, Chrysler Hall, the Douglas MacArthur Memorial, and Nauticus,
the National Maritime Center.
Educational institutions also influence the community and its partnerships. Old Dominion University,
Norfolk State University, and a new downtown campus of Tidewater Community College are located in
Norfolk, and Virginia Wesleyan College is located on the border between Norfolk and Virginia Beach. In
addition, Eastern Virginia Medical School and its four internationally recognized research institutes are
located in Norfolk, as is Sentara Health System, DePaul Medical Center-Bon Secours, and Virginia’s only
free-standing, full-service pediatric hospital, Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters.
Key Responsibilities
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Lead, motivate, and inspire internal and external audiences to achieve the mission and vision of
the Chrysler Museum.
Promote innovation and growth of the Museum’s programs.
Provide business discipline and accountability to the day-to-day management of the Museum.
Build a new level of engagement across the enterprise and maximize key relationships to generate
resources and expand programs.
Serve as the top fundraiser and ensure the continued growth of charitable revenue.
Increase impact, grow visitation, and expand the collection.
Serve as the public face of the Museum and as a leader in the Norfolk and larger philanthropic
communities.
The Chrysler Museum of Art is being assisted in this recruitment by Development Resources, inc. All resumes and
questions should be sent to chrysler@driconsulting.com.
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Chrysler Museum of Art
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Director & President
Collaborate with the Board of Trustees to develop the strategic vision, mission, and policies of
the Museum.
Champion a culture and atmosphere of strong teamwork, openness, innovation, and commitment
to the Museum’s vision and mission through effective communication and mentoring.
Cultivate productive, mutually beneficial partnerships with peer institutions, as well as
educational institutions.
Ideal Experience
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Bachelor’s degree required and advanced degree preferred.
10 years in a senior leadership role in an art museum.
Business and financial acumen.
Proven track record in leading dynamic organizations and motivating staff and volunteers to
achieve new levels of excellence.
Strong track record in working with art collectors, major donors, and key community partners.
Established success as an effective communicator who is highly skilled in writing and public
speaking.
Track record in gaining respect and trust, and building consensus among superiors, peers, and
subordinates.
Adept at working and building a relationship with a not-for-profit Board of Trustees.
Skilled at motivating board members and utilizing their time, skill sets, and resources
advantageously.
Track record in hiring and leading top-level staff.
Demonstrated experience in fundraising, managing budgets, and supervising personnel.
Personal Characteristics
 A strong relationship-builder who can cultivate long-standing partnerships/commitments and
garner significant resources for the Museum.
 Deeply and genuinely committed to the mission of the Chrysler Museum and its collection,
educational programs, community, and partnerships.
 Visionary and strategic leader.
 Engaging, charismatic “people person”.
 Motivating and inspirational.
 Passionate about art.
 Collaborative and supportive team player; able to create an open collegial atmosphere of trust and
growth.
 Values staff and volunteers.
 High flexibility/adaptability.
To Apply
Questions, resumes, and CVs should be sent to: chrysler@driconsulting.com. For more
information on the Chrysler Museum, please visit their website at www.chrysler.org.
All first round interviews for the Director & President will take place at Development
Resources, inc. or via telephone: 1601 N. Kent Street, Suite 1200, Arlington, VA 22209,
(703) 294-6684.
The Chrysler Museum of Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from
qualified persons of every race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, sexual
orientation, and disability.
The Chrysler Museum of Art is being assisted in this recruitment by Development Resources, inc. All resumes and
questions should be sent to chrysler@driconsulting.com.
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