Director, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts

Posted 2/2/26

Founded in 1930, the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) was the first fine arts museum in the state of Alabama. Its founders, artist John Kelly Kitzpatrick, Mrs. Harry S. Houghton, and the “Morning View Painters”, sought out a community-sponsored space to showcase works by Montgomery-based artists and to enrich the cultural, artistic, and educational life of central Alabama.

Today, MMFA holds a permanent collection of over 4,000 works of art. The Museum’s treasures span the colonial era to the present and include a masterpiece, New York Office, 1962, by realist painter Edward Hopper. In recent decades this extraordinary painting has traveled to Paris, London, and New York for exhibition. The Blount Collection also contains important examples of the work of William Merritt Chase, John Singer Sargent, and other American masters. In addition to other gifts, a bequest from Ida Belle Young made it possible for the Museum to continue to collect rare examples of American art. For example, the Museum has acquired works by Thomas Hart Benton, Edmonia Lewis, and Henry Ossawa Tanner.

During the past few years, the Museum has weathered some challenges but is emerging with a renewed sense of mission and purpose. The next Director will have the opportunity to lead the MMFA into its next chapter of excellence. This leader will have the opportunity to partner with the two Boards, the Director of Cultural Affairs, the staff, the City of Montgomery, and many dedicated stakeholders to chart a path forward through the development of a new strategic plan. The arts community in Montgomery is vibrant and MMFA is a key leader in that effort.

The Director is responsible for leading and managing all operations of the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, a department of the City of Montgomery and a division of the City’s Department of Cultural Affairs. This position reports to the City Museum Board, supported by the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts Association Board, and to the Director of Cultural Affairs, who ensures compliance with personnel policies, budgetary oversight, applicable state statutes, and City procedures. The Director will act as the liaison to other City departments, government agencies, the Montgomery community, and the national art museum community. This role requires strategic planning, fiscal management, and the ability to build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders to ensure the Museum’s continued growth and success.

The Museum Director position is a merit classification for the City of Montgomery, Alabama with a salary range of $97,817 to $166,527 which is commensurate with experience. The annual compensation package includes the City-funded base salary supplemented by an additional amount provided by the Association Board. With this supplement, the overall compensation range is $200,000 to $225,000. The Association Board, within its sole discretion, may also award an annual bonus of up to 10% of the base salary from its funds.

Only applicants who apply to the Montgomery Personnel Board once the position is open will be considered. Interested candidates may send a current resume and letter of interest to Kittleman & Associates, LLC for recruitment purposes.

Please submit a current resume and letter of interest to Kittleman (click on the Apply button at the bottom of the page). For best consideration, please submit your materials by April 18, 2026. When the application portal through the Montgomery Personnel Board opens, Kittleman will reach out to all applicants and provide detailed instructions for completing the required application process.

For more information on Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, please visit here.

MMFA Position Guide

Salary : $97,817 - $166,527