Executive Director

Heurich House Museum

Status: Full-time, exempt

Salary Range: $115,000–$130,000

Reports to: Board of Trustees 

Location: Washington, DC

About the Heurich House Museum

The Heurich House Museum is dedicated to the exploration of American civic identity through the lens of German immigrant Christian Heurich and his successful DC brewery, while creating programming that offers an equitable path to success for modern local craftspeople. 

The four-story, 13,000-square foot historic home, formerly known as the Brewmaster’s Castle, was built between 1892 and 1894 and is long considered to be one of Washington, DC’s most cherished architectural treasures. One of DC’s last preserved Gilded Age mansions, its original craftsmanship showcases the creativity and ingenuity of the German-American artisans involved in its construction. The museum is equally defined by the stories of the Heurich family, and the people who built the home, worked for the family, brewed the beer, and shaped the city. 

Each year, thousands of visitors bridge the Heurich House Museum’s past with its present: a vibrant historic home, an incubator for small-scale manufacturers, and a public gathering place in the heart of the Dupont Circle neighborhood. Public tours provide inclusive and empathetic DC history while showcasing a beautiful period home, and a variety of programs connect its history to present-day matters, including a special focus on the local maker and brewer community. An "Oktoberfest-style" biergarten is open from February to December, serving as a free, accessible community space for neighbors, visitors, artists, and entrepreneurs to gather, learn, and make meaningful connections. A partnership with the DC-based Right Proper Brewing Co. has led to the revival of three original Heurich recipes, now sold for public consumption throughout the region for the first time since 1956.

The museum’s evolving programming draws upon Heurich’s own successful record as an entrepreneur and manufacturer. The signature Urban Manufacturing Incubator supports local small-scale artisans and manufacturing businesses, ranging from start-up to established. Incubated businesses can access sponsored pop-ups, workshops, fellowships, and are featured in an annual holiday showcase, the Christmas Markt, linking to Heurich's German heritage. Currently, around 300 businesses are incubated by the museum each year.

The museum has an annual budget of approximately $1M and a team of six full-time and 20 part-time employees. A board of directors composed of local cultural and business leaders works in partnership with the executive. Learn more at heurichhouse.org.

Position Overview

The Heurich House Museum seeks an entrepreneurial, community-minded Executive Director (ED) to build on more than a decade of organizational growth and innovation. This is a unique leadership opportunity for someone who thrives at the intersection of history, culture, small business development, and creative placemaking.

The next ED will shape the Museum’s next chapter - expanding programs, deepening neighborhood and civic relationships, strengthening financial sustainability, and advancing critical preservation projects guided by the organization’s Conservation Management Plan. The next ED will steward an annual budget of nearly $1M supported by diverse and healthy revenue streams, including a thriving base of earned income.

Leading a dedicated team of professionals across public programming, interpretation, preservation, incubator services, and biergarten operations, the ED will serve as the Museum’s chief connector, working with local makers, small businesses, DC agencies, funders, donors, and cultural partners to advance our shared vision of an equitable and community-driven cultural institution.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Leadership

• Collaborate with the Board, staff, and community to define a bold, people-centered vision for the Museum’s future.
• Lead long- and short-term planning that blends creativity, financial stewardship, and entrepreneurial thinking in support of the Museum’s mission.
• Drive growth through new mission-aligned revenue opportunities, innovative partnerships, and deeper community engagement.
• Oversee curatorial direction and collections management to interpret the Museum as an important cultural anchor and historic resource in Washington, DC. 
• Work closely with the Board on governance, strategy, member recruitment, and culture.
• Strengthen the Museum’s role as a welcoming hub for neighbors, makers, small-business owners, and visitors.
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External Relations & Fundraising

• Serve as the Museum’s enthusiastic public voice, representing its mission to community groups, small business networks, civic leaders, and the press.
• With the support of a Development Manager, lead fundraising and development efforts that support ambitious public programming, incubator services, and historic preservation.
• Cultivate and expand donor relationships, emphasizing long-term, values-aligned partnerships.
• Steward mission-aligned partnerships that elevate the work of the Heurich House. 
• Partner with staff to design inclusive, relevant, and mission-driven programs that invite broad community participation.
• Oversee grant development and fundraising initiatives across all departments.
• Guide storytelling, digital communication, branding, marketing, and the annual report.
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Operations & Financial Management

• Oversee operations, including contracts, database systems, technology, facility maintenance, and retail/beverage operations.
• Observe best practices in historic preservation and collections management. 
• Prepare and manage annual budgets, ensuring responsible stewardship rooted in transparency and long-term vision.
• Lead and manage loans, investments, and capital repair needs, applying strong financial acumen to balance immediate operational demands with long-term financial health.
• Support and mentor a talented team, nurturing a collaborative, creative, and values-aligned organizational culture.
• Lead strategic program planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Strengthen HR practices and operations to support a healthy, sustainable workplace.
• Foster clear communication and strong internal processes that help the team succeed.
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Experience, Skills & Qualities

The Board recognizes that exceptional candidates bring diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. Strong candidates will demonstrate many of the following:

• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in nonprofits, public sector, or entrepreneurial settings; experience with historic sites or related cultural institutions is highly valued.
• Passion for history, cultural storytelling, and community-building.
• Business acumen, including a working understanding of nonprofit financial management,  contract negotiations, IT systems, marketing, and human resources; experience with sales operations or other innovative earned revenue programs is highly valued. 
• Accomplished people manager with a gift for fostering a culture of accountability, successful delegation, high performance, and effective internal communication with a small team.
• Successful record of fundraising, including cultivating major gifts and nurturing long-term donor relationships.
• Experience cultivating and stewarding community partnerships and civic engagement.
• Strong interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, and a collaborative leadership style.
• Experience leading organizations or programs through growth or transition.
• Excellent communication skills with an ability to inspire diverse audiences.
• Evidence of strong Board partnership and governance experience.
• Commitment to equity, accessibility, and inclusive storytelling.
• Ability to connect genuinely with stakeholders, from makers and neighbors to funders and public officials.
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Location & Travel

The Heurich House Museum is located in Washington, DC’s Dupont Circle neighborhood. While the staff enjoys some flexibility for situational telework, this role requires regular on-site presence and participation in meetings, programs, and evening/weekend events throughout DC.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $115,000–$130,000, commensurate with experience. The Museum offers a competitive benefits package including health and dental, and transit benefits. 

How to Apply

The Heurich House Museum is partnering with Good Insight on this search. Please submit a resume and detailed cover letter at: good-insight.org/careers. Confidential inquiries may be sent to Carlyn Madden, Ana Chapa, and Tej Pikle at HHM@good-insight.org.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Museum is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and celebrate the diversity of lived experiences that enrich our work and our community.