Managing Director

The White House Historical Association, Managing Director 

About The White House Historical Association 

The White House Historical Association (WHHA) is a non-profit, non-partisan educational organization founded in 1961 by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy to enhance the understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of the Executive Mansion. For more than sixty years, the Association has produced award-winning books on a wide range of subjects related to the history of the President’s House and has actively fulfilled its educational mission with robust educational programming and retail offerings.

“The People’s House: A White House Experience” is a cutting-edge education center that will tell the story of the Executive Mansion, its inhabitants and the people who have dedicated their careers to its functions. It will feature exhibits and galleries that bring the White House and its storied history to life. Set to open in September 2024.

Situated on 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, the 33,000-square-foot three-floor site will feature exhibits and galleries bringing the White House and its storied history to life. Visitors will interact with a large-scale White House model, recreation of the Rose Garden, full-scale replica of the Oval Office, recreation of White House moments and more dimensional galleries combining immersive media and inventive scenic representations. Located within a building recently renovated by Gensler, the firm that will be overseeing the construction and architectural designs, the new space will create an inviting experience about one of the most important institutions in the world with exhibits planned by Ralph Appelbaum Associates. The space will also feature a 1,500-square-foot flagship retail store. Above the exhibit and retail space will lie a new educational wing, designed for students and other groups to further explore the exhibit’s contents.

Our Mission: Today, our mission of acquisition, preservation, research, and education continue through generous private donations and the sale of our books, products, and the Official White House Ornament.

For more information on The White House Historical Association, please visit website.

The Opportunity

The Managing Director of the People’s House is an inaugural key role that will be crucial in ensuring “The People’s House” opens and operates at a high standard. The Managing Director will have the opportunity to shape the operations and strategic goals of this new educational, museum, and visitor experience.

This position will report directly to the President of the White House Historical Association and will work in close collaboration with the Chief Education Officer; Chief Financial Officer; Chief Development Officer; and the Vice President of Marketing, Communications, and Engagement. They will supervise a team of museum professionals, including the Director of the People’s House Operations; Director of Guest Services & Experience; Director of Exhibits; and the staff on their respective teams.

Contact

Liz Lombard and Angie Sessoms of Koya Partners have been exclusively retained for this search. To express your interest in this role please submit your materials via the Talent Profile or to Angie directly at asessoms@koyapartners.com. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential. 

Koya Partners is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email NonprofitSearchOps@divsearch.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

About Koya Partners

Koya Partners, part of Diversified Search Group, is a leading executive search and strategic advising firm dedicated to connecting exceptionally talented people with mission-driven clients. Our founding philosophy—The Right Person in the Right Place Can Change the World—guides our work as we partner with nonprofits & NGOs, institutions of higher education, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.

At Koya, we don’t just accept difference—we celebrate it, support it, and thrive on it for the benefit of our team, our clients, and the communities we serve.

For more information about Koya Partners, visit koyapartners.com.