The Baltimore Museum of Industry (BMI) invites applications for the position of Executive Director at a time when the changing nature of work, technology, and industry gives its mission particular relevance. Located on Baltimore's historic waterfront, BMI tells the stories of the people and enterprises that shaped the city's industrial past while exploring the forces transforming work and society today. The next Executive Director will have an opportunity to build on the Museum's educational and interpretive strengths, broaden its reach and influence, and develop compelling programs and partnerships that attract audiences and investment. Working with an experienced staff and committed Board of Trustees, the Executive Director will advance the Museum's ambitions while strengthening its organizational capacity and long-term financial sustainability.
Baltimore Museum of Industry
Founded in 1979, the Baltimore Museum of Industry preserves and interprets the region's rich industrial heritage and the experiences of the people whose work shaped the city. Over the past several decades, BMI has evolved from a museum focused primarily on industrial artifacts and technologies into an institution that places workers, communities, and innovation at the center of its storytelling. Its mission is to "interpret the diverse and significant human stories behind labor and innovation in Baltimore, cultivating a sense of belonging and inspiring visitors to think critically about the intersection of work and society."
The Museum occupies a historic former oyster cannery on the south shore of Baltimore's Inner Harbor, a setting that connects its exhibitions and programs to the city's industrial and maritime past. The building is owned by the City of Baltimore and leased to BMI for a nominal $1 annually. It is situated on an approximately five-acre waterfront campus, which includes direct access to the harbor. The Museum’s permanent exhibitions re-create historic workplaces and explore industries that helped build Baltimore, including manufacturing, food processing, printing, transportation, and communications.
Changing exhibitions have included Women of Steel, highlighting the experiences of women employed at Bethlehem Steel's Sparrows Point plant; Collective Action, exploring labor activism in 21st-century Baltimore; and Key Bridge: Building a Baltimore Landmark, examining the bridge's construction and history and laying the groundwork for a major new exhibition, scheduled to open in 2027, about the historic 2024 Key Bridge collapse and the Port of Baltimore. Public programs include Then & Now, a series connecting historical and contemporary industries; Industry Social Club, which brings together Baltimore professionals and entrepreneurs; and the Museum's popular seasonal farmers market. Together, these activities connect Baltimore's industrial history to contemporary questions about work, technology, and community.
Education is central to BMI's mission. The Museum offers fourteen educational programs aligned with Maryland's educational standards, using hands-on experiences and historical interpretation to engage students in the history and future of work. In fiscal year 2026, BMI served approximately 25,800 students, teachers, and chaperones, including more than 3,900 students from Title I schools who received substantially subsidized admission. Its Maryland Engineering Challenges program engaged an additional 1,500 young participants and attendees in engineering and problem-solving activities. Overall, BMI welcomes more than 89,000 visitors annually.
BMI maintains extensive collections, including 750,000 objects and 4,500 linear feet of archival materials that illuminate the economic and social history of Baltimore and Maryland. Recent additions include the Baltimore Gas and Electric archives and the A. Aubrey Bodine photographic collection. The Museum has strengthened its collections management and documentation practices and continues to expand access to these resources through exhibitions, research, and interpretation.
The Museum's waterfront campus is both a distinctive institutional asset and an important community gathering place. In addition to its exhibition spaces, BMI offers indoor and outdoor facilities for weddings, corporate functions, and other events, providing a significant source of earned income. The campus also hosts community activities and occupies a prominent position along a developing stretch of Baltimore's waterfront.
BMI operates with an annual budget of approximately $3 million through a combination of philanthropic contributions, government grants, educational programs, and earned revenue including admissions and facility rentals. The Museum employs seventeen full-time and 30 part-time staff members, supported by volunteers, and is governed by a Board of Trustees of nineteen members drawn from Baltimore's business, civic, and cultural communities. Its senior leadership team oversees curatorial affairs, education and visitor engagement, development, marketing and communications, and operations and finance.
Under the twelve-year leadership of retiring Executive Director Anita Kassof, BMI has strengthened its professional staff, expanded its community-centered interpretation, improved collections stewardship, and established a more collaborative organizational culture. The Museum enters this leadership transition with an experienced team, a distinctive mission, and significant opportunities to strengthen its role in Baltimore's cultural and civic life.
The Opportunity
BMI has strengthened its exhibitions, educational programs, collections stewardship, and community engagement over the past decade, establishing a solid foundation for future growth. With a mission that speaks directly to contemporary issues surrounding work, technology, and society, and a distinctive waterfront campus, BMI is well positioned to expand its reach and influence. The next Executive Director will have the opportunity to build on these strengths while advancing several important institutional priorities, including the following:
