Featured Job Listing: Chief Executive Officer

U.S. Space & Rocket Center Commission | Huntsville, Alabama

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center, home of the globally recognized Space Camp®, seeks a results-oriented and experienced business, non-profit, or state agency leader to serve as its next Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This is an exciting opportunity to lead a nationally recognized institution with a talented team and inspire current and future generations of space explorers, scientists, and innovators. The USSRC is an iconic institution that brings humanity’s journey to space vividly to life, housing one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of rockets and other space artifacts. A unique experience for both children and adults, campers and visitors report participating in life transforming adventures, leaving inspired and excited to continue to explore the ideas they discovered in their time on campus. The USSRC is an international hub for innovative space and STEM learning that honors America’s space exploration legacy. Locally, the acclaimed Center serves as a vital cultural and economic anchor for the thriving city of Huntsville, reinforcing the city’s identity as “Rocket City”.

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is a world-class education hub and visitor destination welcoming more than 650,000 guests annually. An agency of the State of Alabama, the Center serves as the official Visitor Center for NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, offering a museum and many other immersive experiences anchored by iconic artifacts such as the Saturn V Moon rocket, the Pathfinder space shuttle stack, and Apollo-era hardware. Through hands-on exhibits, simulators, theaters, Space Camp® and related STEM programs, USSRC unites education, innovation, and inspiration. Recent transformative investments, made possible through a successful $65 million capital campaign, include a new Space Camp Operations Center and the restoration of Rocket Park. These and other Center enhancements reflect a dynamic institution committed to honoring its legacy while advancing the future of space exploration and STEM learning.

The Chief Executive Officer reports to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center Commission and is responsible for the overall success of the Center, advancing its mission to inspire the spirit of discovery through education and immersive engagement across its camps, museum, events, and artifacts. The public face of the institution, the CEO provides strategic, supervisory, operational, and financial leadership for an organization of approximately 300 full-time and 300–500 part-time/seasonal employees and an operating budget of roughly $46 million. The ideal CEO brings strong business and operational acumen who is adept at managing multiple lines of business. To be successful, the CEO must be a highly effective manager and teambuilder, excel in public engagement, a successful fundraiser and partnership cultivator, who will strategically lead the Center to remain cutting-edge, groundbreaking, and a global leader in STEM and space exploration education.

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent electronically below.

Jackie Mildner is leading this search with Ivan Ceballos and Pamela Carty.

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.