CALIFORNIA STATE PARK MUSEUM DIRECTOR
Sacramento County, CA, USA
USD 10,010-11,367 / month
Job Posting: California State Park Museum Director
Department of Parks & Recreation
CALIFORNIA STATE PARK MUSEUM DIRECTOR
$10,010.00 - $11,367.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
Final Filing Date: 8/12/2026
Job Description and Duties
CALIFORNIA STATE PARK MUSEUM DIRECTOR – CAPITAL DISTRICT / CALIFORNIA STATE RAILROAD MUSEUM
The reporting location for this position is the California State Railroad Museum, located at 125 I Street, Sacramento, California. This position works under the general direction of the District Superintendent.
The California State Park Museum Director manages the Old Sacramento Sector of the Capital District, which includes Old Sacramento State Historic Park, the California State Railroad Museum, the Sacramento Southern Railroad, and the historic Southern Pacific Shops. The California State Railroad Museum is one of the premier railroad museums in the world, welcoming more than 600,000 visitors annually while preserving and interpreting one of the nation's most significant collections of railroad artifacts, archival materials, library collections, historic locomotives, and rolling stock. This executive-level position provides leadership for all aspects of museum operations, including strategic planning, administration, visitor services, interpretation, collections management, exhibits, educational programming, volunteer engagement, and special events. The Museum Director works collaboratively with State Parks staff, volunteers, the California State Railroad Museum Foundation, governmental agencies, community organizations, and industry partners to ensure exceptional visitor experiences while advancing the museum's mission and long-term vision.
As the Cooperating Association Liaison (CAL), the Museum Director maintains a strong partnership with the California State Railroad Museum Foundation, working closely with its President and CEO, staff, and Board of Directors to establish shared priorities, implement major initiatives, support fundraising efforts, and ensure compliance with State policies governing cooperating associations. The Museum Director serves as a member of the Capital District Management Team, providing leadership on district-wide initiatives and collaborating with program managers to support operations throughout the Old Sacramento Sector. The position is responsible for budget development and oversight, personnel management, regulatory compliance, long-range planning, and fostering strong relationships with community stakeholders, educational institutions, historical organizations, government agencies, railroads, industry representatives, and the public.
This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced museum executive who possesses strong leadership, organizational, communication, fiscal management, and partnership-building skills, along with a passion for preserving and interpreting California's railroad heritage.
Occasional travel may be required. Possession of a valid driver’s license is required when operating a state owned or leased vehicle.
State housing is NOT available . For further information regarding this position, please contact John Fraser at 916-215-5148 or e-mail John.Fraser@parks.ca.gov.
This position is designated as not telework eligible.
This recruitment may be used to fill identical vacancies which may occur within 180 days of the Final Filing Date of this job posting.
You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.
Working Conditions
The Museum Director works in a combination of office, museum, rail yard, maintenance shop, storage, and outdoor environments. The position requires prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, and the use of computers and other standard office equipment. The incumbent routinely walks through museum galleries, exhibit spaces, rail yards, historic structures, maintenance facilities, and collection storage areas. Work is performed both indoors and outdoors and may require exposure to varying weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, wind, and direct sunlight. The position may also involve exposure to dust, dirt, noise, vibrations, moving railroad equipment, construction activities, and other operational hazards while following established safety procedures. The incumbent must be able to climb stairs, negotiate uneven terrain, and safely access railroad equipment, historic structures, and maintenance areas. The position occasionally requires lifting, carrying, or moving materials weighing up to 25 pounds. The Museum Director is expected to attend meetings, special events, public programs, and community functions during evenings, weekends, and holidays as operational needs require. Occasional travel throughout California is required for meetings, conferences, training, and partnership activities. The incumbent must communicate effectively with staff, volunteers, partners, stakeholders, and the public in a variety of settings.
Minimum Requirements
You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.Additional Documents
Position Details
Department Information
The mission of California State Parks is to provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state's extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation.
All employees are responsible for contributing to an inclusive, safe, and secure work environment that values diverse cultures, perspectives, and experiences, and is free from discrimination.
Special Requirements
The selected candidate is required to submit to a background investigation process utilizing Live Scan fingerprinting prior to appointment.
Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is a discussion of how an applicant's education, training, experience, and skills meet the criteria in the duty statement and qualify the applicant for the position.
Please include a 1-2 page(s), 12-point font, Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) that describes your experience as it relates to this position/Duty Statement. Resumes and cover letters will not take the place of the SOQ.
Failure to include and complete the SOQ may result in disqualification for interview.
Candidates that believe they meet the Minimum qualifications based on a pattern of education from the classification description (specifications) must provide a copy of your degree/transcripts and/or license along with your application (STD. 678) to be considered for this position. If selected for the position Official sealed transcripts will be required prior to appointment.
DO NOT include any confidential information to your application or supporting documents (i.e., Social Security Number, birthdate, marital status, medical information, examination results, method of eligibility, etc.)
SROA/SURPLUS Applicants: You must check the SROA/Surplus as your claimed method of eligibility and attach your SROA/Surplus letter as an additional document.
Application Instructions
Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.
Final Filing Date: 8/12/2026Who May Apply
Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).
How To Apply
Address for Mailing Application Packages
You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:
Address for Drop-Off Application Packages
You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:
Required Application Package Documents
The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:
- Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
- Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
- Statement of Qualifications - Please see "Special Requirements."
Desirable Qualifications
- Executive or senior management experience in a museum, cultural resource, or heritage organization.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing complex operations.
- Experience with strategic planning, budgeting, and personnel management.
- Demonstrated success developing partnerships, cultivating donors, and working with nonprofit foundations or cooperating associations.
- Experience overseeing museum collections, exhibits, educational programming, and visitor services.
- Strong communication and public presentation skills with experience representing an organization before community leaders, elected officials, and stakeholder groups.
- Knowledge of museum standards, cultural resource management, and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Possession of a Master's Degree, preferably in Business or Public Administration, Management, Marketing, or a field relating to the study, interpretation, and preservation of cultural resources; advanced training in museum management.
- Demonstrated knowledge and interest in the fields of history, preservation, and interpretation.
Contact Information
The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.
John Fraser
(916) 215-5148
john.fraser@parks.ca.gov
Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.
EEO Contact:Sharon Comas - EEO Office
(916) 653-9990
sharon.comas@parks.ca.gov
Additional Instructions
If submitting your completed Application Package by mail or hand delivery, you must include the Position # 549-677-2864-002 and the Job Control # JC-525696 in the “Examination or Job Title for which you are applying” section on the STD. 678. Note: If you are applying for multiple positions, you must complete a STD. 678 for each position separately. Incomplete applications or applications received with multiple positions listed on one application will not be considered.
Employment History on the STD 678 must be complete and include dates, accurate hours per week, total time worked, duties and responsibilities, and contact names and phone numbers of supervisors. Failure to submit a completed STD 678 may result in you being screened out. Only the most qualified candidates will be invited to an interview.
Eligibility Information
To be appointed you must satisfy one of the following requirements:
- List Eligibility – Successfully complete the civil service exam for CA STATE PARK MUSEUM DIRECTOR. Click here for more information on how to apply for the exam. NOTE: Please refer to the exam bulletin for the frequency of administration of this exam.
- Transfer Eligibility – Must have current employment with the State of California in the same classification or in a classification that is comparable. If in a different classification, you must meet the minimum qualifications (see Minimum Qualifications section and associated links above).
- Reinstatement Eligibility – Previously obtained permanent employment with the State of California in the same classification or in a classification that is comparable. If in a different classification, you must meet the minimum qualifications (see Minimum Qualifications section and associated links above).
In some special circumstances, candidates who meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position, but who do not have one of the types of eligibility listed above, may be hired. However, this is rare, and the preferred method of appointment is through eligibility as described above.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.
It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.
