Founded as—and still officially named—the San Diego Society of Natural History, our organization traces its roots to an enthusiastic group of amateur naturalists who came together in 1874 to study the unique flora and fauna of our region. Now known as the San Diego Natural History Museum (and affectionately referred to as The Nat), the organization focuses on the natural history and unique biodiversity of our binational region. With a $12M annual budget and 170 employees, we welcome nearly 400,000 people to the Museum each year. In addition to our location in Balboa Park, The Nat hosts environmental education programs in the community, and we are engaged in scientific research throughout Southern California and the Baja California Peninsula.
While many people know The Nat as a flagship institution in Balboa Park, we are much bigger than our building. The world we live in is an amazing place. We want everyone to understand it better, enjoy it more, and love it as much as we do, so we’ll all protect it for the future. Because we believe that nature is the biggest exhibition of all. For more information, please visit: sdnat.org.
 Leadership & Culture
The Nat is led by Judy Gradwohl, who joined the Museum in July 2016 as the organization’s first woman president and CEO, following more than 30 years at the Smithsonian Institution. Judy’s passion for and wide range of experience in natural history research, science communication, and museum management has taken the organization to new heights. Under her leadership, the Museum developed a new strategic plan focused on regional science, collections, education, and conservation. The Sr. Director of People Operations will report to CFO/COO, Matt Jawlik, a passionate finance, systems, and leadership professional with over 20 years of experience with both nonprofit and corporate organizations. Prior to joining The Nat, Matt served as Deputy CFO for the California Charter Schools Association. The Director will join a convivial and dedicated team of exceptionally talented staff, working collaboratively to help shape The Nat’s future as we head into our 150th anniversary next year.