The Pike Place Market Foundation has kicked off a formal national search for a permanent executive director, posting the job this week with a priority application deadline in early April. Interim Executive Director Lisa Chin, who has led the foundation since March 2025, will stay in the role while the board works through the process, a move aimed at steadying leadership ahead of spring fundraising and community events.
Job Posting Spells Out Pay, Deadline and Recruiter
The foundation’s job posting lists a target salary range of $225,000 to $250,000 and sets a priority application deadline of April 6, 2026, according to LinkedIn. The listing notes that the board is partnering with executive search firm Valtas and asks applicants to submit a cover letter and résumé. The opening is also posted on platforms such as Idealist, signaling that the search is casting a wide net.
Interim Leadership Holding Steady
Lisa Chin was named interim executive director in March 2025, the foundation said in a post on the Pike Place Market Foundation website. Her résumé reflects decades of nonprofit leadership and civic involvement, and the foundation has said she will provide continuity while the board conducts the national search.
Background: How the Foundation Got Here
The leadership search follows a fraught stretch after the foundation withdrew support for a "Day of Remembrance" event in February 2025 and later apologized, an episode that drew public scrutiny and preceded turnover among senior staff, The Seattle Times reported. Community leaders said the controversy highlighted the foundation’s dual role as a fundraiser and a steward of relationships across Pike Place Market’s vendors and resident services, raising the stakes for whoever takes over the top job.
Board Priorities and Candidate Profile
The board is emphasizing candidates with strong fundraising experience, deep community engagement skills and an equity-centered approach, according to reporting by the Puget Sound Business Journal. The foundation’s board roster lists Kirsten Anderson as president and features directors with fundraising and corporate experience, per the Pike Place Market Foundation staff page.
How to Apply and What Comes Next
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with a priority deadline of April 6, 2026. Prospective candidates are asked to submit a cover letter and résumé to Valtas, the recruiter handling the search, or apply through the public posting on LinkedIn. Questions about the role can be directed to the contacts listed in the posting. The new executive director will oversee the foundation’s fundraising and programs that support the Market’s food bank, senior services and small-business assistance, according to the public description on Pike Place Market. In short, whoever lands the job will be stepping into a role with a lot of community weight on their shoulders.
