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THE OPPORTUNITY
The Asian Pacific American Center (APAC) seeks a Director to lead the organization in achieving its goal of establishing a dedicated space on the National Mall to feature the stories of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) as they are reflected across all of the Smithsonian’s collections. The position has the primary responsibility of representing and enhancing public understanding of the heritage of Asian & Pacific Island Americans and their historical and contemporary contributions to the American experience, world cultures, and humanity’s place in the natural world. The Director will also serve as the external face of APAC, inspiring confidence in its capabilities and raising its profile as a distinctive national asset and source of programming.
As a vibrant national resource, APAC serves to elevate the AANHPI experience at the Smithsonian and beyond through its impactful initiatives, dynamic programming, immersive experiences, and inclusive engagement. Recognizing the interconnectedness within America’s diverse populations, APAC fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation for the role of AANHPI communities and their contributions to American life.
Through education initiatives and exhibitions, the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center celebrates the diverse AANHPI cultures, histories, and artistic productions that have contributed to enriching American life and society. APAC’s 25th anniversary in 2022 was an inflection point, galvanizing the support of business and cultural leaders, innovators and artists, community activists and philanthropists, and people from all walks of life.
APAC has embarked on the Keystone Initiative, a $63 million comprehensive campaign aimed at raising its national profile and sustaining APAC’s legacy through two primary goals: Claiming Space ($25 Million) and Securing APAC’s Future ($38 Million). The Keystone Initiative has a bold vision to establish the first-ever dedicated AANHPI gallery on the National Mall. APAC is also engaged in raising funds to endow the director and head of education positions. By spearheading these initiatives for the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, the Director will ensure that AANHPI perspectives and experiences are found throughout the Smithsonian in perpetuity, and the impact of AANHPI peoples and communities are understood as integral to the nation’s history.
ABOUT THE ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN CENTER
The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center (APAC) ensures the comprehensive representation and inclusion of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) across the Smithsonian’s collections, research, exhibitions, and programs. Through education initiatives, publications, and public programs, APAC documents, celebrates, and shares the diverse history, art, and culture of AANHPI communities.
ABOUT THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
Founded in 1846, the Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with twenty-one museums, nine research centers, five educational units, and the National Zoo—shaping the future by preserving heritage, discovering new knowledge, and sharing its resources with the world. Under the leadership of the Secretary, the Smithsonian advances its core values of discovery, creativity, excellence, diversity, integrity, and service. The Smithsonian is governed by the Board of Regents, consisting of the Chief Justice of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, three members of the United States Senate, three members of the United States House of Representatives, and nine citizens appointed by Joint Resolution of Congress. The Secretary of the Smithsonian is appointed by the Board of Regents and oversees the Institution.
CANDIDATE PROFILE
The Director of Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center (APAC) will at the minimum possess a bachelor’s degree in an applicable subject-matter field and senior level professional leadership in a museum, cultural institution or in the educational arena and experience with public programs, curated exhibitions, documentary collections, scholarly research, policy work, or some form of cultural entrepreneurship or development activity. An advanced degree in a related field is highly desirable. The successful candidate will be a recognized leader in the field and will have had experience leading a multi-disciplinary, complex organization or a significant department/division within a larger entity, as shown by at least 10 years of experience.
While it is understood that no one candidate will bring every desired skill, characteristic, and experience, the following offers a reflection of the ideal candidate profile for the Director of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center:
Leadership: An accomplished professional with executive leadership experience, either within a museum, cultural organization, business or governmental agency or a comparable setting with a similarly complex organizational structure, culture, constituencies, and constraints. Must be able to clearly and compellingly articulate a viable, resonating vision that can attract widespread support. Must also be comfortable in a large, complex organization that requires creative leadership and collaborative skills to function as both a leader and a collaborator to harness the diverse talent within APAC as well as among the Smithsonian’s many museums, research centers, and education units and other collegial institutions and organizations. Ability to facilitate the creation and execution of workable agendas within APAC as well as between APAC, various Smithsonian museums and centers, and central administration. Exhibits strong listening, negotiation, and communication skills to resolve impasses and remove roadblocks as they arise to create the conditions that will allow staff to be successful and operate efficiently. Fosters unity, creativity, and innovation, combined with a willingness to take calculated risks, experiment, evaluate results, and adjust as needed. Prior exposure to and success working effectively within a public/private or quasi-governmental entity is a plus.
Expertise and Programmatic Prowess: Experience and demonstrated results in presenting Asian and Pacific American contributions, themes and issues through scholarly research, public programming, exhibitions and /or publications with particular emphasis on reaching, interacting, and engaging with communities through new, digital social media, websites, and applications. Ability to identify and assess elements of APAC’s strategic plan and other initiatives in which APAC and the Smithsonian can achieve success, lead and partner with others.
Fundraising: Ability to set fundraising priorities and strategies. Demonstrated fundraising success and acumen with initiating, developing, and stewarding relationships with board members, individual donors, corporate sponsors, foundations, and government funders.
Partnership: Possesses both entrepreneurial instincts and pragmatic skills to define, coordinate and lead collaborative outreach efforts internally and with other museums, organizations, collaborators, and involved communities. Accomplished in engaging business, government, cultural and community leaders and establishing alliances with other institutions throughout the U.S. and beyond.
Management: A disciplined, strategic thinker who acts purposefully, collaboratively, and pragmatically to identify and take advantage of resources and opportunities to realize an organization’s fullest potential. Demonstrated experience implementing a strategic plan, evaluating its impact and refining it over time. Experience in managing a professional staff, and a complex, multi-source budget. Experience in leading and managing a multi-disciplined and culturally diverse workforce, including fostering teamwork and high morale, attracting, retaining, and mentoring staff, fellows, interns, and volunteers as well as implementing EEO policies and programs. Able to work effectively with a board and partner with other organizations internally and externally to achieve concrete goals and objectives.
Communication: Demonstrated success in developing communication strategies and personally effective in communicating institutional goals, priorities, and accomplishments in both private and public settings. Ability to serve as the external face of the Smithsonian and APAC, inspiring confidence in its capabilities and building its profile as a distinctive national asset and source of public understanding and programming. Interpersonal and communications skills to build relationships and lead collaborative initiatives with both internal and external stakeholders. This includes ability to effectively persuade and influence stakeholders, build trust and credibility, and to form successful partnerships with a wide variety of constituencies (i.e., senior leadership, boards, donors, staff, artists, community leaders) across an organization.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $250,000 - $310,000 with a generous benefits package.
CONTACT
Naree W.S. Viner and Michelle Bonoan of Koya Partners have been exclusively retained for this search. To express interest in this role please submit your materials through our online talent portal, or email Naree and Michelle directly at [email protected]. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.