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The Opportunity
The Asian Pacific American Center (APAC) seeks a Director to lead the organization with ambitions to realize the Center’s strategic plan that calls for engaging a broad public by creating an ongoing programmatic presence on the National Mall as well as collaborative projects with museums nationwide. Central to realizing these goals will be developing and implementing a compelling vision for content delivery and public engagement, which requires strong leadership, team management, and securing necessary resources, including but not limited to philanthropic funds.
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 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 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 exhibitions and education initiatives, 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 a multi-year goal of raising $63 million to ensure the financial stability of the organization and continued success; $20M of that is their stated goal for the current overall Smithsonian campaign, For Our Shared Future. APAC is also engaged in raising funds to endow the director and head of education positions, and for a dedicated gallery on the National Mall. Sources include corporations, foundations, and individual donors. By leading 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 Smithsonian 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.
For more information about the Asian Pacific American Center, please visit apa.si.edu.
Candidate Profile
The Director of Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center (APAC) will at 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
- EXPERTISE AND PROGRAMMATIC PROWESS
- FUNDRAISING AND RELATIONSHIP BUILDING
- PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION
- ORGANIZATIONAL AND TEAM MANAGEMENT
- COMPELLING/ENGAGING COMMUNICATION
Compensation & Benefits
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $275,000 - $350,000 with a generous benefits package.
Contact
Naree W.S. Viner and Michelle Bonoan of DSG | Koya 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.