Professional Position
Director, Asian Pacific American Program
Smithsonian Institution
Closing Date: November 1, 2010
Given the increasing importance of Asian and Pacific heritage and innovation in
today's world and its global economy, the importance of the Pacific and Indian
Oceans and their ecology, as well as the growth of the Asian American
population and its influence in the United States, the Smithsonian requires a
robust Asian & Pacific Islander American program in the coming years. To that
end, the Smithsonian is in the midst of transforming its current Asian Pacific
American Program into the Smithsonian Asian & Pacific Islander American Center.
The Director will lead the initiative to develop a Smithsonian Asian & Pacific
Islander American Center at the Institution and nationally, building upon the
foundation of the Smithsonian's current Asian Pacific American Program.
The Director will be responsible to work with and build collections, expand
staff, create a national advisory board, and help formulate a new type of
museum presence that takes full advantage of new media and the growth of Asian
American and Pacific Islander American communities.
The Director has the primary responsibility to enhance public understanding of
the heritage of Asian & Pacific Island Americans and their historical and
contemporary contributions to the American experience, to world cultures, and
to the study and appreciation of the natural world as articulated in the
Smithsonian's Strategic Plan "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and
Discovery. " The Director enables the Smithsonian Institution as a whole to
appropriately represent Asian & Pacific Islander Americans in its research
programs, collections, and educational and outreach activities, in its
workforce, its advisory boards, and among fellows and interns.
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Advises and consults with the Secretary, the Under Secretary for History,
Art, and Culture and other appropriate senior management officials on
pan-Institutional programs and issues with respect to the representation of the
diverse heritage of Asian & Pacific Islander Americans, their historical and
ongoing contributions to the American experience, and connections to various
other groups, communities and the nation as a whole. In this capacity, manages
any pan-Institutional Asian & Pacific Islander American fund.
2. Directs the current Asian Pacific American Program and will direct the
Smithsonian Asian & Pacific Islander American Center, with responsibility for
its scholarly activities, exhibitions, educational and public programs, its
on-online presence, the development and management of its staff, board, and
volunteers, oversight and enhancement of its fiscal resources, and its
consistency and compliance with Smithsonian policies, plans, and procedures.
3. Coordinates a distinguished advisory board of public officials, civic,
business, philanthropic, and academic leaders with a view of supporting
programs and initiatives and advancing the national interest in the
representation of Asian & Pacific Islander American achievement in history,
arts, culture, science and technology, in the context of the American
experience and its connections to world cultures.
4. Develops and maintains scholarly and educational relations with other
Smithsonian museums, research centers, consortia and programs, and seeks
collaborative projects and activities that represent Asian & Pacific Islander
American heritage and contributions to the American experience and relationship
to other world cultures. Such may involve joint staff appointments,
collaborative research, the acquisition of important artifactual, art, and
documentary collections, exhibitions, educational and public programs, websites
and publications, online and media products, community outreach, et al.
5. Promotes Institutional partnerships with museums, universities, educational
consortia and community organizations. Develops strategies that identify and
encourage increased Asian American and Pacific Islander American candidate
pools for Smithsonian employment. Facilitates opportunities to train Asian
Americans and Pacific Islander Americans in museum-related fields of study, in
an effort to increase internships and fellowships in the museum profession.
6. Serves as primary liaison within the Smithsonian to Asian American and
Pacific Islander American community groups, national organizations, scholarly
and professional associations, academic departments and other organizations.
Aids the Secretary, Under Secretary, and Office of Government Relations in
representing Asian and Pacific Islander American activities, issues and needs
at the Smithsonian to the Office of Management & Budget, the Regents, members
and committees of Congress.
7. Builds public awareness of all of the Smithsonian's Asian American and
Pacific Islander American programs and activities, and works with the Office of
Public Affairs as appropriate in order to do so.
8. Raises funds for the Center and its activities. Develops relationships with
corporate and philanthropic sectors, encourages and applies for government and
foundation grants so as to increase resources available for research and
educational activities focused upon Asian American and Pacific Islander
American heritage and contributions to the American experience. Works with the
Office of Development as appropriate.
9. Maintains active scholarly or professional standing and reputation by
conducting research, or publishing work, or making public presentations in the
Asian American and Pacific Islander American fields.
Experience and Qualifications Sought:
1. Knowledge of the historical, cultural, artistic, and scientific
contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islander American communities and
individuals with a broad inter- and trans-disciplinary perspective and an
orientation that allows for the inclusion of diverse peoples and communities.
2. Experience and demonstrated results in presenting Asian American and
Pacific Islander 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.
3. Demonstrated ability to connect Asian American and Pacific Islander
American-related contributions, themes and issues to those of other Americans
and peoples of the world.
4. Demonstrated entrepreneurial ability to build relationships and
collaborate with Smithsonian museum and program directors and staff as well as
external organizations to leverage support for and participation in programs.
5. Successful track record of raising funds from individuals, foundations,
corporations and governmental organizations through gifts, grants and
partnerships.
6. Communications and nimble social skills to represent the organization, its
mission, vision, topical and content focus to Smithsonian directors and senior
management, advisory groups, government officials and international
dignitaries, community leaders, members, and civic groups and to the media.
7. Demonstrated skills for 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,
and implementing EEO/Affirmative Action policies and programs.
How to Apply: E-mail your resume and cover letter indicating your interest in
position # EX-10-22 to:
Tom Lawrence
Office of Human Resources
202-633-6319
lawrencet@si.edu
This a senior Smithsonian Trust position. Salary range is based on a
comprehensive market survey of positions with similar authority and scope of
responsibilities. The individual selected for this position is subject to a
full-field background investigation and will be required to file a confidential
statement of employment and financial interests. The Smithsonian provides
reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a
reasonable accommodation for the application/hiring process, please call (202)
633-6370 (voice) or (202) 633-6409 (TTY).
The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that a
workforce comprising a variety of educational, cultural and experiential
backgrounds support and enhance our daily work life and contribute to the
richness of our exhibitions and programs. See Smithsonian EEO program
information: www.si.edu/oeema.