Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs, National Museum of Asian Art

About the National Museum of Asian Art 

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA) is committed to preserving, exhibiting, researching, and interpreting art in ways that deepen the public and scholarly understandings of Asia and the world. NMAA opened in 1923 as the first fine arts museum on the National Mall and the first Asian art museum in the United States. We now steward one of the world’s most important collections of Asian art, with works dating from antiquity to the present, from China, Japan, Korea, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the pre-Islamic Near East, and the Islamic world (inclusive of Central Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa). Because of the unique terms of Charles Lang Freer’s original gift, the museum also holds an important collection of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American artworks.  

Today, we are emerging as a leading national and global resource for understanding the arts, cultures, and societies of Asia, especially at their intersection with America. We believe the future of art museums lies in collaboration, increased access, and transparency. 

To reach this future, NMAA is both subverting and complementing traditional museum practices. Our curators are developing thoughtful and innovative exhibitions that engage with communities and prioritize audience needs. We are building one of the most robust provenance research programs of any museum and creating global partnerships to protect cultural heritage. Our digital presence is growing to become our third set of galleries. We are evolving outreach strategies to respond to diverse audiences who encounter knowledge in new ways. Through all these endeavors, we are building a broad portfolio of scholarship, programming, and education that speaks to current issues in Asian arts, cultures, and societies.   

NMAA just celebrated its centennial in 2023, and we are determined to make our second century as accomplished as our first. We are building on our core strengths—the quality and depth of our collections, scholarship, and conservation—while embracing experimentation and new approaches to our work. We are transforming digitally, physically, and programmatically to draw in new audiences to celebrate, learn, and connect with Asian and American art and cultures, past and present. 

The museum is free and open 364 days a year at our location on the National Mall in Washington, DC. We are embedded in the Smithsonian, the world’s largest museum complex, which welcomes twenty to thirty million visitors yearly. For more information about the National Museum of Asian Art, please visit asia.si.edu.

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 employs more than 6,700 committed professionals, including renowned scientists and scholars, and a comparable number of highly motivated volunteers, interns, fellows, and visiting artists, including over seven hundred fellows and an additional 8,500 digital volunteers. The Smithsonian annually attracts more than twenty million visitors to its museums, and 160 million unique visits to its websites, as well as over eight million followers on social media. It reaches millions of others through its cable channel, magazine, and other publications. The Smithsonian’s vast collections hold more than 157 million objects and specimens. 

Through our unparalleled collections and research capabilities, and the insight and creativity we foster through art, history, and culture, the Smithsonian strives to provide Americans and the world with the tools and information they need to forge Our Shared Future. 

The Opportunity 

The Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs is a cornerstone of the museum's excellence. Their primary responsibilities encompass the management, development, and strategic direction of the museum's curatorial team, which is notable for both its size and breadth of expertise. The new Associate Director will have a unique opportunity to guide the vision and future of the Office of Curatorial Affairs as the museum enters a period of growth and transformation. 

This position will lead the evolution of curatorial work that contributes in significant ways to museum-wide priorities, including broadening and deepening audience impact, fostering transparency in the origins of the collections, and sharing expertise through international collaborations and training. 

In alignment with the museum’s strategic plan, this position will be instrumental in advancing the museum’s stated goals: to expand, preserve, and celebrate its collections; to identify, attract, and serve new and diverse audiences through its physical and digital spaces; to foster an object-inspired understanding of the arts, communities, cultures, and societies of Asia; and to build a museum culture that is creative, collaborative, transparent, and resourceful. 

Specific duties and responsibilities include: 

Curatorial Management and Supervision  

Provides overall management and direction over the staff, which is composed of curators and curatorial assistants with expertise spanning Islamic art, South Asian art, Southeast Asian art, American art, Korean art, ancient Near Eastern art, contemporary art, Japanese art, and Chinese art. Provides overall management and direction over contractors, interns, and ad hoc teams assembled for special projects.  

Recruits, develops, delegates to, and leads an exceptional team; understands Smithsonian policies; and works with the Office of Human Resources to ensure the right people are in the right roles, with the expertise to take responsibility for their respective functions. Fosters a culture that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive, creating opportunities for growth and development. 

Oversees the development, justification, presentation, allocation, and execution of the annual Curatorial Affairs operating budget. Works with staff to develop budget projections that reflect long-range planning for new and ongoing initiatives. 

Vision and Strategy  

Provides leadership and mentorship to staff and guest curators in developing and implementing exhibitions, establishing research priorities, effectively disseminating scholarly work, and organizing programs. Contributes to the long-range planning of the expansion, documentation, display, and stewardship of the collections.  

Plays a senior leadership role in advancing the institution's interpretive work, initiating and leading complex projects that shape institutional priorities and approaches. Spearheads work that leads to new ways of understanding audiences and new ways of connecting to and impacting them. Develops institutional strategies regarding interpretive priorities, program plans and resources, exhibition topics, designs, development techniques, and target audiences.  

Advises the Director and Chief Advancement Officer on potential fundraising approaches for projects that are part of the curatorial plan, delivers presentations to institutional and individual donors and prospects, and defines the curatorial initiatives and goals to secure financial support.

Advances the effectiveness of the institution's operation, serving as a senior representative in discussions about policy and direction. Is an informed, recognized, and respected voice, able to convey broader staff members' needs and integrate them with institutional imperatives. Assumes significant divisional or museum administrative responsibilities, such as institutional planning efforts, rethinking or creating administrative procedures, and playing a leading role on internal committees.  

Research and Scholarship  

Conducts object-based research that results in groundbreaking scholarly contributions to the field and enhances the institution's reputation. Serves as a thought leader and ambassador, both for NMAA and the Smithsonian, extending the institution’s reach and impact.  

As an institutional strategic leader, assesses scholarly proposals from the curatorial team and offers strategic direction for the execution of proposed programs. Oversees and harmonizes the team's activities, ensuring the successful realization of program objectives aligned with the museum's strategic priorities. Supervises staff research and publishing endeavors as well as the proficient distribution of scholarly output through presentations, symposia, and publications tailored for diverse audiences, both general and specialized. 

Represents the museum on a national and international level and ensures appropriate interaction with other Smithsonian offices.  

Candidate Profile 

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 Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs: 

Institutional Advocacy and Alignment 

The Associate Director will be a champion for the museum's mission and priorities, ensuring the curatorial department's goals align with the broader objectives of the institution. They will balance departmental needs with the museum's overall vision, fostering a sense of shared purpose and collaboration across the organization.  

This individual will be passionate about working in partnership with the Director, museum leadership, staff, and other partners to convey a vision of impact for the future and advance the strategic goals of the museum. An inspiring and inclusive leader with strong work ethic and emotional intelligence, the Associate Director will innovate alongside the leadership team, expanding the museum’s reach and impact while upholding its core values. 

Visionary Leadership and Strategic Innovation 

The Associate Director will be the driving force behind the curatorial team's vision and strategy. This role offers the opportunity to lead a diverse and exceptional group of professionals, guiding their development and aligning their goals with the museum's ambitious mission. They will be at the helm of transformative change, helping shape the future of a prestigious institution known for its curatorial excellence. Their leadership will inspire growth, encourage innovation, and provide direction within the team. 

Dynamic Team Building and Mentorship 

In this role, the Associate Director will foster a collaborative and dynamic team environment where individual strengths are harnessed to achieve common goals. They will mentor and unite a highly skilled group of curators, creating a cohesive and synergistic department. Their ability to build strong relationships and promote a culture of cooperation will be key to transforming a department of exceptional individuals into a high-achieving team. 

The ideal candidate is a leader who is self-reflective and aware of their own limitations. They lead by example and drive the organization’s performance with an attitude of continuous improvement by being open to feedback. 

Sophisticated Management and Accountability 

The ideal candidate will bring expertise in management practices that encourage communication and collaboration, build efficiencies, and provide a sustainable framework for the management of resources and work of the department. They will oversee curatorial operations, develop strategic initiatives, and ensure accountability within the team. This position requires navigating complex organizational dynamics, providing the opportunity to implement effective management practices that will set new standards for excellence. Their leadership will be pivotal in fostering a culture of accountability and high performance. 

Problem Solving and Transformation 

A creative problem solver with a passion for innovation will excel in this role. The Associate Director will tackle systemic issues head-on, introducing solutions that catalyze growth and transformation within the curatorial department. Their creativity and ability to implement forward-thinking practices will drive the department, ensuring it remains at the forefront of curatorial excellence and relevance. They will embrace the challenge of overcoming legacy obstacles and lead the way in redefining the museum's future.  

Compensation & Benefits

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $150,000 - $180,000 with a generous benefits package.

The Smithsonian Institution is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.

Contact

Tenley Bank and Naree Viner 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 Tenley directly at [email protected]. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.

Koya Partners is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.