Job Description
Director of Public Engagement and Learning, IS-1701-13
Application Deadline: 28 August 2026
Department: Asian Pacific American Center
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Washington, DC
Reporting To: Yao-Fen You
Compensation: $121,785 - $138,024 / year
OPEN DATE: August 10, 2026
CLOSING DATE: August 28, 2026
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC
Position sensitivity and risk:
Non-Sensitive
Open to all qualified applicants
What are Trust Fund Positions?
Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).
Conditions of Employment
- Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
- Complete a Probationary Period.
- Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
- The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
- Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.
This position is located in the Asian Pacific American Center (APAC), Under Secretary for Museums and Culture at Smithsonian Institution (SI). APAC ensures the comprehensive representation 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 provides new avenues to document, celebrate, and share the rich and diverse history, art, and culture of AANHPIs.
This position leads the development, implementation, and ongoing stewardship of APAC’s educational and interpretive programs for audiences of all ages, including pre-K through 12 learners, teachers and educators, and the general public. This role provides strategic direction and coordination to ensure that all programs meaningfully engage the community, deepen visitor learning, and reflect APAC’s commitment to creating welcoming, engaging, and community centered experiences.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Leadership & Program Management
- Provide vision, leadership, and strategic direction for all public engagement, educational, and learning initiatives.
- Develop and implement a comprehensive learning strategy that advances APAC’s mission and expands audience engagement.
- Advise the Director on education, public programming, audience engagement, and learning-related initiatives.
- Lead the planning, development, execution, and evaluation of educational and public-facing programs for diverse audiences.
- Identify and pursue innovative opportunities to engage learners in formal, informal, and out-of-school learning environments.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of long-range strategic plans for education and public engagement.
Education & Learning Content Development
- Design and oversee culturally relevant, community-responsive, and research-based educational programs that explore AANHPI history, culture, and lived experiences.
- Develop learning experiences and resources for PreK-12 students, educators, families, and general audiences.
- Ensure educational content, resources, and outreach efforts are aligned with organizational goals and accessible to diverse audiences.
- Serve as the organization's lead expert on educational theory, curriculum development, learning standards, and museum-based pedagogy.
- Research emerging trends and best practices in museum education, informal learning, and community-based engagement to enhance programs and visitor experiences.
- Analyze audience data, visitor feedback, and program evaluation results to inform program development and continuous improvement.
Exhibition & Audience Engagement
- Collaborate with curators, designers, media specialists, and exhibition teams to incorporate educational and interpretive components into exhibitions.
- Develop family-focused, school-centered, and public programs that deepen engagement with exhibition content.
- Oversee the successful delivery of educational projects, including K-12 programs, educator professional development, gallery tours, digital learning initiatives, public programs, and community convenings.
- Ensure educational offerings create meaningful, engaging, and impactful learning experiences for visitors of all ages.
Community Partnerships & External Relations
- Build and maintain strategic partnerships with schools, community organizations, cultural institutions, and public and private sector stakeholders.
- Collaborate with leadership to develop and implement data-driven community outreach strategies that expand local and national engagement.
- Engage community organizations to identify needs, strengthen relationships, and develop collaborative educational initiatives.
- Represent APAC in professional associations, committees, working groups, public forums, and high-level negotiations.
- Serve as a key ambassador for APAC's educational mission and community engagement efforts.
Team Leadership & Operational Excellence
- Lead, mentor, and support education and engagement staff, ensuring a high level of pedagogical expertise and visitor-centered program design.
- Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning within the team.
- Establish performance goals, monitor program outcomes, and ensure timely execution of initiatives.
- Identify operational challenges and implement effective solutions to achieve strategic objectives.
Financial Management & Resource Development
- Develop, manage, and monitor budgets for educational and public engagement programs.
- Ensure effective allocation of resources and alignment of expenditures with organizational priorities and program goals.
- Collaborate with Advancement staff to identify funding opportunities and support fundraising initiatives.
- Contribute to donor cultivation and stewardship efforts by demonstrating program impact and outcomes.
- Prepare grant reports, donor updates, and program summaries for funding organizations and stakeholders.
- Monitor program performance, assess risks, and implement corrective actions to ensure successful outcomes and responsible stewardship of resources.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Education and Experience: To qualify for this position, applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from an accredited four-year college or university on a related field, and/or 8-10 years of related experience (described below); or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Minimum of 8 years of experience in museum interpretation, education, or public programming
- Demonstrated leadership and project management skills, particularly in leading cross-functional teams
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to engage and inspire diverse audiences
- Expert knowledge of the development of programs on current and relevant issues that relate to Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
- Knowledge of and experience working with AANHPI communities, organizations, and stakeholders in the United States, specifically on education-related initiatives.
- Experience managing budgets and staff, ensuring efficient and effective program delivery
- Demonstrated ability to provide management oversight, leadership, and direction with at least five years of supervisory experience, including experience creating and managing a budget
- Demonstrated experience, ability, and desire to collaborate with colleagues from multiple departments and disciplines.
- A data centric mindset as demonstrated by the understanding and use of audience data to inform decision making
- Experience managing large scale public engagements
Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.
Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.
Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."
Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.
What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.
Relocation expenses are not paid.
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact
nasserj@si.edu Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s
Accommodation Procedures The Smithsonian Institution is an
Equal Opportunity Employer To review The Smithsonian's EEO program information, please click the following:
https://www.si.edu/oeo
