Director, National Museum of African American History and Culture

ABOUT THE SMITHSONIAN AND THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE

The Smithsonian Institution (SI) is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo – shaping the future by preserving heritage, discovering new knowledge, and sharing our resources with the world. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive cultural destination devoted exclusively to exploring, documenting, and showcasing the African American story and its impact on American and world history. Occupying a prominent location next to the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the nearly 400,000-square-foot museum was established by an Act of Congress in 2003, following decades of efforts to promote and highlight the contributions of African Americans. The Museum opened to the public on September 24, 2016, as the 19th museum of the Smithsonian Institution, and in June 2024 welcomed its 11 millionth visitor.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture opened with 12 permanent exhibitions telling the nation’s story through the African American lens. Since then, it has debuted additional temporary exhibitions on topics ranging from the Great Migration, African Americans in World War I, and the Civil Rights Movement, to Reconstruction, Afrofuturism, and the powerful Emmett Till Memorial. The Museum has hosted hundreds of public programs and is actively collecting items to document the history of enslavement, art history, and contemporary social justice movements. Social justice is more than a theme or a program at NMAAHC, it is embedded in the Museum’s approach to collections, exhibitions, education, programming, and fundraising.

NMAAHC is a place where all Americans can learn about the richness and diversity of the African American experience and how it helped to shape this nation. The primary purpose of NMAAHC is to acquire, maintain, and preserve objects which document social, cultural, political, military, technological, and scientific developments in the United States related to the African American experience; to conduct scholarly research designed to make significant contributions to the body of knowledge in the field of African American history; to publish findings for both scholarly and general audiences; and to interpret historical developments through public exhibits and programs as well as digital content. Within the Museum, a range of exhibitions leverage powerful first-person accounts alongside poignant artifacts to foster a deeper understanding of historical content and draw meaningful connections across the lines of history through to present day.

The Museum’s digital strategy provides global access to the Museum’s collections, resources, and bold storytelling. NMAAHC remains at the forefront of cultural responsiveness and brings engaging and educational offerings to the public both online and in person, with over 20,000 or nearly half of its holdings digitized and searchable. The Searchable Museum is the Museum’s signature digital initiative that offers online exhibitions, virtual symposia, and digital programs. It launched on NMAAHC’s fifth anniversary (2021), allowing the museum to go beyond its walls and engage a global audience, with the ultimate goal of bringing all of its permanent exhibitions online. The first digital exhibition to be shared on the Searchable Museum site was Slavery and Freedom, creating a compelling online experience from the existing physical exhibition in the Museum’s history galleries. Utilizing constellations to encourage curiosity and exploration, it has transformed the narrative structure and tone of the Museum’s gallery experience while offering virtual visitors the ability to hold history in their hands. The Searchable Museum’s offerings have now expanded to seven online exhibitions, from Reconstruction to Afrofuturism, with more underway.

From its inception, NMAAHC has elevated the curation, study, and presentation of African American history. Besides welcoming more than 12 million visitors in person, the Museum has hosted 21 million virtual visitors on its website, world-class online programming, Searchable Museum, and virtual access to its collections. To date, the Museum has collected more than 40,000 artifacts. This is in addition to the recent acquisition of the 4.5 million items in the Johnson Publishing Company Archive.

The Museum maintains a highly visible presence on the national stage, garnering notable levels of public engagement and media coverage. It remains one of the hottest tickets in town, regularly running out of free timed passes over a month in advance. NMAAHC also boasts the highest “dwell time” at the Smithsonian and among museums across the world, with many visitors spending 4+ hours exploring the museum’s exhibitions and offerings. More than 250,000 individuals have become members of the Museum since its inception.

NMAAHC is a public institution open to all, where anyone is welcome to participate, collaborate, and learn more about African American history and culture. In the words of Lonnie G. Bunch III, founding director of the Museum, “there are few things as powerful and as important as a people, as a nation that is steeped in its history.”

For more information on the Museum, please visit https://nmaahc.si.edu/.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The next Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) will have the extraordinary opportunity to lead one of the most dynamic and influential cultural institutions in the world. Since its historic opening in 2016, the Museum has become a global platform for exploring, preserving, and celebrating the richness and complexity of African American history, culture, and achievement. The Director will guide the Museum into its second decade—advancing its scholarship, deepening community engagement, and expanding its reach across digital, educational, and international audiences.

This role offers a rare chance to shape the future of an institution that stands at the intersection of art, history, identity, and social change. The Director will inspire a world-class team, collaborate across the Smithsonian and beyond, and steward a powerful mission that resonates deeply with millions each year. As the Museum continues to grow in scope and influence, the Director will have the platform to champion innovation, inclusion, and dialogue—ensuring that the Museum remains a living, evolving force for understanding and transformation in the 21st century.  

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

The Museum and its Director are guided by a nineteen-member Advisory Council appointed by the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents. The Advisory Council, as outlined in the enacting legislation, advises the Regents on the Museum’s administration and operation, recommends annual operating budgets, and provides the Regents an annual report on the acquisition, registration, disposition and display of objects attesting to the material culture of African Americans.  

The position reports to the Under Secretary for Museums and Culture. Within broad policy guidelines and established procedures, the Director develops and directs all aspects of museum programs and activities and exercises a high degree of managerial knowledge and ability as well as leadership and advocacy on behalf of the field of African-American culture. The Director will manage the overall operation of the Museum and create educational and liaison programs which will support the Museum’s goals and fulfill its mission. As the principal architect and facilitator of the Museum’s mission and operations, the Director must have experience in managing the operations and staff of a complex institution.

Articulating the Museum’s mission in meetings with broad constituencies across the country, the Director will be the primary ambassador and advocate for the Museum, engaging individuals and communities and inspiring support. Working with various groups of private citizens, public officials, scholars, and business leaders, the Director will become the Smithsonian’s principal spokesperson on issues regarding African American history and culture. The Director must have very strong media and presentation skills, a high level of diplomacy, and the ability to inspire and elicit support from a wide spectrum of people from different social and cultural backgrounds, as well as from governmental, private, and corporate entities.

The Director will assume responsibility for the overall acquisition plan and collection management for the Museum. They will serve as the principal advisor to the Council for the acquisition of significant objects and major collections for the Museum. The Director will supervise all loans of objects, photographs, and papers from local and regional museums and private collections. In doing this, the Director must have a wide range of knowledge concerning the subject matter, be politically astute in dealing with individuals and organizations, and have a passionate commitment to preserving and protecting historical records and artifacts.

The Director will develop and administer the research programs of the NMAAHC and will make sure that the highest standards of scholarship are maintained. Through the development of the fellowship and other similar programs, the Director will support the work of scholars and scientists and will provide training and opportunities for students and others interested in African American history and culture. The Director will ensure the coordination of research with complementary efforts in other Smithsonian units, particularly the Center for African American History and Culture, and will foster collaborations among scholars and scientists within academic and museum communities in the United States and abroad.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

We recognize that there is a spectrum of lived and professional experience that will set candidates up for success in this role. While no one candidate will have every experience outlined in the position description, ideal candidates will display the following professional skills and qualities, and personal attributes:

Education: Background in art, history, and culture, museum education, arts management, business administration, or another relevant field is preferred. Our client is interested in candidates who have equivalent professional experience and a track record of accomplishment in the nonprofit sector; deep leadership experience and success in a comparable setting will also be seriously considered.

Passion for the Mission 

Fully embracing the mission of NMAAHC, the relationship with the Washington, DC, metro community, and the commitment to its various constituents across the nation and world, the Director must be a proven leader with a genuine commitment to public history, someone who understands how historic stories and collections intersect with our contemporary world. This individual will be passionate about working in partnership with the museum leadership, staff, Advisory Council, donors, and other partners to advance the mission of the Museum. The ideal candidate will possess and promote a deep appreciation for the collections, buildings, history, research, and scholarship and will demonstrate a commitment to public engagement and the visitor experience. Embracing NMAAHC’s culture while continually innovating alongside the Leadership Team, staff, advisors and volunteers, the Director will help expand the Museum’s brand and reach. The Director will have a strong work ethic, emotional intelligence, a sense of humor, and evidence of a commitment to lifelong learning and professional growth. Additionally, this leader will be an individual of unquestioned integrity, ethics and values; someone who can be trusted without reservation.

Strategic Leadership 

Top candidates will possess at least ten years of progressively responsible experience in a museum or relevant educational/cultural organization, with at least five years as a senior executive. Our client seeks a collaborative leader with high EQ (emotional intelligence) who has been successful working with a range of constituents to define and refine long-term institutional goals, creating and executing new strategic plans. Genuine and broad intellectual interests and openness to new ideas, thinking, perspectives, and experiences, with the ability to serve as an effective thought leader in weaving these concepts directly into the work of an institution.

An Effective Friend- and Fundraiser 

A commitment to building bridges and partnerships, with experience in working with other community-wide cultural and educational institutions. Enthusiastic about the opportunity to partner with council members, museum staff, and other key constituents. With personal and professional integrity of the highest degree, poise, and a great comfort level operating in the public arena, which includes valuing outward engagement, being at ease with people, and accepting the public demands made upon a leader with visibility in the community. Understanding of fundraising principles and strategy with experience building philanthropic relationships. Able to provide high-touch engagement with a range of constituents. Capable of cultivating major gifts from individual donors and stewarding significant past and current donors, while also identifying and connecting with new potential supporters.

Operational Excellence and Financial Management 

Understanding of the principal functions of museums and best practices in the field. Expertise leading teams effectively (including “managing by influence”). Knowledge of and experience with the funding models and strategies of multifaceted cultural institutions, including private as well as public funding, contributed and earned revenue. A strong record of successful oversight and management of finance and operations, with the perspective to consider the impact of decisions and make sound recommendations.

Authentic Spokesperson and Adept Relationship Builder 

An inspiring, credible, and persuasive spokesperson to a range of external audiences locally, nationally, and beyond, underscoring the role of art and culture to these communities and across the field generally. A person drawn to the opportunity for dialogue, conversation, and engagement with others. An active and sensitive listener with superb written and verbal communication skills. Skillful ability to connect genuinely with audiences of varying levels of expertise, as well as the ability to plan and execute a successful marketing and communications strategy to elevate the profile of NMAAHC.

Cultural Competence 

Cultivate and foster a positive working environment for the entire organization, leading by example to enrich staff morale, and advance an atmosphere of teamwork and mutual support among all staff. An authentic, approachable person who encourages the growth and achievement of others as an aspect of their leadership. Results-oriented with a collegial and collaborative working style.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $375,000 -$450,000. The Smithsonian Institution provides a generous and comprehensive benefits package.

CONTACT

DSG | Koya, an executive search firm that specializes in mission-driven search, has been exclusively retained for this engagement. Stephen Milbauer, Naree W.S. Viner, Tenley Bank, and Denielle Pemberton-Heard have been exclusively retained for this search. To express interest in this role please submit your materials here: https://talent-profile.dsgco.com/search/v2/22472 or email Stephen directly at stephen.milbauer@dsgco.com. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.

DSG | Koya 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 NonprofitSearchOps@divsearch.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

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

About DSG | Koya

DSG | Koya, a DSG Global company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, DSG | Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. DSG | Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.

Learn more about DSG | Koya via the https://www.dsgco.com/industry/nonprofit-and-social-impact/

To apply, visit: https://apptrkr.com/6832440