Associate Director for Object History and Provenance Research (IS-1015-14), Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC
Smithsonian Institution -
Washington, DC,
US
Associate Director for Object History and Provenance Research (IS-1015-14)
Date Posted: 2024-06-15
Job description
Associate Director for Object History and Provenance Research (IS-1015-14)
Application Deadline: 11 July 2024
Department: National Museum of Asian Art
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Washington, DC
Reporting To: Deputy Director for Collections and Exhibitions
Compensation: $139,395 - $162,629 / year
Description
OPEN DATE: June 11, 2024
CLOSING DATE: July 11, 2024
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC
Position sensitivity and risk: Non-sensitive (NS)/High Risk
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 and 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
OVERVIEW
The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art seeks to recruit an Associate Director for Provenance and Object Histories.
The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art is committed to preserving, exhibiting, researching, and interpreting art in ways that deepen the public and scholarly understandings of Asia and the world. Currently responsible for some 46,000 objects, the museum stewards one of the world's most important collections of Asian art, with works dating from antiquity to the present. The collections include works 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). The museum also stewards an important collection of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American art. Its rich holdings bring the arts of Asia into direct dialogue with a focused American collection, providing a compelling platform for creative collaboration and cultural exchange.
Beginning with a 1906 gift that paved the way for the museum's opening in 1923 as the Freer Gallery of Art-the United States' first national art museum-the National Museum of Asian Art has long been a national and international resource for visitors, students, and scholars. Located on the National Mall in Washington, DC, its collections, galleries, laboratories, archives, and library form part of the world's largest museum complex, which attracts tens of millions of visitors annually. The museum is free and open to the public 364 days a year. Its exhibitions, programs, learning opportunities, and digital initiatives are accessible to local, national, and global audiences. Each year, hundreds of students, fellows, interns, scholars, and researchers access the museum's resources and expertise.
The Associate Director for Provenance and Object Histories is a cornerstone of the museum's commitment to excellence and international distinction in provenance and object histories. Reporting to the Deputy Director for Collections and Exhibitions, the primary responsibility of the Associate Director is oversight for the strategic direction, development, and management of the museum's provenance program. As the museum enters its second century, in a period of significant growth and transformation, the position will act as a catalyst for internal and external collaboration, accelerating the museum's emergence as an international leader in provenance research and object histories and contributing to the museum's mission of broadening and deepening impact, fostering transparency in the collections' origins, and providing expertise through international collaboration, training, and information sharing. The Associate Director will lead the expansion of the Provenance and Object Histories Department, shaping its future by securing funding, driving key projects, attracting top talent, and building and retaining a highly skilled and dedicated team committed to excellence and making a significant impact in the field.
The Associate Director will conduct original scholarly research and make policy decisions, including on budget, staffing, and research priorities. The Associate Director also represents the museum nationally and internationally and ensures appropriate interaction with other Smithsonian offices.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
To qualify for this position, applicants must possess a PhD or advanced degree in a relevant field from an accredited university and/or 5-8 years of related experience (described below); or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience required for this position is as follows:
Applicants, who wish to qualify based on 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 your application being rejected and may also result in termination after employment begins.
The Smithsonian Institution values and seeks a diverse workforce. 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.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and InclusionThe Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact ...@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. 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.
Application Deadline: 11 July 2024
Department: National Museum of Asian Art
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Washington, DC
Reporting To: Deputy Director for Collections and Exhibitions
Compensation: $139,395 - $162,629 / year
Description
OPEN DATE: June 11, 2024
CLOSING DATE: July 11, 2024
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC
Position sensitivity and risk: Non-sensitive (NS)/High Risk
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 and 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 as low risk.
- 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.
OVERVIEW
The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art seeks to recruit an Associate Director for Provenance and Object Histories.
The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art is committed to preserving, exhibiting, researching, and interpreting art in ways that deepen the public and scholarly understandings of Asia and the world. Currently responsible for some 46,000 objects, the museum stewards one of the world's most important collections of Asian art, with works dating from antiquity to the present. The collections include works 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). The museum also stewards an important collection of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American art. Its rich holdings bring the arts of Asia into direct dialogue with a focused American collection, providing a compelling platform for creative collaboration and cultural exchange.
Beginning with a 1906 gift that paved the way for the museum's opening in 1923 as the Freer Gallery of Art-the United States' first national art museum-the National Museum of Asian Art has long been a national and international resource for visitors, students, and scholars. Located on the National Mall in Washington, DC, its collections, galleries, laboratories, archives, and library form part of the world's largest museum complex, which attracts tens of millions of visitors annually. The museum is free and open to the public 364 days a year. Its exhibitions, programs, learning opportunities, and digital initiatives are accessible to local, national, and global audiences. Each year, hundreds of students, fellows, interns, scholars, and researchers access the museum's resources and expertise.
The Associate Director for Provenance and Object Histories is a cornerstone of the museum's commitment to excellence and international distinction in provenance and object histories. Reporting to the Deputy Director for Collections and Exhibitions, the primary responsibility of the Associate Director is oversight for the strategic direction, development, and management of the museum's provenance program. As the museum enters its second century, in a period of significant growth and transformation, the position will act as a catalyst for internal and external collaboration, accelerating the museum's emergence as an international leader in provenance research and object histories and contributing to the museum's mission of broadening and deepening impact, fostering transparency in the collections' origins, and providing expertise through international collaboration, training, and information sharing. The Associate Director will lead the expansion of the Provenance and Object Histories Department, shaping its future by securing funding, driving key projects, attracting top talent, and building and retaining a highly skilled and dedicated team committed to excellence and making a significant impact in the field.
The Associate Director will conduct original scholarly research and make policy decisions, including on budget, staffing, and research priorities. The Associate Director also represents the museum nationally and internationally and ensures appropriate interaction with other Smithsonian offices.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- As an authority in provenance, the incumbent conducts, presents and publishes original scholarly research of a high order that results in groundbreaking contributions to the provenance field and enhances the institution's reputation.
- Expands the museum's role as a leader in provenance by developing resources, international programs, and trainings for growing and establishing the field.
- Provides leadership and guidance to the museum's provenance research, including overseeing the provenance work of members of the following departments: Provenance and Object Histories, Curatorial, Collections Management, and Conservation.
- Ensures museum due diligence in provenance research for existing collections, proposed acquisitions, and loans.
- Oversees the establishment of goals, articulation of priorities, development of strategies, performance management, and assignment of tasks of the museum related to provenance.
- The Associate Director provides leadership and mentorship to individual researchers, internally and externally, in provenance work.
- Develops annual personnel staffing, hiring, and training plans.
- Exercises authority to approve the allocation and distribution of funds, overseeing the development, justification, execution, and control of the provenance and object histories department budget.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
To qualify for this position, applicants must possess a PhD or advanced degree in a relevant field from an accredited university and/or 5-8 years of related experience (described below); or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience required for this position is as follows:
- Demonstrated expertise in provenance research, object histories, and art market studies with the ability to conduct provenance research and develop professional documentation of the research conducted.
- Ability to develop and direct a comprehensive provenance program for the museum, including research, network mapping, cataloging, exhibitions, public programs, and international field-wide training.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues, museum professionals, scholars, the general public, and other stakeholders.
- Demonstrated skill in leading, supervising, and managing a multidisciplined and culturally diverse workforce, including goal setting, planning and implementing programs, and establishing metrics and reporting protocols.
- Demonstrated skill in budgeting and resource management.
- Ability to communicate effectively in English and have research capacity in one or more of the following languages: French, German, a Middle Eastern or Asian language relevant to the museum's collection.
Applicants, who wish to qualify based on 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 your application being rejected and may also result in termination after employment begins.
The Smithsonian Institution values and seeks a diverse workforce. 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.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and InclusionThe Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact ...@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. 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.