Head of Scholarly Publication (Editor) IS-1082-12

Application Deadline: 25 May 2026

Department: National Museum of Asian Art

Location: Washington, DC

Compensation: $102,415 - $119,485 / year

Description

OPEN DATE: April 24, 2026
CLOSING DATE: May 25, 2026
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC


Position sensitivity and risk: Non sensitive / Low 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, 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.
  
  

OVERVIEW

About the National Museum of Asian Art
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art opened in 1923 as America’s first national art museum and the first Asian art museum in the United States. It now stewards on of the world’s most important collections of Asian art, with works dating from antiquity to the present. The museum also hosts an unparalleled collection of 19th- and early 20th-century American art.

Through an ambitious program of collecting, conservation, exhibitions, programming and research, both onsite and online, the museum serves as a global and national resource for understanding the arts and cultures of Asia and their interaction with America, past and present. By presenting the arts and cultures of Asia in their extraordinary richness, the museum furthers cross-cultural understanding and aims to exemplify foundational ideals of curiosity, creativity and respect.

Research is at the core of the museum’s mission. For the past century, the institution has been at the forefront of advocating for object-based scholarship. Building upon the museum’s long tradition of excellence in the study of Asian and American art of the Aesthetic Movement, the Freer Research Center (FRC) is committed to innovative research, accessibility of scholarship and digital innovation as well as national and international engagement.

Located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the museum is free and open 364 days a year (closed Dec. 25). The Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum, education and research complex and welcomes millions of visitors yearly. For more information about the National Museum of Asian Art, visit asia.si.edu

The Opportunity
The Head of Scholarly Publication (HSP) is a member of the Freer Research Center (FRC), which oversees scholarly programs (symposia, workshops, and lectures), fellowships, and object-based, peer reviewed, scholarly publications. The HSP oversees all aspects of the museum’s scholarly, peer reviewed monographs, catalogues, and journals, in particular Ars Orientalis, a prestigious annual journal co-published with the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. The HSP works closely with the Director of the FRC and other team members to ensure that the museum’s scholarly publications, both physical and digital, build on their strength and increase readership both nationally and internationally. With a new NMAA Strategic plan in place, the HSP collaborates with the museum’s research community as well as outside scholars to expand the online presence of FRC’s scholarly publications. The HSP maintains close ties with publishers and develops strategies to promote NMAA scholarly contributions to engage our current audiences and reach new ones.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Shape overall direction and strategic goals of the publication program in collaboration with Director of FRC;
• Stay up to date with industry trends and best practices;
• Monitor trends and methodologies to identify emerging interest areas;
• Stay in touch with peers and attend relevant conferences;
• Work with authors to define and refine publication concepts; evaluate proposals; ensure approval by director;
• Work with authors to revise manuscripts for readability and alignment with the goal/mission of the publication program of the FRC;
• Identify and communicate with peer reviewers, create revision plan with author and ensure revision and feedback are incorporated;
• Review manuscripts for accuracy, clarity, consistency, and adherence to style guidelines;
• Work closely with authors, editors, designers, and other publishing staff to ensure quality publications;
• Manage the editorial workflow, production schedule, contracts and budget;
• Implement and maintain quality standards for all publications and ensuring all relevant SI procedures were met and stakeholders consulted;
• Manage a team of writers, editors, and vendors to ensure the publication meets standards and deadline;
• Oversea contracts for co-publishers, negotiate royalties and subventions, evaluate needs and services needed from co-publishers;
• Coordinate promotion plans, evaluate publications and track metrics;
• Establish key metrics and goals for scholarly publications;
• Represents FRC at conferences and symposia;
• Actively promotes FRC scholarly peer review publications;
• Collaborates with FRC Director to fundraise for scholarly publications program.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

To qualify for this position, applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the IS-11 level in the Federal service or comparable experience outside the Federal government.

Specialized experience is defined as experience such as:
• Managing the editorial development and production of publications from concept through review, revision, design, and final publication;
• Working with authors, peer reviewers, editors, designers, publishers, and other stakeholders to develop, refine, and deliver high-quality publications;
• Editing scholarly manuscripts, catalogues, journals, monographs, or similar publications for clarity, structure, consistency, accuracy, and adherence to editorial standards;
• Managing editorial workflows, production schedules, contracts, or related administrative processes for a publications program;
• Monitoring publishing trends, best practices, and audience engagement strategies to strengthen the reach and impact of a publication program; and
• Representing a publications program or scholarly editorial function in professional settings such as conferences, symposia, or collaborative partnerships.

Preferred Qualifications
• Ability to provide management oversight;
• Knowledge of Asian art;
• Ability to multi-task;
• Knowledge of publication industry standards;
• Knowledge of digital publications.

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 nmaa-hr@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