National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution - Head of Scholarly Publication (Editor), IS-1082-12

Featured Job Posting National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution - Head of Scholarly Publication (Editor), IS-1082-12 H-Net Job Guide

• 06/03/2026 Job Institution National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution Institution Type Museum Department Freer Research Center Location District of Columbia, United States Position Editor Application deadline: June 15, 2026

Location:

National Museum of Asian Art, Washington, DC Employment type: Full Time Workplace type:

Onsite Compensation:

$102,415-$119,485 / year Reporting to: Senior Associate Director for Research 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 About the National Museum of Asian Art Established a century ago, the National Museum of Asian Art was the Smithsonian's first art museum. Committed to preserving, exhibiting, researching, and interpreting art in ways that deepen our collective understanding of Asia and the world, the museum stewards one of North America's largest and most comprehensive collections of Asian art. Its rich holdings bring the arts of Asia into direct dialogue with an important collection of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American works, providing an essential platform for creative collaboration and cultural exchange between the United States, Asia, and the Middle East. Beginning with a 1906 gift that paved the way for the museum's opening in 1923, the National Museum of Asian Art is a leading resource for visitors, students, and scholars in the United States and internationally. Its galleries, laboratories, archives, and library are located on the National Mall in Washington, DC, and are part of the world's largest museum complex, which typically reports more than 27 million visits each year. The museum is free and open to the public 364 days a year, making its exhibitions, programs, learning opportunities, and digital initiatives accessible to global audiences. When you visit our galleries or delve into the stories of our collections online, we hope you find a portal to different ways of interpreting our world. We invite you to learn and explore in your own way—to look deeply into the past to better understand the present and to break through the artificial barriers that can separate us. Contact Information Smithsonian Institution Office of Human Resources https://www.si.edu/ohr/contactus 202-633-6370 Job URL https://trustcareers.si.edu/en/postings/5cc8c77b-ed42-4890-be39-175653b6c4ab Website https://asia.si.edu/research/freer-research-center/ Posting Date June 3, 2026 Closing Date June 15, 2026 Disclaimer H-Net, in accordance with its policies and procedures , reserves the right to reject, edit, and/or delete any posting that is found to violate its policies and/or procedures, and/or is found to violate federal or state law. Additionally, the pages and documents posted on this site often include links to information created by other public and private organizations. The inclusion of any material is not intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services. These materials may contain the views and recommendations of the individual subscriber/user, as well as links or references to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. The opinions expressed in any of these materials do not necessarily reflect the positions or policies of H-Net .