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

Application Deadline: 25 May 2026

Department: National Museum of Asian Art

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Washington, DC

Reporting To: Senior Associate Director for Research

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

Description

OPEN DATE: April 24, 2026                 CLOSING DATE: May 25, 2026              POSITION TYPE: Trust FundAPPOINTMENT 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