Association of Academic Museums & Galleries.
Executive Director
Association of Academic Museums & Galleries., Seattle, Washington, us, 98127
Overview
Executive Director | Seattle, WA The Wing Luke Museum is the premier pan-Asian Pacific American museum in the United States, dedicated to preserving and sharing the histories, cultures, and art of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI). The Museum advances racial and social equity through immersive storytelling, exhibitions, and community-driven programs. Located in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District (C-ID), it serves as a cultural anchor, a community voice, and an economic contributor. The Museum is a Smithsonian Affiliate, National Park Service Affiliated Area, Ford Foundation’s America’s Cultural Treasure, and a nationally recognized leader in community-based storytelling. The Wing Luke Museum stands at a turning point, with a proud legacy and a future filled with possibility. It has grown from a storefront with volunteer staff to a three-story, 60,000-square-foot historic building and a campus approach that preserves historic properties as community-owned sites. Staff lead neighborhood tours, organize outdoor festivals, and host youth programs, continuing to center the C-ID community while expanding national relevance. Following a period of growth, the Museum now operates with just over 50 staff and a diverse funding base. The organization has healthy reserves and is navigating internal transitions, including staff capacity challenges and the need to rebuild trust after leadership turnover. These experiences have sparked reflection and a renewed commitment to healing, transparency, and shared purpose. The next leader will align with the Museum’s community-rooted identity, balancing local roots with national impact, upholding social justice values, and honoring a rich past while responding to a changing community. The Leadership Opportunity
The next Executive Director will report to the Co-Presidents and Board of Trustees and serve as the Museum’s chief executive, responsible for visionary leadership, financial stewardship, and operational excellence. The ED will guide a mission-driven institution dedicated to uplifting the stories and experiences of AANHPI communities, and will champion cultural preservation, community voice, and racial equity at the intersection of arts, culture, history, and social justice. The ED will build authentic relationships with staff, Board, and a broad range of community stakeholders, strengthen the Museum’s local and national impact, and elevate its role as a leading voice in AANHPI representation and cultural equity. They will lead a period of healing and renewal by rebuilding internal trust, aligning staff and Board, and deepening community connections, grounded in transparency, integrity, and collaboration. This is a rare opportunity to guide one of the nation’s most respected cultural institutions into its next dynamic chapter. Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Organizational Vision
Develop and implement an inspired forward-thinking vision that elevates the Museum’s mission and expands its impact as a community-based cultural institution. Guide and implement a Strategic Plan that establishes key policy direction for the Museum’s vision, mission, and values, working closely with staff, Board, and community partners. Lead new program development while maintaining the excellence of existing exhibitions and initiatives that align with community needs. Ensure that racial equity and social justice remain central to the Museum’s mission, storytelling, and operations. Strengthen the Museum’s position as a local and national leader in AANHPI arts, history, and community advocacy, while staying true to the Museum’s nationally-recognized model for the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) process.
Organizational Culture & Engagement
Foster an inclusive, transparent, and mission-driven workplace culture that values collaboration, equity, and professional growth. Establish a culture of recognition with communication structures that celebrate staff achievements, promote engagement, and support conflict resolution. Implement effective communication strategies to ensure open dialogue, staff participation, and alignment with organizational values.
Financial Sustainability & Fundraising Leadership
Ensure the long-term financial health of the Museum, overseeing a $6 million annual operating budget and driving strategic financial planning. Lead major fundraising efforts, cultivating relationships with individual donors, corporate partners, foundations, and government agencies. Increase and diversify revenue streams through grants, memberships, and innovative programming and funding models including planned giving, endowments, and other strategies. Possess strong financial acumen, including the ability to analyze P&L statements and make data-driven financial decisions.
Community Engagement & Public Advocacy
Serve as the primary ambassador of the Museum, building deep and authentic relationships with AANHPI communities, C-ID partners, civic leaders, and cultural institutions. Champion the Museum’s role in advancing social justice and a clear stance on issues such as racial injustice, immigration policy, and civil rights. Collaborate with staff, Board, community leaders, and creative partners to ensure inclusive representation and expand the Museum’s reach through partnerships with diverse communities. Build strong relationships with policymakers, funders, and national institutions to elevate the Museum’s impact. Lead and support a senior leadership team and staff, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities. Provide guidance, mentorship, and professional development to foster a high-performing and engaged team at all levels. Champion ethical leadership and fair workplace policies, fostering an environment where staff are respected and valued.
Board Governance & Strategic Partnerships
Partner with the Board of Trustees to develop and execute strategic goals, ensuring alignment among leadership, staff, and community partners. Engage board members as fundraising partners, policy advisors, and organizational ambassadors. Build and maintain relationships with civic, business, and nonprofit leaders to strengthen external partnerships.
Public Representation & Museum Advocacy
Serve as the primary spokesperson for the Museum in media, public forums, and national conferences. Articulate the Museum’s vision and values to inspire donors, partners, and the public. Balance public visibility with strong internal leadership, keeping staff and board governance as a top priority.
Candidate Profile
The next Executive Director will embody leadership competencies, qualifications, and attributes needed to guide the Museum through renewal, growth, and impact, with a focus on equity, community-centered leadership, and strategic vision.
Community-Centered Leadership (Profile)
The ED will be a visionary, equity-driven leader grounded in AANHPI history and community experiences, honoring the legacy of Seattle’s C-ID and advocating for broader AANHPI communities. They will cultivate authentic relationships with residents, leaders, and partner organizations and champion community priorities, civic navigation, and cultural empowerment. Strategic Visioning & Change Management (Profile)
The ED will articulate and advance a unifying vision, align internal and external stakeholders, and lead with clarity and conviction, while supporting staff growth and organizational evolution. Inclusive Management & Capacity Building (Profile)
The ED will promote inclusive leadership, reduce hierarchy, foster cross-functional collaboration, invest in staff development, and build foundational systems for long-term sustainability. Trust-Building & Relational Competence (Profile)
The ED will rebuild trust through humility, listening, and follow-through, fostering partnerships with funders, policymakers, and community leaders. Fundraising & Financial Acumen (Profile)
The ED will have a proven fundraising track record and financial stewardship, diversifying revenue and ensuring long-term sustainability. Board Governance & External Representation (Profile)
The ED will partner with the Board to ensure governance alignment and serve as a compelling ambassador in various forums. Compensation & Benefits
The target salary range is $180,000 to $230,000, with comprehensive benefits. The search firm DSG | Koya provides accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Equal opportunity employer statement included. DSG | Koya is a mission-driven search firm dedicated to leadership for nonprofits and social impact organizations.
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Executive Director | Seattle, WA The Wing Luke Museum is the premier pan-Asian Pacific American museum in the United States, dedicated to preserving and sharing the histories, cultures, and art of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI). The Museum advances racial and social equity through immersive storytelling, exhibitions, and community-driven programs. Located in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District (C-ID), it serves as a cultural anchor, a community voice, and an economic contributor. The Museum is a Smithsonian Affiliate, National Park Service Affiliated Area, Ford Foundation’s America’s Cultural Treasure, and a nationally recognized leader in community-based storytelling. The Wing Luke Museum stands at a turning point, with a proud legacy and a future filled with possibility. It has grown from a storefront with volunteer staff to a three-story, 60,000-square-foot historic building and a campus approach that preserves historic properties as community-owned sites. Staff lead neighborhood tours, organize outdoor festivals, and host youth programs, continuing to center the C-ID community while expanding national relevance. Following a period of growth, the Museum now operates with just over 50 staff and a diverse funding base. The organization has healthy reserves and is navigating internal transitions, including staff capacity challenges and the need to rebuild trust after leadership turnover. These experiences have sparked reflection and a renewed commitment to healing, transparency, and shared purpose. The next leader will align with the Museum’s community-rooted identity, balancing local roots with national impact, upholding social justice values, and honoring a rich past while responding to a changing community. The Leadership Opportunity
The next Executive Director will report to the Co-Presidents and Board of Trustees and serve as the Museum’s chief executive, responsible for visionary leadership, financial stewardship, and operational excellence. The ED will guide a mission-driven institution dedicated to uplifting the stories and experiences of AANHPI communities, and will champion cultural preservation, community voice, and racial equity at the intersection of arts, culture, history, and social justice. The ED will build authentic relationships with staff, Board, and a broad range of community stakeholders, strengthen the Museum’s local and national impact, and elevate its role as a leading voice in AANHPI representation and cultural equity. They will lead a period of healing and renewal by rebuilding internal trust, aligning staff and Board, and deepening community connections, grounded in transparency, integrity, and collaboration. This is a rare opportunity to guide one of the nation’s most respected cultural institutions into its next dynamic chapter. Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Organizational Vision
Develop and implement an inspired forward-thinking vision that elevates the Museum’s mission and expands its impact as a community-based cultural institution. Guide and implement a Strategic Plan that establishes key policy direction for the Museum’s vision, mission, and values, working closely with staff, Board, and community partners. Lead new program development while maintaining the excellence of existing exhibitions and initiatives that align with community needs. Ensure that racial equity and social justice remain central to the Museum’s mission, storytelling, and operations. Strengthen the Museum’s position as a local and national leader in AANHPI arts, history, and community advocacy, while staying true to the Museum’s nationally-recognized model for the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) process.
Organizational Culture & Engagement
Foster an inclusive, transparent, and mission-driven workplace culture that values collaboration, equity, and professional growth. Establish a culture of recognition with communication structures that celebrate staff achievements, promote engagement, and support conflict resolution. Implement effective communication strategies to ensure open dialogue, staff participation, and alignment with organizational values.
Financial Sustainability & Fundraising Leadership
Ensure the long-term financial health of the Museum, overseeing a $6 million annual operating budget and driving strategic financial planning. Lead major fundraising efforts, cultivating relationships with individual donors, corporate partners, foundations, and government agencies. Increase and diversify revenue streams through grants, memberships, and innovative programming and funding models including planned giving, endowments, and other strategies. Possess strong financial acumen, including the ability to analyze P&L statements and make data-driven financial decisions.
Community Engagement & Public Advocacy
Serve as the primary ambassador of the Museum, building deep and authentic relationships with AANHPI communities, C-ID partners, civic leaders, and cultural institutions. Champion the Museum’s role in advancing social justice and a clear stance on issues such as racial injustice, immigration policy, and civil rights. Collaborate with staff, Board, community leaders, and creative partners to ensure inclusive representation and expand the Museum’s reach through partnerships with diverse communities. Build strong relationships with policymakers, funders, and national institutions to elevate the Museum’s impact. Lead and support a senior leadership team and staff, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities. Provide guidance, mentorship, and professional development to foster a high-performing and engaged team at all levels. Champion ethical leadership and fair workplace policies, fostering an environment where staff are respected and valued.
Board Governance & Strategic Partnerships
Partner with the Board of Trustees to develop and execute strategic goals, ensuring alignment among leadership, staff, and community partners. Engage board members as fundraising partners, policy advisors, and organizational ambassadors. Build and maintain relationships with civic, business, and nonprofit leaders to strengthen external partnerships.
Public Representation & Museum Advocacy
Serve as the primary spokesperson for the Museum in media, public forums, and national conferences. Articulate the Museum’s vision and values to inspire donors, partners, and the public. Balance public visibility with strong internal leadership, keeping staff and board governance as a top priority.
Candidate Profile
The next Executive Director will embody leadership competencies, qualifications, and attributes needed to guide the Museum through renewal, growth, and impact, with a focus on equity, community-centered leadership, and strategic vision.
Community-Centered Leadership (Profile)
The ED will be a visionary, equity-driven leader grounded in AANHPI history and community experiences, honoring the legacy of Seattle’s C-ID and advocating for broader AANHPI communities. They will cultivate authentic relationships with residents, leaders, and partner organizations and champion community priorities, civic navigation, and cultural empowerment. Strategic Visioning & Change Management (Profile)
The ED will articulate and advance a unifying vision, align internal and external stakeholders, and lead with clarity and conviction, while supporting staff growth and organizational evolution. Inclusive Management & Capacity Building (Profile)
The ED will promote inclusive leadership, reduce hierarchy, foster cross-functional collaboration, invest in staff development, and build foundational systems for long-term sustainability. Trust-Building & Relational Competence (Profile)
The ED will rebuild trust through humility, listening, and follow-through, fostering partnerships with funders, policymakers, and community leaders. Fundraising & Financial Acumen (Profile)
The ED will have a proven fundraising track record and financial stewardship, diversifying revenue and ensuring long-term sustainability. Board Governance & External Representation (Profile)
The ED will partner with the Board to ensure governance alignment and serve as a compelling ambassador in various forums. Compensation & Benefits
The target salary range is $180,000 to $230,000, with comprehensive benefits. The search firm DSG | Koya provides accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Equal opportunity employer statement included. DSG | Koya is a mission-driven search firm dedicated to leadership for nonprofits and social impact organizations.
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