Vice President of Audience Engagement Job at Japanese American National Museum i

Overview

Founded in 1992, the mission of the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) is to promote understanding and appreciation of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Japanese American experience. As the national repository of Japanese American history, JANM creates groundbreaking exhibitions, educational programs, award‑winning documentaries, and innovative curriculum that illuminate the stories and cultural heritage of people of Japanese ancestry in the United States.

JANM is a leading institution in social justice, equity, and inclusion, dedicated to galvanizing and advocating for the AAPI community and committed to creating a more just America.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a matrix of public‑ and partner‑facing teams, including the Daniel K. Inouye National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, Public Programs, Visitor Experiences, and Facilities Rentals.
• Develop and implement strategies to increase relevance and engagement among existing and new audiences, in alignment with institutional goals.
• Steward the institutional program strategy, including local, regional, and national activations and partnerships.
• Oversee staff deployment and resource planning to support a robust, high‑profile calendar of programs and events.
• Cultivate and sustain partnerships that advance programmatic goals and activate JANM’s spaces.
• Collaborate with Directors and senior leaders to ensure alignment across programs, messaging, and communications.
• Develop and manage programmatic budgets that support a diverse and dynamic slate of engagement activities.
• Establish, monitor, and evaluate audience engagement goals to support institutional growth and team success, as well as fulfill external stakeholder requirements.
• Provide coaching, mentorship, and professional development support to Directors and functional leads.
• Assess visitor experiences and implement continuous improvement in customer service and accessibility practices.
• Contribute to institutional strategy to engage evolving modes of storytelling, emerging technology, and innovations within the museum, attractions, and hospitality fields.
• Serve as a member of JANM’s executive leadership team and a strategic thought partner.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Chief Operating Officer.

Candidate Profile

The Vice President of Audience Engagement will bring a combination of strategic leadership, operational expertise, and collaborative engagement skills to advance the mission of JANM. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of eight years of experience managing diverse, multi‑functional teams in a complex organization, along with at least five years of experience in program development, implementation, and evaluation.

Strategic Audience Engagement and Vision

Demonstrated ability to develop and execute comprehensive audience engagement strategies that deepen relationships with existing audiences while expanding reach to new and diverse communities. Leverages audience insights, research methodologies, and data‑driven tools to inform decision‑making and continuously refine engagement approaches. Proven success growing, diversifying, and retaining audiences across in‑person, digital, and programmatic platforms, ensuring the museum’s mission resonates locally and nationally. Experience in museums, cultural institutions, or mission‑driven nonprofit environments is strongly preferred.

Cross‑Functional Leadership and Collaboration

Proven experience leading complex, cross‑functional or matrixed teams within dynamic organizations. Demonstrates the ability to align multiple departments, including visitor services, public programs, exhibitions, and external partnerships, to create a unified audience strategy while fostering collaboration and clarity around shared institutional goals.

Program Strategy and Operational Execution

Strong track record in program development, implementation, and evaluation, including oversight of large‑scale, high‑profile, and multi‑partner initiatives. Demonstrates the ability to translate strategic vision into effective execution by managing competing priorities, allocating resources strategically, and overseeing programmatic budgets. Brings operational discipline and strategic judgment to support a dynamic calendar of public programs, events, and activations ensuring the delivery of high‑quality, impactful experiences for visitors. Experience with earned‑revenue programs, such as facilities rentals or public‑facing programming, is a plus.

Relationship Building and Community Partnership

Exceptional relationship‑building and communication skills, with demonstrated success cultivating meaningful partnerships across diverse stakeholders, including community organizations, cultural institutions, civic leaders, and funders. Able to represent JANM with credibility and authenticity in both internal and external settings, including high‑level engagements and public‑facing opportunities.

Inclusive Leadership and People Development

Accomplished people leader with experience managing, mentoring, and developing diverse, multi‑functional teams, including senior staff and emerging leaders. Fosters a collaborative and inclusive culture that promotes professional growth, accountability, and shared ownership of institutional goals. Demonstrates a strong commitment to accessibility, equity, and inclusion, embedding these values into programs, visitor experiences, and internal practices.

Data‑Informed Strategy and Continuous Improvement

Strategic and analytical mindset with experience establishing KPIs, tracking performance metrics, and applying both quantitative and qualitative insights to inform decision‑making. Uses audience data and evaluation frameworks to strengthen engagement strategies, enhance visitor experiences, and drive continuous improvement across programs and services.

Education

An advanced degree in arts administration, business, museum studies, nonprofit management, or a related field is preferred; equivalent professional experience will also be considered.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary ranges from $130,000 to $150,000, with a generous benefits package.

Contact

Express interest in this role by filling out our Talent Profile or emailing the search team directly at JANM_VPAE@dsgco.com. All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential.

For applicants with disabilities, please email npsipractice@dsgco.com for reasonable accommodation. If selected for an interview, additional information on accommodations will be provided.

Japanese American National Museum is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.