Senior Manager, Global Cultural Programs and Partnerships, IS-1001-13 chez Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution · Washington, États-Unis d'Amérique · Onsite
- Senior
- Bureau à Washington
OPEN DATE: September 8, 2025
CLOSING DATE: September 19, 2025
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Permanent
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC
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
This position is located in the Office of Global Affairs (OGA), Smithsonian Institution. SI is a global organization, working across art, history, culture and science, and education in nearly 150 countries around the world. Whether assisting in the rescue of cultural treasures following a natural disaster or conducting cutting -edge scientific research for biodiversity conservation, our scholars and professionals are engaged throughout the world to explore, care for, and support our global cultural and natural heritage - all in the service of the Smithsonian's mission: the increase and diffusion of knowledge.
The Manager, Global Cultural Programs and Partnerships helps to build the Smithsonian Institution’s international portfolio of programs focused on engagement, capacity building, and sustainability of the international arts, history, education and culture sectors. To do so, s/he serves as an advisor to OGA and SI leadership and is responsible for setting strategy and building grant, contract, and inter-agency funding support for increased international programs for the wider Smithsonian Institution within this portfolio. Given the nature of Smithsonian international activities, they will have a particular focus on the Smithsonian’s history, culture, and the arts programs as well as how these areas fit into wider, impactful multidisciplinary initiatives with Smithsonian’s science and research units and vast array of experts.
They will be a key focal point for strategy development, resourcing/fundraising, and program design and implementation within the office and for the Institution at large for the history, culture, and arts portfolio. As much of the program’s portfolio is based on grants and contracts and external funding sources (i.e philanthropic support), their portfolio and will be directly dependent upon an ability to forge strong internal and external partnerships and especially with an ability to identify, capture and manage external funds and resources. As such, this position maintains up to date knowledge of the critical work topics and thought leadership across the Institution and key partners. They must also be constantly aware of the financial constraints/internal budgets/forecasting, and maintains a wide range of national and international contacts on behalf of the goals and mission of the office.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The incumbent shall:
- Build and manage relationships with key multilateral and bilateral partners/donors related to priority cultural themes including, but not limited to, foreign governments and agencies/ministries, key multilateral institutions, Department of State, globally focused cultural foundations, etc.
- Oversee capture strategy and maintain up-to-date knowledge of international development donor organization priorities related to the Smithsonian's priorities as releavnt for cultural and inter-disciplinary programs.
- Build and advance a pipeline of opportunities for expanded and new work in the cultural sector that advances Smithsonian’s mission and priorities and provide new/greater opportunities for our units, experts, and research.
- Identify and advance opportunities for leveraging Smithsonian’s interdisciplinary expertise for greater national and international impact—larger programs, innovative approaches, new/expanded research, mutually beneficial partnerships, etc.
- Conduct risk assessments, return on investment assessments, and provide needed presentation/explanation to SI leadership as appropriate.
- Lead key proposal and program design efforts that will enable SI and relevant units to be more competitive in capturing large, impactful, multi-year programs that further the SI mission and research around the world.
- As appropriate, manage internal budget for global cultural work, program budgets, and other funds directed at this work.
- Work with OGA's Director and Deputy Director to build Smithsonian’s and partner units' program management and proposal teams for successful implementation of international cultural sustainability projects; including report writing and budget management.
- Serve as first-line supervisor to relevant staff and contracting officer's technical representative to contractors.
- Work with OGA leadership to create, adapt, and implement overarching strategy for SI's international activities, partnerships and programs in the cultural sector
- Maintain a sound understanding and working knowledge of activities related to history, art, and culture across SI; predominantly through strong relationships with SI's culture-focused units.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Education and Experience: To qualify for this position, applicants must possess an equivalent of a bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) from an accredited college or university and/or 7-10 years of related experience (described below); or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience required for this position is as follows:
- Expert ability to manage teams in a cultural setting including planning, supervision, and opportunity development
- Expert level knowledge of the structures, functions, and strategic priorities of cultural, museum, and scientific institutions in order to develop and steward high-value relationships, align institutional priorities with global funding opportunities, lead competitive program design and proposal development, and ensure effective financial oversight of complex, multi-year cultural initiatives.
- Skill to work in multiple global settings, including leading proposal development and program management of international programs with a focus on cultural programs.
- Mastery knowledge of complex international relations issues and Institution program goals and objectives in order to maintain up to date knowledge of the critical issues impacting decisions of the Director.
- Knowledge of strategic partnership development and stakeholder engagement with key institutional partners, including the U.S. Department of State, foreign governments, and international museums, in order to build and sustain collaborative networks that advance shared cultural objectives.
- Skill to exercise high-level of judgment, tact, diplomacy combined with a thorough knowledge of Institutional and museum issues and operations to ensure the OGA’s success in dealing with competing interests and to enable the incumbent to speak for the Director and/or Deputy Director in his/her absence.
- Knowledge of international funding mechanisms and donor engagement strategies in order to build, manage, and grow significant funding streams for cultural sector programs from bilateral and multilateral development organizations, foreign governments, and philanthropic foundations.
- Expert skill to communicate in writing that involves researching and analyzing key issues that may impact the Smithsonian’s mission, goals and objectives and preparing reports and other written materials expressing the Director’s views.
- Knowledge of program and project management, change management, staff supervision, training, budget management/forecasting, and building/leading strong teams.
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.
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 [email protected]. 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 (https://www.si.edu/OEO/IndividualswithDisabilities).
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact [email protected]. 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 (https://www.si.edu/OEO/IndividualswithDisabilities).
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
