Director
Position Title: Director
Organization: Nakashima Foundation for Peace
Status: Full-time, on-site, hybrid eligible
Reports to: Board President
Location: New Hope, Pennsylvania
Position Summary
The Nakashima Foundation for Peace seeks a strategic, mission-driven Director to lead the organization during a pivotal period of stewardship, preservation, and growth. Working closely with the Board President and Board of Directors, the Director will oversee all aspects of the Foundation’s operations, programs, collections, historic properties, and partnerships.
The Director will advance the Foundation’s mission to preserve and interpret the legacy of George and Mira Nakashima and promote peace through craft and education, while ensuring the long-term preservation of the Nakashima Family House and related historic structures through partnerships, sound management, and public engagement.
Central to this role is advancing the Foundation’s peace mission, rooted in George Nakashima’s belief that craft and dialogue can foster understanding. The Director will work closely with the Peace Committee to set and achieve strategic goals for expanding the global presence of Peace Tables, strengthening international partnerships, and deepening the Foundation’s role as a promoter of peace through art, design, and cultural exchange.
Key Responsibilities
Governance & Board Relations
- Coordinate all Board meetings and ensure effective communication among Board committees and staff.
- Work closely with the Board and Board President to meet current and long-term strategic planning goals.
- Oversee the activities of all Board committees and support Committee Chairs in achieving annual objectives.
- Establish yearly organizational goals aligned with the Foundation’s mission, Bylaws, and preservation priorities.
Organizational Leadership & Operations
- Direct all Foundation operations, including staff, collections, exhibitions, historic properties, events, tours, and educational programs.
- Oversee management and stewardship of Foundation-owned historic buildings, working closely with the Board President and George Nakashima Woodworkers COO.
- Manage all insurance, contracts, easements, and agreements related to operations, collections, and historic preservation.
- Maintain and update organizational policies, procedures, and compliance documentation.
- Ensure adherence to legal guidelines, nonprofit standards, preservation requirements, and reporting obligations.
- Work closely with legal counsel, preservation professionals, and external accountants as needed.
- Manage all HR-related functions, including benefits administration, employee goal-setting, staff development, and performance reviews.
- Supervise staff and consultants and foster a collaborative and mission-centered workplace culture.
Financial Management & Administration
- Organize and oversee short-term and long-term financial planning, including preservation-related capital needs.
- Help develop annual operating budget for Board and Finance Committee approval.
- Manage day-to-day financial operations in collaboration with the Board President and Foundation accountant.
Fundraising, Development & External Relations
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with donors, sponsors, institutional funders.
- Serve as the Foundation’s primary ambassador and spokesperson, cultivating community, academic, preservation, and international peace partnerships.
- Support fundraising and fiscal programming tied to preservation projects, Peace Table initiatives, and community engagement events and educational programs.
- With staff and consultant, develop a strategy to identify and pursue funding opportunities via grants and proposals to private and public sources.
Program and Mission Delivery
In collaboration with the Board President, Board, Advisors, staff and consultants, provide leadership for all Foundation programs and initiatives, including:
- Archives and collections management, including preservation and access
- Exhibition planning and implementation, both on-site and off-site
- Historic preservation planning and partnerships, including collaboration with preservation organizations, architects, conservators, and agencies
- Stewardship of the Nakashima Family House and related historic resources, ensuring best practices in preservation and interpretation
- Educational and public programs
- Peace programs and related initiatives
- Marketing and communications
- Partnerships and community engagement
- Cooperative and preservation agreements with partner institutions such as the University of Pennsylvania, World Monuments Fund, and other cultural, historic, and educational organizations
Desired Qualifications
- Minimum of five years of senior leadership experience in a nonprofit, cultural, historic, or educational organization
- Demonstrated experience advancing mission-driven programs, including historic preservation, and international or peace-focused initiatives
- Strong background in organizational management, budgeting, and governance
- Experience working with boards, donors, institutional partners, and public-facing programs
- Familiarity with collections-based institutions, historic sites, or architectural heritage preferred
- Excellent communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills
- Deep alignment with the values of peace, craft, and stewardship central to the Nakashima Foundation for Peace
- Experience or knowledge of Japanese American history, design, and culture
- Japanese language ability preferred but not required
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The Nakashima Foundation for Peace is a 501(c)3 nonprofit formed in 1986 by George Nakashima, renowned Japanese American architect, woodworker, and leading figure in the 20th century studio craft movement. Originally formed to fulfill George Nakashima’s vision of building Peace Altars around the world, the Foundation has since expanded to preserve and share the Nakashima legacy. The Foundation is based at the George Nakashima Woodworkers campus in New Hope, Pennsylvania, and shares the Nakashima legacy with the world through stewardship, education, cultural exchange, and global peace initiatives such as the Peace Tables.
The Nakashima Foundation for Peace seeks a mission-driven Director to lead the organization into its next chapter. Working closely with the Board President and Board of Directors, the Director will oversee all aspects of the Foundation’s operations, including staff and volunteers, collections and exhibitions, historic properties, financial and administrative management, and external partnerships. The Director will serve as the Foundation’s chief administrator and public ambassador, strengthening donor relationships, institutional collaborations, historic preservation partnerships, and community engagement. The ideal candidate brings nonprofit leadership experience, strong organizational and financial management skills, and a demonstrated commitment to cultural management, historic preservation, and mission-driven public programming.
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