Skip to main content
full-timejobsopportunities

Executive Director

By 3 September 2025January 14th, 2026No Comments

Hamkae Center seeks a strategic, justice-driven Executive Director to guide the organization
through a critical period of growth and opportunity. As Asian American communities in Virginia
grow in number and political influence, Hamkae Center is building collective power to advance
immigrant, racial, and economic justice.

The Executive Director will lead with integrity, inclusiveness, and vision—ensuring alignment
with the organization’s mission, driving programs and strategy, strengthening internal culture,
and securing resources to sustain and grow our impact. They will also serve as a key leader
within the NAKASEC national network and lead our sister 501(c)(4), NAKASEC Action Fund
Virginia

Core Responsibilities

Organizational Strategy & Vision

  • Lead the implementation and evolution of Hamkae Center’s strategic plan in partnership with staff and stakeholders.
  • Stay informed on shifting local, state, and national dynamics to identify opportunities for bold, power-building campaigns.
  • Facilitate collaborative annual goal-setting with staff, board, and key partners.
  • Ensure strong representation in coalitions at the local, state, and national levels

Staff Leadership, Organizational Development, and Culture

  • Directly manage the leadership team; support strategic decision-making through regular check-ins and coaching.
  • Foster a healthy, high-performing organizational culture rooted in collaboration and purpose.
  • Oversee inclusive hiring, onboarding, team-building, and performance evaluation processes.
  • Support staff professional development and leadership growth.
  • Improve internal systems and structures to enhance team coordination and goal achievement.
  • Facilitate regular team meetings, retreats, and culture-building opportunities

Fundraising & Financial Stewardship

  • Lead and oversee all fundraising efforts: institutional (foundations, government, corporate), grassroots, and individual donors.
  • Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with funders and partners.
  • Guide the organization’s financial planning and ensure sound fiscal oversight.
  • Expand revenue strategies to support programmatic and operational growth.
  • Oversee development of fundraising materials, grant proposals, and report

Communications & Public Presence

  • Serve as a public spokesperson and represent Hamkae Center in key external forums statewide including the General Assembly session(s) in Richmond.
  • Oversee the development and execution of a communications strategy that uplifts powerful narratives from Virginia’s Asian American communities.
  • Ensure alignment across digital, media, and community-facing messaging

Advisory Board Engagement

  • Support Hamkae Center’s Advisory Board development, communicate and coordinate with Board leadership on organizational matters, attend regular in-person and/or virtual Board meetings, and engage with standing Board committees as needed

Network & Affiliate Leadership

NAKASEC National Network

  • Actively engage in NAKASEC network decision-making, strategy development, and campaigns.
  • Attend network meetings, retreats, and serve on NAKASEC’s Board of Directors.
  • Ensure Hamkae Center constituents are reflected in national initiatives and communications.

NAKASEC Action Fund Virginia

  • Serve as Director of the state chapter of NAKASEC Action Fund.
  • Lead campaign and program implementation to advance policies benefiting marginalized Asian American and broader communities.
  • Attend and support NAKASEC Action Fund board meetings as needed

Qualifications

Hamkae Center encourages applicants with a majority of the desired skills, experiences, and
qualifications:

  • 10+ years of professional experience, including senior-level leadership in nonprofits or aligned sectors.
  • Strong background in at least two of the following: social service provision, community organizing, public policy advocacy, and civic engagement program.
  • Success in strategic planning, team leadership, program oversight, and community organizing.
  • Deep knowledge of and familiarity with the current Virginia nonprofit and political landscape.
  • Strong background in staff management including managing diverse teams, including director-level staff and staff of varying immigrant generations.
  • Experience fundraising six-figure grants, contributions, contracts, and donor cultivation.
  • Familiarity with foundations, funders and developing relationships with funding personnel.
  • Experience working with key stakeholders, including legislators, institutional leaders, and coalitions.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to build trust, resolve conflicts, and work with empathy and accountability.
  • Understanding of the range of experiences individuals have with diversity, equity, and inclusion. Experience in supporting individuals and teams with their DEI learning journeys.
  • Having a deep cultural competency/understanding of Virginia AAPI communities, and a commitment to immigrant justice and power-building

Preferred Qualifications (not required)

  • Policy and legislative advocacy experience, particularly in immigration.
  • Significant experience with base-building and member-led grassroots power building within unions, worker centers, and/or community-based organizations.
  • Proficiency in an Asian language

Additional Details

  • Location: Hybrid with 2 days in northern Virginia office; ability to travel to Richmond and other parts of Virginia as needed
  • Job Type: full-time, FLSA exempt, regular employment
  • Reports to: Advisory Board
  • Pay: $100k-$120k (commensurate with experience)
  • Benefits:
    • Full health, dental, and vision insurance 100% coverage individual, 70% coverage for family
    • Simple IRA matching program after 2 years of employment.
    • Paid time off, vacation, sick days (if you, a partner, or a family member are sick), and other leave time customized to your unique circumstances. We close the week of July 4th and between December 25 – January 1 for reflection and rejuvenation. 
  • Support: In addition to support from the Hamkae Center Advisory Board, as an Executive Director within the NAKASEC network, support from network Executive Directors through monthly meetings and biannual in-person retreats.

To Apply

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter (PDF) to NAKASEC, Hamkae Center’s
national organization at jobs@nakasec.org.

Please provide 3 professional references who can speak about your character and work/volunteer experience. We would prefer it if one of the references had a supervisory relationship with you, and one who is a former direct report. When sending reference information, please include the reference’s: 

  • Full name  
  • Phone Number and/or Email address  
  • Short description of your professional relationship with the reference

Deadline to Apply: February 20, 2026. After priority deadline, applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

About Hamkae Center

Hamkae Center’s mission is to organize Asian Americans in Virginia to
achieve social, economic, and racial justice. Through community organizing, public policy
advocacy, and civic engagement, Hamkae Center is a leading Asian American organization
striving to build power in Virginia towards a future in which low and middle income, immigrant,
and marginalized communities fully participate in U.S. society and work together as
change makers. Hamkae Center focuses on the most vulnerable members of the Asian
American community including people with low-income, immigrants of diverse status, English
language learners, women, and youth. Hamkae Center is the Virginia affiliate of NAKASEC, a
national Asian American Network. At present, Hamkae Center has a 15 member staff.

Hamkae Center has a sister 501(c)4 organization, NAKASEC Action Fund (NAKASEC AF).
NAKASEC AF chapters engage Asian Americans through community education, organizing,
advocacy and civic engagement programs

X