PARA SITE is Seeking Executive director

Photo: Felix SC Wong

Founded in early 1996 as an artist-run space, Para Site stands as Hong Kong’s pioneering exhibition-making institution of contemporary art. As Para Site reaches its 30-year milestone, it has evolved into an internationally recognised contemporary art centre, actively engaging in diverse activities and fostering collaborations with other art institutions, museums, and partners in Hong Kong as well as globally.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director at Para Site will provide visionary executive leadership and a forward-looking curatorial vision, combining a strong commitment to nurturing artistic talent, creative experimentation and exchange. The ideal candidate should demonstrate exceptional fundraising and strategic acumen, organisation management, as well as ambassadorial skills, to ensure the organisation’s long-term sustainability and growth. A deep familiarity with non-profit operations and the visual arts landscape in Asia-Pacific is a must.

Primary Responsibilities

Primary Responsibilities

Executive Leadership and Organisational Management

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the organisation and provide managerial guidance to maintain an efficient and satisfying working environment.

• Manage the operating budget with Board approval and ensure financial resources are available to meet programming needs.

• Assume responsibility for the fiscal integrity of the organisation.

Curatorial Development

• Lead and supervise a team of curatorial staff to conceive, develop and curate exhibitions.

• Devise extension programmes that align with the organisation’s mission and goals, including publications and public programmes.

• Solicit strategic partnerships and collaborations with other museums and art organisations.

• Improve the organisation’s accessibility and outreach to different audiences and communities both regionally and internationally.

Board Engagement & Management

• Drive Board meetings and actively engage Board Members to facilitate the long-term growth of the organisation.

• Provide reports to the Board on project and organisational progress.

• Ensure effective communication with the Board and key stakeholders by facilitating timely, informed decision-making with accurate information.

• Proactively identify and evaluate risks and challenges. Assist the Board to develop solutions or recommendations to address such challenges.

Development and Fundraising

• Spearhead a comprehensive fundraising strategy tailored to the organisation’s needs and objectives. Develop new fundraising initiatives.

• Establish, nurture, and expand relationships with individual donors, foundations, and corporate partners.

• Be a lead representative and advocate of the organisation to external constituents, media, and the general public.

The ideal candidate should have

• An advanced degree in art history, curatorial studies, museum studies, arts administration or equivalent experience.

• Minimum of 6 years’ experience in a senior arts management position, ideally in a museum, non-profit or cultural organisation.

• Curatorial experience in art exhibitions and programming.

• A well-developed professional network in the contemporary art scene, and demonstrated familiarity with Asia-Pacific and its arts ecosystem.

• Demonstrable knowledge of public and private sector fundraising.

• Excellent managerial skills and experience leading teams as well as a wide range of collaborators.

• Advanced communication skills, especially in public speaking and media interviews.

• High proficiency in spoken and written English. Cantonese and/or Mandarin is a plus.

Candidates must submit a complete digital application file in English, comprising a cover letter, a detailed curriculum vitae, two professional references, and a short presentation of the projects they have completed to date through the application link on or before August 15, 2025 (Friday). 

Applicants not being invited for an interview within 6 weeks from the application deadline may assume their applications are unsuccessful.

Para Site is an equal opportunity employer. All applications will be used exclusively for selection purposes and handled confidentially by authorised personnel only.  All related information will be kept up to 24 months and all personal data will be destroyed afterwards.

About Para Site

Para Site champions original developments in contemporary art by centering artistic voices and innovations. Collaborating closely with practitioners from both local and international contexts, Para Site enables new works, initiatives, and ideas to come into being. Placing an emphasis on inclusiveness and independent thought, Para Site has developed a strong reputation for giving milestone opportunities to a myriad of artists and curators, many of whom go on to develop significant careers in contemporary art.

Founded by artists as an alternative space in 1996, Para Site has since acted as a catalyst for the creation of new ideas and initiatives. Through producing benchmark exhibitions, commissioning transformative works, and cultivating new talent, we emphasise contemporary art’s ability to reshape our understanding of society. To date, Para Site has mounted over 300 exhibitions locally and globally, hosted over 87 international residents, and delivered over 1,000 public programmes.

All of Para Site’s programmes are free and accessible to the public.