Director of Collection

Smithsonian Institution•Washington, DC

14h

About The Position

This position is located in the National Postal Museum (NPM) of the Smithsonian Institution (SI). The National Postal Museum is dedicated to the preservation, study and presentation of postal history and philately. The museum uses exhibits, public programs and research to make this rich history available to scholars, philatelists, collectors and visitors from around the world.

Requirements

Requires career/career-conditional status or eligibility.
Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
Qualification requirements, including one year time-in-grade at the next lower grade level for promotion candidates, must be met within 30 days of the job announcement closing date.
One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal Service.
Specialized experience is defined as experience serving as a senior specialist performing collections management activities in the collections department of a museum, cultural or historical organization.
Resume must be no more than two (2) pages and should clearly demonstrate how your experience aligns with the responsibilities and specialized experience required for this position.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Nice To Haves

Do not copy language directly from the vacancy announcement, as you will be deemed ineligible for consideration. Instead, provide detailed, descriptive information about your actual experience.

Responsibilities

Assigns projects, provides technical direction, and ensures staff are informed of and follow established operating plans, procedures, and instructions.
Supervises the staff of the Collections Department.
Develops and circulates annual goals and benchmarks for Collections Department in the areas of preservation, collections management, accessioning, exhibiting, lending, collecting, digitizing, and providing increased access to the collection.
Develops new protocols and processing for capture, storing, and providing accessibility to digital collections, as well as creating new protocols and procedures for digitizing NPM’s collections.
Analyzes, develops, and implements best practices for digitizing NPM’s collection.
Serves as the principal advisor to the Director on all complex collections management issues including accessioning (gifts bequests transfers purchases exchanges etc.), deaccessioning, conservation, preservation, security, environmental protections etc.
Communicates with museum stakeholders or potential donors on collections management activities.