Exhibits Specialist (IS-1010-11)

Smithsonian Institution•Washington, DC

13d•$85,447 - $96,843•Onsite

About The Position

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art opened in 1923 as America’s first national art museum and the first Asian art museum in the United States. It now stewards on of the world’s most important collections of Asian art, with works dating from antiquity to the present. The museum also hosts an unparalleled collection of 19th- and early 20th-century American art. Through an ambitious program of collecting, conservation, exhibitions, programming and research, both onsite and online, the museum serves as a global and national resource for understanding the arts and cultures of Asia and their interaction with America, past and present. By presenting the arts and cultures of Asia in their extraordinary richness, the museum furthers cross-cultural understanding and aims to exemplify foundational ideals of curiosity, creativity and respect. Located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the museum is free and open 364 days a year (closed Dec. 25). The Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum, education and research complex and welcomes millions of visitors yearly. For more information about the National Museum of Asian Art, visit asia.si.edu. This position serves as an exhibits specialist in the production division of NMAA’s Exhibitions department. The department is responsible for planning, coordinating, designing, producing, and maintaining long-term and changing exhibitions and interior and exterior art installations. The museum is in the early stages of an exciting four-year project to comprehensively transform its galleries and public spaces, and the person selected for this position will be heavily involved in the fabrication and installation of exhibition furniture, including new casework types, that need to be efficient to access and sustainable, while helping to achieve the museum’s goal of providing deeply engaging, impactful exhibitions.

Requirements

Undergraduate or graduate education with major study in illustrative design, commercial art, fine arts, industrial design, architecture, drafting, interior design, or another field related to the position.
Advanced training above the high school level in a vocational school, technical institute, or art institute in one of the fields listed above may be credited as general experience on a month-for-month basis.
One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal service or comparable experience outside the Federal government.
Experience working from shop drawings; ability to read and interpret exhibition floor plans and renderings, including 3D models.
Extensive knowledge of the various materials (for example, plywood, Medex, acrylic, and PVC), their properties, and appropriate uses within the context of museum exhibitions.
Knowledge of cabinetmaking and woodworking. Advanced knowledge of joinery techniques, hardwoods, plywood, and composite boards, and the appropriate processes and techniques for employing them in the fabrication of exhibition components.
Ability to research and test unfamiliar products and materials and to work with relevant colleagues to assess their viability for use as exhibition components.
Knowledge of and experience with the appropriate care, inspection, and operation of tools, equipment, and machinery used in exhibition preparation.
Familiarity with the standard safety protocols associated with workshop spaces.
Ability to work independently on tasks when conditions are safe to do so.
Ability to work in close collaboration with others.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience using a computer-controlled cutting machine (CNC router) and associated software is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Fabricating and finishing high-quality museum display furnishings, including but not limited to display cases, display pedestals, platforms, baffle walls and other partitions, wall and sign panels, display racks, special housings for lighting and/or audio-visual equipment, and decorative elements.
Preparing and refurbishing exhibition spaces, primarily through installation and maintenance of display furnishings.
Analyzing design specifications and identifying appropriate fabrication methods. Works with exhibition designer and other staff members as necessary to confirm or refine build specifications prior to fabrication.
Developing production and installation timelines, work schedules, and materials needs for assigned projects in consultation with Production Manager. Ensures that required deliverables are met on schedule.
Maintaining materials and equipment inventories in collaboration with other members of the production division; ensuring that all machinery and equipment are in proper working condition and promptly identifying needs for replacement/restocking.
Serving on cross-departmental exhibition project teams as assigned by the Production Manager. Evaluates scope of the project as it pertains to in-house fabrication, reviews and provides feedback on design plans at 35%, 65%, and 95% stages.