Museum Specialist (General), IS-1016-11

Smithsonian Institution•Washington, DC

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. The National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) is a national museum dedicated to the study and exhibition of African American history and culture. This position is located within the NMAAHC's Center for Study of African American Religious Life (CSAARL). It is a Trust Fund position, which means it is funded from various sources including the Smithsonian endowment, business activities, donations, grants, and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service and their employment does not lead to Federal status, though their salary ranges are generally similar to federal positions and they work alongside federal employees. Trust employees have their own benefit program. This is a full-time, temporary appointment not-to-exceed four years, based in Washington, DC. Applicants must pass a pre-employment background check and subsequent background investigation, complete a probationary period, and maintain a bank account for direct deposit.

Requirements

Experience related to the operation or management of a museum or similar collection of valuable objects.
Knowledge of African American history and culture.
Knowledge of procedures and methods used in the acquisition, handling, storage, care and preservation of museum collections.
Ability to communicate orally.
Skill in conducting research for or about African Americans related to religion and/or religious traditions of African American history and culture.
Ability to communicate in writing.
Ability to plan and implement museum exhibitions, programs and publications related to the field of religion by and about African Americans.
Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.
Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
Complete a Probationary Period.
Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
Be eligible to work in the United States.
Meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

Responsibilities

Perform collections management work, including all technical and routine duties in connection with management of the collection of NMAAHC objects and in accordance with Smithsonian rules, regulations and procedures.
Provide collections management support over course of multi-year planning process for large exhibitions and other related museum priorities.
Create, track, and maintain computerized databases of objects proposed or selected for display in new or temporary exhibitions, the NMAAHC object rotations program, or special projects.
Support the planning and implementation of the Center and NMAAHC program activities.
Integrate religion-based collections knowledge with programmatic plans of the center through end-to-end program planning.
Serve as the Center's COTR (Contracting Officer's Technical Representative) for collection management and related projects and contracts that involve the handling, movement, storage, documentation and use of artifacts selected for display in NMAAHC or other exhibitions that use NMAAHC collections.
Be responsible for contact with internal and external stakeholders, including telephone and/or written correspondence with other national and international professional museum institutions, the African American community, faith-based organizations, churches, networks, universities, libraries, and other external and internal stakeholders.