Summary
The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo—shaping the future by preserving heritage, discovering new knowledge, and sharing our resources with the world. This position is in the National Museum of African Art (NMAFA). The museum is a leading research and reference center for the visual arts of Africa.
How to Apply:
Overview
Open & closing dates
Opening and closing dates 06/22/2022 to 07/20/2022
Salary
$103,690 – $134,798 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location: District of Columbia, DC
District of Columbia, DC
FEW vacancies
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent – Federal
Work schedule
Full-time – Full-Time, Permanent
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
1016 Museum Specialist And Technician
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Announcement number
22R-MP-307496-DEU-NMAFA
Control number
661449000
Duties
The Supervisory Museum Specialist serves as Head Registrar within the Registration Department of NMAFA. The Registration Department is responsible for collection management activities in the areas of accessioning, digital photography, incoming and outgoing loans, object movement, storage, packing and shipping, and care and handling of objects in the Museum’s custody, as well as the ethical and legal documentation issues associated with these activities.
In this position you will:
- Implement a collections management policy, continuously monitoring the policy for suitability to the institution’s needs and conformance to applicable current laws and statutory regulations, updating and revising as appropriate.
- Manage a collections information and management system, both manual and automated as well as coordinates responses and suggestions from administrative, curatorial and conservation staff regarding the type of information to be entered and the production report.
- Coordinate responses and suggestions from administrative, curatorial and conservation staff regarding the type of information to be entered and the production report.
- Manage all registration aspects of the temporary loan exhibition program, which may include exhibition organized and exhibited at the National Museum African Art (NMAFA) and sent to other museums, as well as exhibitions organized by other museums and exhibited at NMAFA.
- Assure that objects on loan to museum are properly insured and that objects from the Museum’s collection are insured while off the premises of the Smithsonian Institution.
- Oversee the movement and security of objects within the Museum and assures that all objects belonging to the Museum or in its custody are handled with care.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
Pass Pre-employment Background Investigation
May need to complete a Probationary Period
Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer
Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
Conditions of Employment
COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS:
For the latest information on the COVID-19 vaccination requirements and its impact on your application, click on Smithsonian Institution’s Frequently Asked Questions
Qualifications
Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal Service or comparable pay band system. For this position Specialized experience is defined as experience with current ethical parameters that guide the acquisition and repatriation of African art. In addition, experience in the implementation and management of a mass digitization program for the photography of art works in a museum, historic property, or other collecting setting.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Part-time and/or unpaid experience related to this position will be considered to determine the total number of years and months of experience. Be sure to note the number of paid or unpaid hours worked each week.
Education
Education cannot be used to substitute the specialized experience at the GS-13 grade level.
Additional information
This position is not included in the bargaining unit.
Benefit
The Smithsonian offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, vacation and sick leave, holidays, health/life insurance, accident insurance, and excellent retirement program options.
Please see Benefits at https://www.si.edu/OHR/benefits for a complete description.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your application will be evaluated first for the basic qualifications described above. The applications that meet the basic qualifications will be evaluated further against the following criteria:
- Ability to implement a Collections Management Policy including the acquisition and accessioning of objects, access to collection objects, insurance and inventories
- Ability to manage and operate the Museum System (TMS) records and software for the museum. wide variety of objects involving difficult and delicate problems and called on for expert advice frequently.
- Skill in registration of all kinds of art objects, across eras, associated languages, countries of origin, styles and media.
- Ability to balances ongoing duties in inventory and registration with ad hoc assignment involving travel, legal inquiries, and IT Support
Applicants who meet or exceed minimum qualifications will be assigned to one of three category groups based on job-related criteria:
Best Category – Meets the minimum qualification requirements and excels in most of the job related competencies above.
Better Category – Meets the minimum qualification requirements and satisfies most of the job related competencies above.
Good Category – Meets the minimum qualification requirements, but does not satisfy most of the job related competencies above to a substantive degree.
This category rating process does not add veterans’ preference points or apply the “rule of three”, but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Category) provided no preference eligible in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied. Preference eligibles who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher. Applicants who have not submitted a resume in the USAjobs system and/or have not answered all of the vacancy questions will not be considered for this position.
Important Note:
Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire or other assessment tool for consistency. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your resume, you will be assigned a rating commensurate to your described experience. Your resume should provide sufficient information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed.
You may preview questions for this vacancy.
Required Documents
Your application package should include the following documents:
- Resume – Your resume can be uploaded and attached to your application or created using the USA Jobs on-line resume builder. If you want to receive full credit for relevant experience your resume MUST contain the job title (including the occupational series and grade if it is Federal), duties, starting and ending dates (month and year), hours worked per week, and salary.
- Proof of Veteran’s Preference – DD214 (Member 4 Copy), if you are a veteran. Additionally, applicants claiming 10-point preference must complete Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, as well as additional documentation required by the SF-15, such as a VA letter.
- Unofficial school transcripts, if the position has an education requirement or if you are using education to qualify. If selected for the position, you must provide an official transcript before appointment.
- Proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study, if applicable.
