Art Handler (IS-1001-09)

Application Deadline: 3 March 2025

Department: Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

Location: New York, NY

Compensation: $34.51 / hour

Description

OPEN DATE: February 21, 2025
CLOSING DATE: March 3, 2025
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Temporary Not to Exceed One (1) Year
SCHEDULE: Intermittent
DUTY LOCATION: New York, NY
Position sensitivity and risk: Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Open to all Qualified Applicants

What are Trust Fund Positions?
Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).

Conditions of Employment

• 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.


• The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.


• Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

OVERVIEW

This position is located within the Registrar department of the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum (CHSDM) at the Smithsonian Institution.

The incumbent serves as Art Handler and is responsible for installing and handling art objects for exhibitions and providing general support for exhibitions.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Art Handling

• With Registrar, installs and handles objects for exhibitions including objects made of metal, wood, ceramic, plastic, paint, leather, paper, textiles, and other organic and inorganic materials.


• Facilitates movement of works of art within the museum between storage area, the registrar's office, conservation laboratories, exhibition spaces, and from other museums and galleries.


• Handles art objects from the collection which include paper, textiles or 3D objects such as jewelry, ceramics, furniture, glass and metalwork.


• Works with Registrar to pack objects for transport from Newark, designing and building custom-made shipping containers, that are re-usable when possible. Applies extensive knowledge of the kinds of protection needed and the kinds of packaging available when packing objects.


• Facilitates the movement of objects to and from storage to the exhibition space.


• Handles objects on loan to the museum and ensures the safety of the objects.

Exhibitions

• Assists with installation and de-installation for all CHSDM exhibitions as required.


• With Registrar and Conservation, assesses special requirements necessary for the safe and efficient handling, movement, placement, and packing of incoming loans and museum collection objects.


• Assists couriers accompanying borrowed objects for traveling exhibitions and in house exhibitions.


• Assists with administrative processes including completion of condition reports to ensure that CHSDM is in compliance with all loan agreements and loan conditions.

Performs other duties as required.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Demonstrated knowledge of art handling practices and methods used by museums in order to appropriately pack and unpack historic objects of great value and significance and provide general handling and installation support to the museum.


• Knowledge and understanding of a wide range of materials that make up objects within a design museum collection and how these materials may react with installation or packing materials.


• Familiarity of varied security procedures in order to safeguard objects being moved in the museum and to other destinations.


• Demonstrated knowledge of collections management practices and procedures, including object handling and storage, familiarity with archival materials, and condition reporting in order to assist the Head Registrar and other senior team members.


• Knowledge of design and decorative arts.


• Work requires physical exertion, including long periods of standing, stooping, reaching, and lifting of moderately heavy objects, up to 50 lbs. Manual and physical dexterity is needed to handle, move, and pack fragile and irreplaceable objects of various media and sizes.

Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.

Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."

Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.

What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.

Relocation expenses are not paid.

The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact OHRTrustBranch@si.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian's Accommodation Procedures.

The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that a workforce comprising a variety of educational, cultural, and experiential backgrounds support and enhance our daily work life and contribute to the richness of our exhibitions and programs. See Smithsonian EEO program information: https://www.si.edu/oeesd.