Museum Specialist

The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo.  This position is located in the Collections Management Unit, Collections Department , Division of Public History, National Museum of American History (NMAH), Smithsonian Institution (SI).

Qualifications:

Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal Service.  For this position specialized experience is defined as: 1) providing collections management work for a collection in a historical museum or cultural setting including managing and preserving collections; 2) using and maintaining collections information components of museum or cultural collections and conservation, using collection information system and database; and 3) conducting directed research in support of historical museums or cultural collections, exhibitions, and other museum related projects.   

OR

You qualify with Education:  Master's or equivalent graduate degree; 

OR   2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR LL.B. or J.D., if related 

OR You may qualify by a combination of experience and education.                                                                                                                                                       

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 and experience may be combined to meet the basic qualifications. For a full explanation of this option please see the Qualification Standards. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are qualifying by education and/or you have education completed in a foreign college/university described above, it is your responsibility to provide transcripts and proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study. For instructions on where to fax these documents, see the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Responsibilities:

As a Museum Specialist you will perform a blend of physical and administrative work for the care, handling, housing, documentation, internal movement, shipping, receiving, packing, unpacking, and storing of collections.

The duties of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Selects appropriate space and applies appropriate methods, materials and equipment to move, house and store objects.
• Reorganizes collections for more efficient use of space and accessibility.
• Oversees object preparation for shipments into and out from Offsite, including construction of containers, housings, and object supports as necessary for safe and secure movement. Assures appropriate access to collection by museum staff and visitors and responds to public inquiries.
• Gathers, records, reconciles, and updates collections information. Searches a variety of acquisition and Offsite files, and Divisional catalog records, and applies expertise in the use of museum collections management systems, such as Mimsy XG.
• Documents condition of collections and carries out minor object treatment to stabilize collections.
• Assists Program Manager in planning and implementation of offsite activities, including short- and long-term project planning and serving as team leader (ad hoc and for both staff and contract resources) for specialized projects.
• Responsible for the security and safety of assigned storage spaces and collections. Monitors building structure and systems for temperature, relative humidity, light and air quality, and scans collections for evidence of damage, deterioration, or pest activity.  
• Documents, preserves, stores, and moves objects with hazardous material components. Performs tasks with additional obligations to monitor, record, and authorize clearance for hazardous objects.  

Salary : $68,405