What are the responsibilities and job description for the Public Affairs Specialist (IS-1035-13) position at Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute?
Application Deadline: 2 April 2025
Department: National Museum of Natural History
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Washington, DC
Reporting To: Public Affairs Director
Compensation: $120,579 - $156,755 / year
Description
OPEN DATE: March 27, 2025
CLOSING DATE: April 02, 2025
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC
Position sensitivity and risk
Example: Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Open to all qualified applicants in Smithsonian Only
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
Come join a dedicated and creative team at an exceptional time for the Smithsonian, an institution with a bold vision for the future: to build a better tomorrow for all. The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex. The National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) is part of the Smithsonian’s unique complex and is one of the most visited museums in the United States. Its mission is to promote understanding of the natural world and our place in it. NMNH has a collection of 148 million specimens and artifacts. Each one reflects a moment in space and time and in these moments, we find Earth’s story.
The National Museum of Natural History is seeking an experienced candidate to fill the Public Affairs Specialist position within the Office of Communications and Public Affairs.
Duties And Responsibilities
Education and Experience: To qualify for this position, applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower level (grade level 12) that is close to or similar to the work of this job. For this position, specialized experience is defined as stated below:
Experience Required For This Position Is As Follows
To Apply
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.
Applicants, who wish to qualify based on 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. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.
Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.
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 NMNHStaffing@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.
Department: National Museum of Natural History
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Washington, DC
Reporting To: Public Affairs Director
Compensation: $120,579 - $156,755 / year
Description
OPEN DATE: March 27, 2025
CLOSING DATE: April 02, 2025
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC
Position sensitivity and risk
Example: Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Open to all qualified applicants in Smithsonian Only
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.
Come join a dedicated and creative team at an exceptional time for the Smithsonian, an institution with a bold vision for the future: to build a better tomorrow for all. The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex. The National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) is part of the Smithsonian’s unique complex and is one of the most visited museums in the United States. Its mission is to promote understanding of the natural world and our place in it. NMNH has a collection of 148 million specimens and artifacts. Each one reflects a moment in space and time and in these moments, we find Earth’s story.
The National Museum of Natural History is seeking an experienced candidate to fill the Public Affairs Specialist position within the Office of Communications and Public Affairs.
Duties And Responsibilities
- Advises the Communications Director, Public Affairs Director and senior staff at the National Museum of Natural History on a broad range of public affairs, media issues and marketing activities.
- Serves as a media spokesperson for the National Museum of Natural History.
- Advises on the development of overall traditional and digital media campaigns, including press conferences, and briefings, which help to achieve the museum’s communications objectives.
- Leads the creation of complex, multi-channel communications plans and marketing strategies for scientific research outreach and new exhibitions.
- Leads departmental effort to track, interpret and strategically plan outreach efforts based upon a variety of metrics associated with the museum’s owned public engagement platforms in traditional and digital media.
- Evaluates the effectiveness of media strategies, communications products, and media kits produced by colleagues for consistency with predetermined goals and objectives
Education and Experience: To qualify for this position, applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower level (grade level 12) that is close to or similar to the work of this job. For this position, specialized experience is defined as stated below:
Experience Required For This Position Is As Follows
- Demonstrated ability to engage with members of the media on behalf of a museum or scientific research center.
- Knowledge of communications best practices and demonstrated ability to develop and implement media outreach plans surrounding scientific research and/or museum exhibitions.
- Proven record of placing stories on scientific research in major media outlets and journals.
- Ability to track, compile and analyze metrics in the service of strengthening an organization and its operations.
- Technical experience
To Apply
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.
Applicants, who wish to qualify based on 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. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.
Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.
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 NMNHStaffing@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.
Salary : $120,579 - $156,755
