Museum Specialist at the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI)
Job Title: Museum Specialist
Job Status: Full-time
Location: Suitland, MD
Salary: $99,200 – $128,956
The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex. This position is located in the Conservation, Collection Management Services, Museum Collections and Operations Department, National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI). The NMAI is committed to advancing knowledge and understanding of Native cultures of the Western Hemisphere, past, present and future through partnership with Native people and others.
Duties
This position functions as a Museum Specialist who will be considered as the Subject Matter Expert.
In this position, you will:
- Coordinate and carry out activities that support preservation of NMAI collections which include Integrated Pest Management, environmental monitoring, disaster planning, and materials testing for conservation, exhibition display and collections housing and advise Collections Management staff on appropriate methods and materials for housing collections.
- Propose conservation methodology and treatment informed by knowledge of Native and Indigenous cultural material and protocols, carry out conservation treatment including cleaning, stabilization, repair or restore and documents actions by executing written technical conservation proposals and treatment reports including photo documentation.
- Analyze reports and multi-modal imaging in NMAI’s KEmu Collections Information System, Perform non-destructive analysis such as portable X-ray Fluorescence analysis ((pXRF), develop and document new techniques, and reporting for pXRF analysis.
- Assist with workshops on conservation and collections care as presenter covering preventive conservation, develop and disseminate conservation information through publications, presentations and workshops, engage with Native and Indigenous communities and artists with regard to the understanding, care, conservation and display of NMAI’s collection.
- Support NMAI projects and programs by serving as subject matter expert on exhibition teams as conservation liaison and otherwise as requested, assists the supervisor in preparing federal and trust fund budgets, schedules, work, and spending plans, and ensuring provision of logistics in support of projects and programs, respond to inquiries and/or requests for assistance regarding conservation practice, policy, procedures and ethics.
Qualifications
Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal Service or comparable pay band system. For this position Specialized experience is defined as experience executing conservation practices such as integrated pest management, environmental monitoring, materials testing; experience with conservation examination, documentation, scientific analysis and conservation treatment of composite archaeological, historic and modern and contemporary collections; and experience working with Native and Indigenous communities and artists.
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.
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.
Education
There is no substitution for education at this level.
Additional information
- This position is included in the bargaining unit.
Current or Former Political Appointees: Beginning January 1, 2010, agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level under the provisions of title 5, United States Code. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Office of Human Resources. Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:
- Position title;
- Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee);
- Agency; and,
- Beginning and ending dates of appointment.
Recruitment Incentive: Recruitment incentive(s) may be authorized for this position. However, approval for incentives are contingent upon various availability. If authorized, certain incentives will require the incumbent to sign a service agreement to remain in the Federal government for a certain time period.
Note: This statement does not imply nor guarantee an incentive will be offered and paid.
Selections may be made for vacancies across the Smithsonian Institution (SI). By applying to this position, you agree to allow your application and other personal information to be shared with one or more SI hiring officials for employment consideration for same/similar positions within the location(s) identified in this announcement.