Museum Specialist (Interpretation Specialist) at the National Gallery of Art

Job Title: Museum Specialist (Interpretation Specialist)

Job Status: Full-time

Location: Washington, D.C.

Salary: $78,592 – $102,166

Duties

The Museum Specialist(Interpretation Specialist) will perform the following duties:

  • Enhance and expand interpretive content and experiences for the permanent collection and select temporary exhibitions to advance the audience-centered goals of the museum.
  • Develop clearly articulated interpretive plans and innovative content delivery strategies.
  • Collaborate with cross-departmental teams to conceptualize, develop, and implement interpretive elements and resources that are inclusive, accessible and engaging for all audiences. These may include in-gallery texts, guides to the collection, educator resources, online object overviews, audio tours, and digital interactive.
  • Write and edits original interpretive content aimed at enhancing visitor engagement and supporting audience needs.
  • Collaborate with audience research staff to evaluate existing content and inform the creation of new interpretive offerings based on qualitative and quantitative data.
  • Engage internal and external stakeholders around interpretive planning and content development for permanent collection and exhibition projects to develop more inclusive strategies and stories.  
  • Train docents on permanent collection installations and related art historical content.
  • Work with Learning and Engagement colleagues to create online and analog educator resources.
  • Share and promote the work of the department with local and national museum colleagues through meetings, presentations, articles, blog posts, etc.
  • Conduct research to inform and enhance interpretive content for projects, including research and selection of comparative figures, illustrations, and supporting materials for interpretive materials, including text, audio, video, and web-based content.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a United States Citizen.
  • This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
  • Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
  • See “Other Information” section regarding Selective Service requirements.

Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant work experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to this job opportunity. 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). Your resume must include the dates of all qualifying experience (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours worked/volunteered per week.

 

Qualifications

Candidates must meet the Qualification Standards Handbook requirements for the GS-1016-11. Candidates must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent in responsibility to the federal GS-9 level, developing museum interpretation for the public in the arts, culture, education, or other related fields.

Your application and resume must demonstrate that you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather, you must show in your résumé how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the KSAs identified below. If asked to do so, cite specific examples of employment or experience contained in your resume and describe how this experience has prepared you to successfully perform the duties of this position. DO NOT write “see resume” in your application!

Those applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements will be evaluated against these factors to determine the best-qualified candidates.

  1. Experience creating audience-centered interpretive experiences for general art museum visitors.
  2. Experience developing interpretive plans, big ideas, and visitor outcomes for exhibitions and installations.
  3. Experience working collaboratively and creatively with individual museum departments and cross-departmental teams.
  4. Broad knowledge of art historical periods, styles, media, and techniques.
  5. Knowledge of best practices in museum interpretation, museum-based education, informal learning.
  6. Excellent written and oral communication skills.
  7. Ability to distill complex art historical concepts for non-specialist audiences.
  8. Experience soliciting feedback and facilitating open conversations with a range of internal and external stakeholders.

 “Experience” refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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.

Time-in-Grade: Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement to receive consideration under merit promotion procedures.

CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered “well qualified” you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

 

Education

Undergraduate and Graduate Education: For GS-3 positions, education may have been in any field of study. For positions at GS-4 and above, related course work is required. Related fields of study include art, history, museum studies, scientific subjects, or other courses related to the position to be filled.

 

Additional information

• The National Gallery of Art fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

• More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement.

• Some positions may require completion of a probationary period of up to 1 (one) year.

• AN EXTERNAL SELECTED CANDIDATE MUST BE FINGERPRINTED AND RECEIVE A BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION, RESULTING IN A SATISFACTORY SUITABILITY DETERMINATION BEFORE BEING HIRED FOR THIS POSITION.

Full job description and application HERE

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