Museum Specialist (Art) IS-1016-09

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 and 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). 

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art opened in 1923 as America’s first national art museum and the first Asian art museum in the United States. It now stewards on of the world’s most important collections of Asian art, with works dating from antiquity to the present. The museum also hosts an unparalleled collection of 19th- and early 20th-century American art.

Through an ambitious program of collecting, conservation, exhibitions, programming and research, both onsite and online, the museum serves as a global and national resource for understanding the arts and cultures of Asia and their interaction with America, past and present. By presenting the arts and cultures of Asia in their extraordinary richness, the museum furthers cross-cultural understanding and aims to exemplify foundational ideals of curiosity, creativity and respect.

Located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the museum is free and open 364 days a year (closed Dec. 25). The Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum, education and research complex and welcomes millions of visitors yearly. For more information about the National Museum of Asian Art, visit asia.si.edu

The Provenance Research and Object Histories department is a cornerstone of the museum's commitment to excellence and international distinction in provenance and object histories. Reporting to the Associate Director for Provenance Research and Object Histories, the Assistant Provenance Researcher's primary responsibilities are conducting provenance research on museum objects and documenting the museum's collections. As the museum enters its second century, this position will help strengthen the museum’s position as an international leader in provenance research and object histories and will contribute to the museum's mission of broadening and deepening impact, fostering transparency in the collections’ origins, and providing expertise through research and information sharing. 

• Assists with provenance research of the collection. Evaluates the circumstances surrounding the acquisition of collection items using museum records, accession and loan files, catalog cards, and the collections database. Consults archival collections, including fieldnotes and correspondence. Examines relevant literature, oral histories, and other non-traditional evidence from within or outside the Smithsonian. 
• Completes written research reports that summarize the provenance and legal status of the collection. Updates both paper and digital object records with the research, following museum policy and procedures. 
• Provide support to staff in conducting basic provenance research by offering guidance, sharing research methods, and ensuring consistency in documentation of research findings. 
• Conducts an inventory of collections, including documentation. Verifies the collection items against records and flags any discrepancies for further research. 
• Consults with curatorial and collections staff as needed. 

To qualify for this position, you must meet one of the following:
A. Specialized Experience
You must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the IS/GS-07 level in the Federal service (or equivalent experience in the private sector) that demonstrates the ability to perform the work of this position. Specialized experience is defined as experience performing museum collections research and documentation work such as:
-        Conducting provenance and/or object history research using museum records (accession/loan files, catalog cards, object files) and museum collection databases;
-        Consulting archival sources (e.g., correspondence, field notes, institutional archives) and relevant published literature;
-        Preparing written research summaries or reports documenting provenance, ownership history, and/or legal/ethical status, and updating paper and electronic object records in accordance with established museum documentation practices; and
-        Supporting collections inventory and documentation by verifying objects against records, identifying discrepancies, and flagging issues for additional research

B. Education
You may substitute education for experience: two (2) full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or a master’s degree (or equivalent graduate degree) in a field related to the position (e.g., art history, museum studies, provenance research, cultural heritage, history, archival studies, library/information science, or a related field).

C. Combination
A combination of education and specialized experience may be used to meet the qualification requirements.
 

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 your application being rejected and may also result in termination after employment begins.

  

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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 nmaa-hr@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: www.si.edu/oeema.