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Museum Specialist (General), IS-1016-11

Salary

$85k - $111k

Location

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States

JobType

full-time

About the job

Info This job is sourced from a job board

About the role

OPEN DATE:  April 20, 2026                   
CLOSING DATE:  May 1, 2026   (This job will close once 100 applications are received which may be sooner than the closing date)      
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE:    Temporary Not-to-Exceed Four (4) Years
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC 

Position sensitivity and risk:
Non-Sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Open to all qualified applicants

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. 

OVERVIEW

The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo.  The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a national museum for the study and exhibition of African American history and culture.  This position is in the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). Center for Study of African American Religious Life (CSAARL).

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Museum Specialist will perform collections management, project and program management, procurement and outreach.

Specifically, you will:
  • perform collections management work, including all technical and routine duties in connection with management of the collection of NMAAHC objects and in accordance with Smithsonian rules, regulations and procedures.
  • provide collections management support over course of multi-year planning process for large exhibitions and other related museum priorities.
  • create, track, and maintain computerized databases of objects proposed or selected for display in ew or temporary exhibitions, the NMAAHC object rotations program, or special projects.
  • support the planning and implementation of the Center and NMAAHC program activities
  • integrate religion-based collections knowledge with programmatic plans of the center through end-to-end program planning.
  • serve as the Center's COTR (Contracting Officer's Technical Representative) for collection management and related projects and contracts that involve the handling, movement, storage, documentation and use of artifacts selected for display in NMAAHC or other exhibitions that use NMAAHC collections.
  • be responsible for contact with internal and external stakeholders, including telephone and/or written correspondence with other national and international professional museum institutions, the African American community, faith-based organizations, churches, networks, universities, libraries, and other external and internal stakeholders.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Experience:  Experience related to the operation or management of a museum or similar collection of valuable objects. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include collections management, registration, cataloging, research, preservation, restoration, or conservation of collections of museum material, or other experience related to the position to be filled.  

The ideal candidate should have demonstrated experience described as follows:
  1. Knowledge of African American history and culture.
  2. Knowledge of procedures and methods used in the acquisition, handling, storage, care and preservation of museum collections.
  3. Ability to communicate orally.
  4. Skill in conducting research for or about African Americans related to religion and/or religious traditions of African American history and culture.
  5. Ability to communicate in writing.
  6. Ability to plan and implement museum exhibitions, programs and publications related to the field of religion by and about African Americans.
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.
  
Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."
 
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 humphriesy@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. To review The Smithsonian's EEO program information, please click the following: https://www.si.edu/oeo   

About the company

Operates the world's largest museum and research complex.

Skills

end-to-end