OPEN DATE: November 6, 2026 CLOSING DATE: December 4, 2026 POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund APPOINTMENT TYPE: Term Not to Exceed 3 Years SCHEDULE: Full Time DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC *Position is Eligible for Ad Hoc Telework Only*
Position sensitivity and risk:
Non-sensitive/Moderate 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.
- This position is subject to financial disclosure requirements, and the incumbent must comply with all applicable ethics and financial reporting obligations.
OVERVIEW
This position is located in the Complex Agreements Division, Office of Contracting and Personal Property Management (OCon&PPM), within the Office of the Under Secretary for Finance and Administration at the Smithsonian Institution (SI).
The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, dedicated to the increase and diffusion of knowledge. OCon&PPM oversees the planning, development, administration, and execution of the Institution’s contracting, simplified acquisition, personal property, and procurement policy programs.
This position serves as a senior contracting advisor responsible for providing acquisition and contractual expertise for both appropriated and trust-funded programs, with a primary focus on complex, high-value information technology (IT) acquisitions. The incumbent supports all phases of the acquisition lifecycle, including acquisition planning, solicitation, negotiation, award, administration, and closeout of contracts for critical technology systems, services, and solutions that support the Smithsonian’s mission and operational objectives.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Attorney-Advisor (Contract) is responsible for the full lifecycle of complex federal contracting actions, including acquisition planning, solicitation development, negotiations, contract awards, administration, and closeout activities, with a primary focus on information technology procurements and emerging technology solutions. Assignments often involve multi-year projects supported by multiple contracts and may include contract modifications, claims, disputes, terminations, and other complex contractual matters. The incumbent coordinates and collaborates with a diverse group of contractors and stakeholders, each performing specialized functions that contribute to the successful execution of assigned projects.
- Provides expert contracting advice and guidance for a wide range of acquisitions, including specialized service contracts, innovative financing arrangements, revenue-generating contracts, and revenue-neutral agreements.
- Manages complex procurement projects involving information technology products and services, retail operations systems, security systems, financial management platforms, payroll and personnel systems, databases, mailing lists, and other business-related technologies.
- Applies legal and contracting expertise throughout all phases of the acquisition lifecycle, including:
- Acquisition and contract planning
- Solicitation development and issuance
- Contract negotiation and award
- Contract administration and performance management
- Claims resolution and settlement negotiations
- Contract closeout activities
- Research and preparation of memoranda supporting contractual actions
- Risk assessment and mitigation during negotiations
- Development of institution-wide contracting policies and procedures
- Serves as the Contracting Officer and principal contract administrator for assigned acquisitions, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and organizational objectives.
- Provides authoritative guidance on solicitations, amendments, contract awards, modifications, delivery requirements, claims, contract interpretation, product substitutions, terminations, and other contractual matters arising during contract performance.
- Develops acquisition and contracting strategies for complex procurements and prepares all required contractual documents to support successful project execution.
- Ensures contracts contain all legally required provisions and clauses and maintains compliance with applicable procurement regulations, policies, and institutional requirements.
- Drafts and negotiates specialized contract provisions, including evaluation criteria, testing requirements, intellectual property protections, and other tailored clauses designed to safeguard institutional interests and address evolving project needs.
- Collaborates with the Office of General Counsel on complex legal matters involving procurement and contracting activities and remains current on developments in acquisition law and policy.
- Drafts, reviews, and negotiates agreements related to intellectual property, information technology, electronic media, cybersecurity, confidentiality requirements, and the protection of personally identifiable information (PII).
- Advises organizational units on procurement practices, acquisition strategies, and the application of institutional policies and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).
- Mentors and provides technical guidance to less experienced contracting professionals, supporting their professional development and acquisition expertise.
- Performs a variety of complex procurement and contracting assignments in support of organizational acquisition goals, including preparing, negotiating, administering, and closing out contracts as assigned.
- Provides recommendations to senior leadership on contracting policies, procedures, and acquisition-related matters.
Performs other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to carry out each essential duty satisfactorily. The qualifications listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the role.
- A Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing with the bar of any U.S. state, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico are required.
- Possess three to five years of progressively responsible experience performing duties related to those described for this position.
- This position is subject to financial disclosure requirements, and the incumbent must comply with all applicable ethics and financial reporting obligations.
- Due to the fiduciary nature of this role, the selected candidate is entrusted with safeguarding the Smithsonian Institution's interests and must consistently demonstrate sound judgment, discretion, integrity, and the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct.
Key qualifications include:
- Experience drafting, negotiating, reviewing, and administering complex contracts and agreements involving multiple stakeholders, competing interests, and extended negotiation processes.
- Demonstrated ability to manage a diverse portfolio of concurrent projects while meeting deadlines and maintaining a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Strong knowledge of contracting principles, acquisition strategies, contract law, and risk mitigation techniques applicable to complex commercial and governmental transactions.
- Experience developing, interpreting, and recommending contracting policies, procedures, and guidance in response to evolving legal, regulatory, and business requirements.
- Ability to advise senior leadership and program officials on contractual matters that have significant operational, financial, and legal implications.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear and effective contractual documents, memoranda, negotiation positions, and policy recommendations.
- Experience supporting mission-driven organizations through contracting activities that impact diverse functions such as technology, research, education, exhibitions, fundraising, development, and institutional operations.
The ideal candidate will possess exceptional contract drafting and negotiation skills and a proven ability to structure innovative agreements that protect organizational interests while achieving strategic business objectives. Experience with complex pricing models, nontraditional funding arrangements, public-private partnerships, and novel fee structures is highly desirable.
Because the Smithsonian Institution operates both as a trust instrumentality of the United States and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, candidates must be capable of developing and negotiating unique contractual solutions that address complex legal, financial, and operational requirements, including arrangements that may establish institutional precedent.
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 LaWand Morgan, MorganL@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
