Summary The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. This position is located in The Technology and Networks, Information Technology and Management, Digital Strategies and Engagement Department (DSE) New York. National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), Under Secretary of Museum and Culture, Smithsonian Institution (SI). Duties The IT Specialist (CUSTSPT) is responsible for providing IT Customer Support, audiovisual (AV), and multimedia systems support and serve as technical lead at the NMAI New York.
In this position, you will:
- Provide advanced IT customer support for NMAI New York Staff by independently diagnosing and resolving complex or non-routine technical problems. Troubleshoot issues involving desktop and laptop hardware, operating systems, network connectivity, printers, mobile devices, teleconferencing platforms, and integrated audiovisual (AV) environments.
- Provide audiovisual and multimedia technical support for museum programs, public events, educational activities, film screenings, exhibitions, and internal meetings at NMAI New York.
- Plan and coordinate small to medium scale information technology (IT) and audiovisual (AV) projects for NMAI New York, including gallery technology upgrades, conference room and meeting space improvements, equipment refreshes, and deployment of new or replacement technologies.
- Maintain inventories of information technology (IT) and audiovisual (AV) equipment for NMAI New York and monitors equipment lifecycle status to support operational continuity and planning.
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. For this position, specialized experience is defined as experience providing IT customer support for desktop and laptop hardware, Windows and Apple operating systems, application software, network connectivity, printers, mobile devices, collaborative communication platforms, and integrated networked AV environments. Experience coordinating and implementing IT and AV projects, including equipment refreshes, technology upgrades, and system deployments. Experience installing, configuring, troubleshooting, and maintaining multimedia control systems, digital signage, kiosks, and interactive technologies supporting museum exhibitions, symposiums, public programs, inventory management, and administrative operations.
In addition to meeting the Specialized Experience for all positions individuals must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the competencies listed below:
- Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
- Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.
- Decision Making - Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.
- Information Management - Identifies a need for and knows where or how to gather information; organizes and maintains information or information management systems.
- Interpersonal Skills - Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations.
• Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
• Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.
• Teamwork - Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.
• Technical Competence – Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.
Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages and should clearly demonstrate how your experience aligns with the responsibilities and specialized experience required for this position. Do not copy language directly from the vacancy announcement, as you will be deemed ineligible for consideration. Instead, provide detailed, descriptive information about your actual experience.
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.
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.
In an effort to streamline our hiring process, SI employees whose current position of record is in the same job series 2210 and who are in a Federal competitive as this advertised position, are not required to submit a transcript with your application package. However, if selected, you will be required to provide a copy of your transcript before your start date in the position.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions on OPM website. How you will be evaluated Your resume will be used to evaluate your experience, education, and/or training that address the competencies below:
- Knowledge of desktop and laptop hardware, operating systems, standard and specialized software, network connectivity, printers, mobile devices, teleconferencing platforms, and integrated networked audiovisual environments supporting galleries, public programs, and administrative functions.
- Knowledge of audiovisual and multimedia systems, including projection, control systems, gallery interactives, digital signage, and kiosks, to plan, install, configure, modify, troubleshoot, and maintain networked systems used in exhibitions, educational activities, and public events.
- Knowledge of IT and AV project coordination principles and methods sufficient to plan and execute small to medium scale projects, such as gallery technology upgrades, conference room improvements, equipment refreshes, and deployment of new technologies.
- Knowledge of IT and AV asset management and lifecycle practices, including inventory tracking, configuration management, equipment replacement planning, and integration of lifecycle considerations into project planning and operational support.
Applicants who meet or exceed minimum qualifications will be assigned to one of three category groups based on job-related criteria:
Best Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and excels in most of the job related competencies above.
Better Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and satisfies most of the job related competencies above.
Good Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements, but does not satisfy most of the job related competencies above to a substantive degree.
This category rating process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three", but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Category) provided no preference eligible in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied. Preference eligibles who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher. Applicants who have not submitted a resume in the USAjobs system and/or have not answered all of the vacancy questions will not be considered for this position.
Important Note:
The review of your resume will determine your final rating and should provide sufficient information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed.
You may preview questions for this vacancy.
Benefits
The Smithsonian offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, vacation and sick leave, holidays, health/life insurance, accident insurance, and excellent retirement program options.
Please see Benefits at https://www.si.edu/OHR/benefits for a complete description.
Flexible Spending Accounts - https://www.fsafeds.com/ Health Insurance - http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/index.asp Leave - http://www.opm.gov/oca/leave/index.asp Life Insurance - http://www.opm.gov/insure/life/index.asp Long Term Care Insurance - http://www.ltcfeds.com Retirement Program - https://www.opm.gov/retirement-services/
How to apply Click on the "Apply Online" button on the upper right side of the page. Please Note:
- You must apply for this position online through the 'Apply Online' button and submit required supplemental documents (if they are relevant to you).
- Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages.
- You may submit required documents by uploading them online during the application process.
- The complete application package, including any required documents, is due in the Smithsonian Office of Human Resources on the closing date of the announcement by 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
- If you are unable to apply online, paper applications may be accepted with prior approval of the Contact Person listed below.
Other information
- This position is included in the bargaining unit.
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.
ATTENTION: Due to the large number of qualified applicants for positions of this type, this job announcement will close at 11:59 pm Eastern Time on either: (A) The closing date listed above or (B) The date that 150 applications are received; whichever occurs first. If the announcement closes on the date that 150 applications are received, all applications submitted by 11:59pm that day will be given consideration, including those in excess of 150.