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 National Air and Space Museum, Space History Department. The National Air and Space Museum collects, preserves, studies, and exhibits artifacts, archival materials and works of art related to the history, culture, and science of avaition and spaceflight and the study of the universe. Duties The Museum Curator (Science and Technology) is responsible for conducting scholarly and technical research, and interprets materials related to scientific and technological advancement.
In this position, you will:
- Lead and determine areas of scholarly and technical research for all aspects of NASM artifacts, galleries, or exhibits to advance understanding, academia, and historical record of objects to enhance the understanding of NASM programming.
- Conduct scholarly and technical research of artifacts, galleries, and exhibits to advance the understanding, academia, and historical record of objects to enhance the understanding of individual with various levels of understanding.
- Be responsible for performing various technical aspects of the curatorial profession, to include researching and information spread across multiple sources; while providing technical guidance for exhibits and collections management.
- Represent the institution on various public facing committees or other established groups projecting the institution’s work in various fields of professional academia and scholarly work.
- Conduct research and artifact searches to support new exhibit development and collaborates with designers, audiovisual specialists, fabricators, and contractors on exhibit planning, production, and interpretive script development and revision.
- Locate artifacts, documents, and photographs preparing them for use in exhibitions; develops script narratives and storylines; and advises in the way artifacts should be presented in exhibits.
Qualifications
Basic Qualifications: Degree: museum work; or in an applicable subject-matter field.
OR
Combination of education and experience - courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
OR
Four years of experience that provided knowledge comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of the 4-year course of study as shown in A above.
In addition to the basic qualification requirement above:
GS-13 Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal Service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as:
- 1) Experience conducting advanced historical research related to human spaceflight programs and technologies,
- 2) Developing analytical approaches to address complex research questions,
- 3) Documenting the significance and provenance of artifacts or collections.
- 4) Presenting research findings and serving as an expert resource to professional, academic, governmental, or public audiences.
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.
In an effort to streamline our hiring process, SI employees whose current position of record is in the same job series (1015) and who are in a Federal competitive position 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.
Time-in-Grade Requirements: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under a non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying). Education This position has a positive education requirement (see Basic Qualifications). Education cannot be substituted for specialized experience at the GS-13 grade level.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
Qualification requirements, including one year time-in-grade at the next lower grade level for promotion candidates, must be met within 30 days of the job announcement closing date. See the 'Required Documents' section for additional information.
For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions viewable on OPM Website. How you will be evaluated Your application will be evaluated first for the basic qualifications described above. The applications that meet the basic qualifications will be evaluated further against the following criteria:
- Ability to present new theories, facts, and revelations that were previously unknown, unsubstantiated, or required further validation prior to being accepted
- Ability to research various topics encompassing entire galleries, exhibits, or multiple artifacts comprising a single collection.
- Ability to provide expertise for the narration of media, writing scripts, and ensuring the accuracy and relevance of all published content associated with a topic.
- Ability to carry out lecturing, peer review, and colloquy discussions with peers in the field.
- Ability to develop research to enhance well established exhibits or identify artifacts for inclusion in new exhibits.
- Ability to conduct research, whereby historical perceptions, facts, and narratives are scrutinized for accuracy based on collaborating newly found information.
Important Note:
Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire or other assessment tool for consistency. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your resume, you will be assigned a rating commensurate to your described experience. Your resume should provide detailed 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 not included in the bargaining unit.
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.