Lost and Found Property Custodian

Smithsonian InstitutionWashington, District of Columbiausajobspublished 10/06/2026
Must-have:Security

The Smithsonian Institution (SI) is the world's largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo—shaping the future by preserving heritage, discovering new knowledge, and sharing our resources with the world. This position is located in the Office of Protection Services (OPS) responsible for ensuring the safety and security of staff, visitors, and national collections across the Smithsonian.

Major duties

The Lost and Found Property Custodian carries out the day-to-day duties associated with lost and found items and assists in total property control for Sl's capitalized and controlled assets. In this position, you will: Assist in providing assistance to designated Property Custodians and all supervisors to ensure that all employees responsible for managing property and processing documents that affect property records are fully aware of the property management procedures. Assist with receiving and maintaining all unclaimed property found throughout all of our SI museums. Assist with providing oversight and accountability of all property administration functions to ensure that OPS meets Federal, Smithsonian, Smithsonian Facilities and OPS regulations regarding the safeguard of Federal and Trust property in their possession. Conduct training and provides assistance to members of the SI Security program on lost/found procedures and guidelines.

Qualifications

Experience: GS-06: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 level in the Federal Service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as: assisting in ordering, receiving and distributing equipment and supplies; maintaining up-to-date records of inventory, stock and property account records; and managing lost/found articles for an organization while safeguarding property in accordance with procedures and guidelines. GS-07: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-06 level in the Federal Service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as: assisting in ordering, receiving and distributing equipment and supplies; maintaining up-to-date records of inventory, stock and property account records; providing oversight and accountability of property administration functions for an organization while safeguarding property in accordance with procedures and guidelines and training and aiding members of a security program on lost/found procedures and guidelines. 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. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are qualifying by education and/or you have education completed in a foreign college/university described above, it is your responsibility to provide transcripts and proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study. For instructions on where to fax these documents, see the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. 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

There are no basic education requirements for this position.

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.