Museum Curator (Science and Technology)
About the company
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.
Your tasks
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.
Requirements
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).
This position has a positive education requirement (see Basic Qualifications). Education cannot be substituted for specialized experience at the GS-13 grade level.
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.