Museum Curator

This position is located in the Curatorial Affairs Division, David M. Rubenstein National Institute for Holocaust Documentation (RNIHD), United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM), Bowie, MD. This position serves as Associate Collections Curator and is responsible for conducting provenance research and managing the documentation of existing materials in the Museum's Collection.

Major duties

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is a federally chartered, nonpartisan institution that was created by the US Congress to serve as America's national memorial to the victims of the Holocaust and an educational institution dedicated to the history and lessons of the Holocaust. The Museum seeks to educate Americans from all 50 states and all walks of life as well as international audiences. The Museum has three areas of expertise: Holocaust remembrance, Holocaust scholarship and education, and genocide prevention. In carrying out its important memorial and educational mission, the Museum is guided by its institutional values for our workplace: Honor the memory of the victims; carry out our work with dignity, humility, integrity and respect for others; and strive for excellence through teamwork, rigor, and a culture of continuous learning. Consistent respect for others is the foundation for trust, collegiality and inclusion. Duties include: Applies research skills and historical and material knowledge to identify and determine the authenticity of records, objects, or specimens, and materials related to the Holocaust. Gathers information, prepares documentation, and conducts provenance research on materials currently in the Museum's Permanent Collection, and determines history and provenance etc., for Museum records. Conducts searches for materials that align with the Museum's collection priorities. This may include materials related to witnesses, victims, and perpetrators. Prepares recommendations to accept or decline donations or purchases of materials and submits these for review by relevant stakeholders. Facilitates the processing of already received materials, completing custody receipts, Deeds of Gift, and other required documents. Coordinates research efforts by interns, curatorial assistants, and volunteers. Responds to written and telephone inquiries about the collection and coordinates similar activities on the part of volunteers, curatorial assistants, and interns. Represents the USHMM at meetings of professional museum organizations and curatorial committees and lectures on the collections to various public groups.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards. 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. Basic Requirement 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 requirements above, all applicants must meet the following Specialized Experience and Selective Placement Factor as follows. Specialized experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-11 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-09 which is directly related to the work of this position, and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position specialized experience is documenting physical condition of materials in the Museum's Collection; translating information, deciphering inscriptions, and conversing effectively with foreign donors or potential sources of materials or information; preparing and delivering verbal and written presentations on behalf of the Museum on various topics; organizing and preparing correspondence, reports, briefing papers, or other data on projects for internal and external constituencies. Selective Placement Factor: Selective Placement Factors (SPF) are special requirements, in addition to the minimum requirements, that are essential in successfully performing the duties of this job. If the SPF is not documented in your resume, you will not receive further consideration under this announcement. The SPF is listed in the online application as follows: reading fluency in at least two non-English European languages, including but not limited to French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, and Yiddish, in order to decipher inscriptions when assessing authenticity of objects under consideration. ***Failure to submit required documentation will result in an ineligible rating.

Education

For positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of courses showing title, number of credits, grade, and date of completion. A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions. There is no positive education requirement for this position.

Requirements

You must be a U.S. citizen or national to apply. This agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis. As a condition of employment, all new hires must agree to direct deposit of their salary checks. Employees will have up to two (2) pay periods from the date they enter on duty to arrange for their direct deposit transaction. On-line resumes must be submitted by 11:59pm EST of the closing date. You must be a suitable for Federal employment. You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov). A one year probationary/trial period may be required. Payment of relocation expenses is not authorized. The USHMM is an equal opportunity employer. This is a Federal agency. Former employees who received a voluntary separation incentive (“buyout”) must repay the full amount of it if reemployed under any type of appointment or under a personal service contract within five years after separation with a buyout.