The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. This position is in the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a national museum for the study and exhibition of African American history and culture.
Basic Qualification: Degree: museum work; or in an applicable subject-matter field. or Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major, as shown in 1 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: 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 demonstrated experience conducting scholarly research and producing publications related to language and literature, civic and fraternal organizations, education, or curatorial culture (including dress, dolls, textiles, fashion); participating in public service efforts; developing a collection of artifacts; serving as a consultant on professional matters; and answering public inquiries. 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. 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 service appointment 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).
The Museum Curator will: initiate, develop, and personally participate in research programs that characteristically involve a systematic research approach to a problem area of considerable scope. prepare for publication, scholarly reports of a descriptive and theoretical nature based on own field of work, on study of collection in this and other institutions, and on the existing scholarly publications. Such publications typically are the product of a series of complete and conceptually related smaller studies and result in a single major publication that may be definitive of a specific topic area. define and implement plan for development of a pre-eminent collection in language and literature, civic and fraternal organizations, education, or curatorial culture (including dress, dolls, textiles, fashion) in African American material culture, keeping in mind the continuous expansion of the NMAAHC. Verify, validate, and assure proper identification, documentation, authentication, and storage of collection. plan the museum’s exhibitions. Develop special exhibitions as well, for and about language and literature, civic and fraternal organizations, education, or curatorial culture (including dress, dolls, textiles, fashion) in African American material culture and is technically responsible for such plans with limitation imposed by budget, time schedules, and policy. serve as expert and consultant on professional matters in field to other government agencies, colleagues, writers, educational institutions, research foundations, and the public.