Exhibits Specialist

Summary

This position is located at the Smithsonian Institution (SI), Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden (HMSG). HMSG is a leading voice for contemporary art and culture and provides a national platform for the art and artists of our time and is seeking to share the transformative power of modern and contemporary art with audiences at all levels of awareness and understanding by creating meaningful, personal experiences in which art, artists, audiences, and ideas converge.

This job is open to

• The public

  U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS POSITION IS OPEN TO ALL CANDIDATES ELIGIBLE TO WORK IN THE UNITED STATES.

This is a temporary and intermittent role, Not to Exceed 1 Year with work scheduled around the needs of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden exhibition installation calendar.

Duties

This Exhibition Specialist position is located in the Office of Exhibits, Design and Special Projects. The department is responsible for planning, design, and installation of exhibitions in the Museum’s public spaces, including the Plaza and Sculpture Garden, while also creating architectural models, construction plans, contracts, and schedules; managing exhibition construction projects, providing design services and installation for lighting exhibitions, audio-visual installations, and multi-media site-specific installations for public areas of the museum.

In this position, you will:

• Works with designers, conservators, and other museum specialists to ensure appropriate use of available techniques and methods that offer object safety while maintaining quality and cost effectiveness.
• Assists in fabricating exhibit components and/or interactive prototypes and exhibition object mounts.
• Cleans exhibition casework, vitrines, and components in galleries.

This is a temporary and intermittent role, Not to Exceed 1 Year with work scheduled around the needs of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden exhibition installation calendar.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Investigation
• Complete a Probationary Period
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer

Conditions of Employment

COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS:

For the latest information on the COVID-19 vaccination requirements and its impact on your application, click on Smithsonian Institution’s Frequently Asked Questions.

Qualification requirements must be met within 30 days of the job announcement closing date.

Physical Demands – The incumbent needs manual dexterity to operate hand and power tools. They must have the physical agility to climb ladders or scaffolds and to work in a variety of positions. Sometimes work is required in cramped areas, on temporary platforms, and overhead. They must have the ability to do lifting in excess of 50lbs.

Work Environment – Work is generally performed in gallery exhibition areas, outdoor areas, or in a workshop setting. The incumbent is exposed to noise and dust from power equipment and personal protective equipment is required.

Qualifications

ATTENTION: Due to the large number of qualified applicants for positions of this type, this job announcement will close at 11:59 pm Eastern Time on either: (A) The closing date listed above or (B) The date that 100 applications are received; whichever occurs first. If the announcement closes on the date that 100 applications are received, all applications submitted by 11:59pm that day will be given consideration, including those in excess of 100.

Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-6 grade level in the Federal Service or comparable pay band system. For this position Specialized experience is defined as handling and/or installing modern and contemporary artwork; fabricating exhibit components for exhibition installations; and conducting routine maintenance on casework, vitrines, and interactive exhibition elements.

Or Education: 1 full year of graduate level education; or superior academic achievement

Or a Combination: Education and experience may be combined to meet the basic qualifications; for example, a half year of experience and a half year of education in the field may be qualifying.

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.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

This position is included in the bargaining unit.

Current or Former Political Appointees: Beginning January 1, 2010, agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level under the provisions of title 5, United States Code. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Office of Human Resources. Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:

• Position title;
• Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee);
• Agency; and,
• Beginning and ending dates of appointment.

Recruitment Incentive: Recruitment incentive(s) may be authorized for this position. However, approval for incentives are contingent upon various availability. If authorized, certain incentives will require the incumbent to sign a service agreement to remain in the Federal government for a certain time period.

Note: This statement does not imply nor guarantee an incentive will be offered and paid.

• Benefits

  The Smithsonian offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, vacation and sick leave, holidays, commuter benefits, health/life insurance, and accidental insurance.

  Please see Benefits at www.sihr.si.edu for a complete description.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

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:

1. Knowledge of and the ability to handle, pack, unpack, and install fragile artworks of various sizes and mediums including methods and techniques commonly utilized in museum practice.
2. Ability to use fabrication methods, techniques, materials and knowledge of the characteristics of the items and artifacts to be displayed.
3. Knowledge of exhibits maintenance, fire/safety procedures, security, and facilities management procedures as they pertain to the production and installation of exhibits.

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, commuter benefits, health/life insurance, and accidental insurance.

  Please see Benefits at www.sihr.si.edu for a complete description.

• Required Documents

  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have – whether you’re a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you’re eligible under their policies.

  Your application package should include the following documents:

  • Resume – Your resume can be uploaded and attached to your application or created using the USA Jobs on-line resume builder. Ensure your resume contains the job title (including the occupational series and grade if it is Federal), job-related qualifications, starting and ending dates (month and year), hours worked per week, and salary for each employment period. It is your responsibility to ensure all information is submitted. Failure to include this information may result in disqualification for the position.

    For assistance with creating a resume, please click here.

  • Unofficial school transcripts, if the position has an education requirement or if you are using education to qualify. If selected for the position, you must provide an official transcript before appointment.
  • Proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study, if applicable.
• 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).
  • You may submit required documents by uploading them online during the application process;
    OR
    You may manually fax required documents. Faxes are received by an automated system, not a physical fax machine. Documents that are faxed as part of the application process must be sent with the system generated cover sheet by the closing date. Documents faxed without the system generated coversheet are not retrievable and cannot be considered as part of the application package.
  • 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.

  Agency contact information

  Leslie Anne Gray

  Phone

  202-600-0419

  TDD

  202-633-6409

  Email

  GrayLA@si.edu

  Address

  SMITHSONIAN Office of Human Resources POB 37012, 600 Maryland Avenue, MRC 517 Suite 5060 Washington, District of Columbia 20013-7012 United States

  Next steps

  At the end of the application process you will be able to create and save a PDF file that contains your responses to the assessment questions. You may save this file as initial receipt of your application. After the job announcement closes, you will receive an email from the Smithsonian with confirmation of receipt.
  The Smithsonian receives many applications for each job. Each application is reviewed carefully which may take a few weeks. We will send you an e-mail to update you as we go through phases of the application review process. You may also check your application status by logging into www.usajobs.gov and selecting the tab “My USAJOBS;” e-mailing vacancy.info@si.edu; or by contacting the Office of Human Resources Representative listed.
  Additional Information:

  • Tips on applying for Smithsonian jobs are available at www.sihr.si.edu/jobs.cfm.
  • The Smithsonian does not pay relocation expenses but recruitment incentives may be authorized.
  • The Smithsonian embraces diversity and equal employment opportunity (www.si.edu/oeema).
• Fair and Transparent

  The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Financial suitability
  • Selective Service
  • New employee probationary period
  • Signature and false statements
  • Privacy Act
  • Social security number request

Required Documents

Your application package should include the following documents:

• Resume – Your resume can be uploaded and attached to your application or created using the USA Jobs on-line resume builder. Ensure your resume contains the job title (including the occupational series and grade if it is Federal), job-related qualifications, starting and ending dates (month and year), hours worked per week, and salary for each employment period. It is your responsibility to ensure all information is submitted. Failure to include this information may result in disqualification for the position.

  For assistance with creating a resume, please click here.

• Unofficial school transcripts, if the position has an education requirement or if you are using education to qualify. If selected for the position, you must provide an official transcript before appointment.
• Proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study, if applicable.

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).
• You may submit required documents by uploading them online during the application process;
  OR
  You may manually fax required documents. Faxes are received by an automated system, not a physical fax machine. Documents that are faxed as part of the application process must be sent with the system generated cover sheet by the closing date. Documents faxed without the system generated coversheet are not retrievable and cannot be considered as part of the application package.
• 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.

Agency contact information

Leslie Anne Gray

Phone

202-600-0419

TDD

202-633-6409

Email

GrayLA@si.edu

Address

SMITHSONIAN Office of Human Resources POB 37012, 600 Maryland Avenue, MRC 517 Suite 5060 Washington, District of Columbia 20013-7012 United States

Next steps

At the end of the application process you will be able to create and save a PDF file that contains your responses to the assessment questions. You may save this file as initial receipt of your application. After the job announcement closes, you will receive an email from the Smithsonian with confirmation of receipt.
The Smithsonian receives many applications for each job. Each application is reviewed carefully which may take a few weeks. We will send you an e-mail to update you as we go through phases of the application review process. You may also check your application status by logging into www.usajobs.gov and selecting the tab “My USAJOBS;” e-mailing vacancy.info@si.edu; or by contacting the Office of Human Resources Representative listed.
Additional Information:

• Tips on applying for Smithsonian jobs are available at www.sihr.si.edu/jobs.cfm.
• The Smithsonian does not pay relocation expenses but recruitment incentives may be authorized.
• The Smithsonian embraces diversity and equal employment opportunity (www.si.edu/oeema).

Fair & Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
• Reasonable accommodation policy
• Financial suitability
• Selective Service
• New employee probationary period
• Signature and false statements
• Privacy Act
• Social security number request