Summary
The position serves as Associate Director, Office of Curatorial Affairs (OCA), National Museum of American History (NMAH). The OCA is a central-implementing office of the museum’s mission; it develops, preserves, documents, interprets, and makes accessible the NMAH scholarship and collections through research, exhibitions, and professional and public outreach.
Duties
Provides leadership and direction to the OCA in the planning, development and implementation of major functions including research, collecting, exhibitions, publications, and programming. Formulates goals and objectives and develops program plans for curatorial staff. Makes recommendations to the Museum Director and Deputy Director of Public History for policy on issues related to major OCA functions.
Analyzes financial and human resources needs for OCA and manages the allocation of departmental financial resources in collaboration with the Museum Director, Deputy Director of Public History & Deputy Director of Museum Operations.
Analyzes structure, resources and work assignments to ensure that staff is aligned with NMAH and Smithsonian priorities. On a continual basis, evaluates performance in relation to priorities and adjusts resource allocations as needed. In collaboration with the Museum Director, Deputy Director of Public History, and subordinate managers, develops integrated performance standards for programs, offices, managers, and staff. Develops and implements operating policies and procedures to support effective performance.
Reviews and approves recommendations for personnel actions, including hiring for key positions. Acts on major personnel problems referred by subordinate managers. Develops, implements and monitors policies and practices to achieve NMAH and SI objectives in staff development, employee relations, diversity and equal employment opportunity.
Consistent with museum priorities, the Associate Director participates and approves staff participation in SI, national and international conferences, meetings, and symposia and serves on national and international museum committees. Explores and develops joint programs in cooperation with universities, other museums, and community groups.
Provides expert advice and consultation to professional and other organizations.
Serves as member of NMAH’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and of the Public History Division’s leadership team, fully participating in the development of museum goals, priorities, emphases, policies, and practices. Works collaboratively and in a collegial manner with other members of these leadership groups. Incumbent is the key advisor to the Deputy Director of Public History on scholarship and interpretive issues of public history.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- Pass Pre-employment Background Investigation
- May need to complete a Probationary Period
- Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer
- Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service
Meets the basic qualifications and specialized experience as listed below.
Qualifications
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
A degree in museum work or in an applicable subject-matter field; or a combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major in museum work, or in a subject-matter field appropriate to the position, 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 described above. Ph.D. in American Studies, History, Public Humanities, or Science and Technology Studies is strongly preferred.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE
In addition, applicants must have one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-15 level. This experience includes management level responsibility for the curatorial functions of a large museum or cultural organization with an emphasis on American History.
The applications that meet the basic qualifications will be evaluated further against the following criteria:
1. Extensive knowledge of American History material culture, and experience developing strategies for public engagement with this content in museum contexts. Experience in curatorial and scholarly leadership including managing institutional programs in exhibitions development, research, collections development and care, publications and programming.
2. Leadership experience at the managerial level that includes goal setting, long-term planning, implementation, and establishing metrics and reporting protocols.
3. Skill in executive level budgeting and resource management.
4. Skill in leading, supervising and managing a multi-disciplined and culturally diverse workforce. This should include attracting, retaining and motivating employees and implementing EEO/Affirmative Action programs.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
The Smithsonian offers a comprehensive benefits program for both Federal and Trust employees. See www.sihr.si.edu for details. We also offer a rich program of services and opportunities to balance and enhance your work life. They include: Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (an accredited educational program for children between the ages of 3 months to 6 years), transportation benefits, professional interest groups, employee advocacy groups, special events such as brown bag lunches, an annual picnic on the Mall, an annual holiday party, free lectures, behind-the-scenes tours and employee discounts at our theaters, shops and after hours events. These and other programs have made the Smithsonian one of the top 10 places to work in the government.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
The qualifications listed in this document will be used along with your resume and your responses to the questions posed in the electronic application process to determine the candidates who will move forward in the evaluation process. When crafting your responses to the questions, please provide concise, detailed information on your background and experience.
Applicants who meet or exceed minimum qualifications will be assigned to one of three category groups based on job-related criteria:
Best Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and excels in most of the job-related competencies set forth above.
Better Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and satisfies most of the job-related competencies set forth above.
Good Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements but does not satisfy most of the job-related competencies set forth above to a substantive degree.
This category rating process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three” but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Category) provided no preference eligible in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied.
Preference eligibles who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher.
Applicants who have not submitted a resume in the USAJobs system will not be considered for this position.
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 supported by your resume, you will be assigned a rating commensurate to your described experience. Your resume should provide sufficient information regarding how your education and experience relate to the major duties and qualifications criteria listed for this position.
PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid work on the same basis as for paid experience. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. To receive credit for such experience you must indicate clearly the nature of the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the average number of hours per week spent in such employment.
You may preview questions for this vacancy.
Required Documents
Your application package should include the following documents:
- Resume
- Proof of Veteran's Preference - DD214 (Member 4 Copy), if you are a veteran. Additionally, applicants claiming 10-point preference must complete Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, as well as additional documentation required by the SF-15, such as a VA letter.
- 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.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
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.
Next steps
After you apply and the position has closed, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. We usually have a large response to senior level positions and it may take some time to effectively review application packages. We will contact you by email as decisions are made.