Summary
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 The Museum Support Center (MSC), the Museum Conservative Institute (MCI), Under Secretary for Science & Research. The MCI increases and disseminates scientific knowledge that improves the preservation and conservation of museum collections and related material and contributes to the enhancement of contextual interpretation.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
This position is open to all U.S. Citizens or U.S. Nationals.
Note: Federal employees with permanent status or individuals eligible for special appointing authorities may also apply to Job Announcement #24A-311264-MPA-MCI
More than one selection may be made from this announcement.
Duties
The Conservator (Paintings) is responsible for providing internal and external collaborators with conservation expertise and treatment based on scientific examination of materials found in or associated with collections.
In this position, you will:
GS-11
- Examine museum collections by whatever means necessary to characterize the nature of the objects and their artist’s materials for determination of the treatments required (e.g., investigating the nature of similar objects or assisting with interpreting scientific analyses).
- Conduct the appropriate procedures on museum artifacts, documenting the processes in accordance with practices and tenets of the profession.
- Conduct research pertinent to conservation; and assist and collaborate with other museum conservators, collection managers, curators, and scientists to conduct research programs in conservation.
- Work with Senior Conservators conducting conservation treatment and research that results in scientific dissemination of considerable interest and value to the field.
GS-12
- Examine museum collections by whatever means necessary to characterize the nature of the objects and their materials for determination of
the treatments required (e.g., investigating the nature of similar objects and independently interpreting scientific analyses).
- Conduct the appropriate procedures on museum artifacts, documenting the processes in accordance with practices and tenets of the profession.
- Conduct research pertinent to conservation; and independently collaborate with other museum conservators, collection managers, curators, and scientists to conduct research programs in conservation.
- Represent MCI at national and international meetings, conferences and symposia.
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.
Conditions of Employment
Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions on OPM website.
Qualifications
Experience GS-11: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal Service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as conducting painting conservation treatments on museum collections; publishing on conservation and providing paintings conservation presentations to staff and the public.
Experience GS-12: 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 independently conducting painting conservation treatment and conducting research pertinent to conservation on museum collections; publishing on conservation and providing paintings conservation presentations to staff and the public.
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.
Or Education: for the GS-11
Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related
OR
A combination of Ph.D. level education and specialized experience as described above.
Education and experience may be combined to meet the basic qualifications. For a full explanation of this option please see the Qualification Standards. 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.
All applicants who meet or exceed minimum qualifications will receive a final rating within one of three category groups based on one or more stages of evaluation which measure job-related criteria:
Best Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and excels in most of the job-related competencies above.
Better Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and satisfies most of the job-related competencies above.
Good Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements but does not satisfy most of the job-related competencies above to a substantive degree.
This category rating process does not add veterans' preference points but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-veterans within each quality category. The Hiring Manager may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Category) provided no veteran in that category is passed over to select a non-veteran in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied. Veterans 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 and/or have not answered all of the vacancy questions will not be considered for this position.
Education
See above under Qualifications for the GS-11.
Education cannot be substituted at the GS-12 level.
Benefits
The Smithsonian offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, vacation and sick leave, holidays, health/life insurance, accident insurance, and excellent retirement program options.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Applicants for this position may be evaluated in multiple stages. The first stage is an evaluation of your resume that will be used to evaluate your experience, education, and/or training for the job-related competencies below:
- Knowledge of principles, concepts and methodologies requisite to conduct conservation treatments e.g., chemistry, material technology and deterioration, and art historical and technological understanding; and of the practical or craft skills to fully comprehend practical considerations in the examination and conservation treatment of museum collections.
- Knowledge of a broad range of conservation technologies (e.g., cleaning, mending, consolidation, replacement, coating, supporting, mounting, rehousing) and familiarity with procedures of technical and scientific research.
- Knowledge of the chemical and physical properties of museum collections, specimens and objects, and of the specialized techniques used to preserve and conserve them. Ability to accurately document and interpret conservation treatments and research findings and to compile, present and disseminate these results in written form for professional audiences, as is evidenced by a significant record of scholarly publications.
- Ability to write and verbally communicate information accurately and with attention to detail to audiences that include art historians, curators, conservation scientists as well as administrators and the general public.
If you are found qualified for this position and meet or exceed a predefined rating threshold based on the evaluation of your resume, you may be contacted by email for an interview and you may be required to submit additional assessments such as work samples, short essays, or other appropriate assessments within approximately one week of the job announcement closing. If you do not meet the rating threshold to move to the next evaluation stage, you will be notified promptly by email.
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 sufficient 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.
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.
- 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.
- 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
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).
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