Exhibition Specialist (Fabrication)

Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to current federal employees and special hiring authorities under merit procedures. More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement.

This position is located in the Design Department (PXD) and reports to the Head of the Exhibits Shop. The Design Department is responsible for the visual presentation of works of art in the National Gallery’s buildings and grounds, including temporary exhibitions, permanent collection galleries, and special projects. The incumbent’s work is visible to the public and directly contributes to the success of exhibitions and the proper display and protection of the Gallery’s collections and loans.

Duties for this position include

• Fabricates, assembles, adapts, installs, modifies, maintains, and deinstalls exhibition elements for temporary exhibitions, permanent collection galleries, and special projects.
• Builds and installs exhibition casework, modular wall systems, interpretive elements, panels, platforms, graphics supports, acrylic components, and related exhibition elements.
• Works directly with designers and production staff to develop buildable solutions, refine details, and prepare fabrication-ready documentation.
• Uses practical structural judgment to develop safe, stable armatures, supports, and installation systems for exhibition casework, graphics, and special installations, including work in difficult building conditions and around permanent architectural features.
• Works directly around artworks with close attention to conservation requirements, object safety, and gallery conditions. Installs, adjusts, and removes exhibition elements in situations requiring tight tolerances, careful sequencing, and safe work around art.
• Uses computer software programs, digital models, fabrication files, and computer-aided equipment to produce accurate parts and components for exhibition work in collaboration with or under direction from other Exhibit Specialists and Design staff.
• Ability to apply knowledge directly to CNC, laser cutting, 3D printing, and related digital-fabrication methods as part of normal shop practice, while continuing to develop the knowledge needed to determine when traditional, modular, digital, or hybrid methods are most appropriate for the work. 
• Organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resource requirements; determines short- or long-term goals and strategies to achieve them; coordinates with other organizations or parts of the organization to accomplish goals; monitors progress and evaluates outcomes.
• Develops and tests exhibition-specific ideas through mock-ups, samples, prototypes, and iterative shop trials before full production. 

Conditions of employment

• You must be a United States Citizen.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• See "Other Information" section regarding Selective Service requirements.
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period

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 viewable on OPM Website. It is your responsibility to ensure that you submit appropriate documentation prior to the closing date. Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant experience as it relates to this job announcement. Be clear and specific when describing your work history since human resources cannot make assumptions regarding your experience.

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). Your resume must include the dates of all qualifying experience (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours worked/volunteered per week.

Qualifications

Education

Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- illustrative design, commercial art, fine arts, industrial design, architecture, drafting, interior design, or other fields related to the position.

Advanced training in a vocational school, technical institute, or art institute above the high school level in one of the fields listed above is creditable as general experience on a month-for-month basis.

OR

Specialized Experience Statement GS-09: Candidates must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent in responsibility to the GS-08 level in the Federal service or private sector, with demonstrated knowledge of exhibition case fabrication, construction around delicate objects, and familiarity with Computer Numerical Control (CNC) router programing and operation in a production shop setting to execute projects from start to finish. 

Specialized Experience Statement GS-11: Candidates must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent in responsibility to the GS-10 level in the Federal service or private sector, with experience in fabricating exhibition case components, construction around delicate objects, and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) router programing and operation in a production shop setting to execute projects from start to finish in a museum or cultural institution.

OPM Qualifications Standard:

Individual Occupational Requirements: Exhibits Specialist Series 1010 Associated Group standard:  Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Administrative and Management Positions

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. 

OPM Qualifications Standard:

Individual Occupational Requirements: Exhibits Specialist Series 1010 Associated Group standard:  Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Administrative and Management Positions

Merit promotion applicants must meet the time-in-grade requirement as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

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.

Note: Applicants who are referred to the hiring office for selection consideration may be required to submit writing and/or work samples as part of the interview/selection process. If the hiring office decides to request a writing and/or work sample as part of its selection process, the vacancy contact will reach out to you by email to: (1) inform you of this requirement; and (2) provide further instructions.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses to the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Planning and Evaluating
• Technology Application
• Building and Construction
• Collaboration
• Design

A Subject Matter Expert (SME) will conduct a quality review of your application and supporting documentation to determine if your qualifications meet the criteria for referral to the selecting official.

All qualified non-competitive applicants and all qualified Merit applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

The National Gallery of Art uses an application tracking system to evaluate the responses you provide in the applicant assessment questionnaire to determine if you meet the minimum qualification requirements of this position. Then, the HR Office and/or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will conduct a quality review of your application and supporting documentation to determine if your qualifications meet the criteria for referral to the selecting official.

• Your resume should include relevant work experience, applicable education and your contact information. For current or previous federal employees, include the pay plan, series and grade.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Your Resume (no more than 2 pages)showing the applicant's name, email address, work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment, and duties performed to include pay plan, series, and grade level for relevant federal experience. Your resume must show complete information for each job entry to support minimum qualifications.

• Do not include the following types of information in your resume:
  • Classified or government sensitive information
  • Social Security Number (SSN)
  • Photos of yourself
  • Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.
  • Encrypted and digitally signed documents

2. Other supporting documents:
   • Cover Letter, optional
   • Most recent Performance Appraisal, optional
   • SF-50 Your most recent Promotion, Within Grade Increase (WRI/WGI), or Appointment/Conversion SF-50 - Notification of Personnel Action showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held.
   • Veterans Employment Opportunity Act, Veterans Recruitment Appointment, and 30% Disabled Veteran Eligible: DD-214, SF-15 Form and VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions within 120 days.
   • Schedule A, Persons with Disabilities Appointment Eligibles: Schedule A letter from a physician, local, state, or federal rehabilitation office citing your eligibility under 5 CFR 213.3102 (u).
   • Certain Military Spouses Eligible under E.O. 13832: Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders; OR verification of the member's 100% disability (VA Letter); and/or verification of the member's death while on active duty (DD-1300 and Death Certificate) AND verification of the marriage to the service member (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage).
   • 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.

Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

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