Museum Specialist (Art) (Manager of Interpretation)

Clarification from the agency

This position is open to all United States Citizens and Nationals. More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement.

The Manager of Interpretation at the National Gallery of Art supervises a team of interpretation specialists and guides the planning and creation of audience-centered interpretation for temporary exhibitions and permanent collection installations. Reporting to the Head of Interpretation, the incumbent helps carry out institutional and departmental strategic objectives that enhance the public’s experience of the National Gallery and create conditions for creativity and connection.

Duties of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Directly supervise a team of interpretation specialists responsible for developing interpretive plans and content for special exhibitions and the permanent collection. Perform a full range of supervisory responsibilities, including, but not limited to, establishing annual work and performance plans, and evaluating employee performance.
• Oversee the development and implementation of gallery interpretation, with an emphasis on the museum’s special exhibition program. Monitor projects for adherence to established schedules, budgets, interpretive deliverables, internal procedures, and institutional guidelines.
• Advance the audience-centered goals of the museum by ensuring that interpretive content and experiences are approachable and engaging for all audiences.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and experimentation that yields interpretive experiences in a broad range of media and formats (text, analog, digital).
• Lead interpretive planning for assigned projects, working with cross-departmental project teams to develop interpretive messaging, visitor outcomes, innovative content delivery strategies.
• Write and edit interpretive content aimed at enhancing visitor engagement and supporting audience needs.
• Collaborate with the Interpretive Programs team to conceive and deliver live, facilitated programs for general museum visitors.
• Identify opportunities to engage internal and external stakeholders and community members around interpretive planning and content development to tell more inclusive stories that reflect the lived experiences of all audiences.
• Apply expert art historical knowledge across a wide range of periods and cultures, along with working knowledge of the techniques of artists in various media.

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
• Pass Pre-employment Background Investigation
• 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.

This position is being advertised under Merit procedures under this announcement; NGA-26-186-MP

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

For positions at GS-5 and above): Experience related to the operation or management of a museum or similar collection of valuable objects. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include collections management, registration, cataloging, research, preservation, restoration, or conservation of collections of museum material, or other experience related to the position to be filled. Most positions require a particular subject-matter specialization, e.g., aeronautics, anthropology, art, geology, history, natural science, technology, biology, or zoology.

Specialized Experience Statement: Candidates must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent in responsibility to the GS-12 level in the Federal service or private sector: Leading interpretive planning for exhibitions and permanent collection installations, and developing interpretive content for multigenerational audiences, including gallery texts, digital experiences, analog interactives, and live programs.

OPM Qualifications Standard:

Individual Occupational Requirements: Museum Specialist and Technician Series 1016

Other Relevant Eligibility Criteria: None

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.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your resume will be used to evaluate your experience, education, and/or training that address the competencies below:

• Supervision - Ability to supervise employees in the workplace.
• Program Management - Ability to manage all aspects of a program, including design, research, administration, and strategic direction.
• Interpretation - Ability to work collaboratively and creatively with cross-departmental teams. Ability to process and distill large amounts of complex art historical material for presentation to a general, non-specialist public. 
• Communnication and Outreach - Administrative and interpersonal skill interfacing with internal and external audiences.
• Art History - Knowledge of Western art History, including artists, works of art, theories, methods, criticisms, and artistic techniques.

Category Rating: Qualified candidates will be assigned to one of the three quality categories: The quality categories are defined as: Qualified (70-79.99), Well Qualified (80-89.99), or Best Qualified (90-100)

Qualified Category = Does not exceed the basic qualifications requirements described in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement.

Well Qualified Category = Meets the basic qualifications requirements described in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement and demonstrates proficiency in the Critical Competencies defined below. (This category must be met to be considered under ICTAP procedures)

Best Qualified Category = Meets the basic qualifications requirements described in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement and excels in the Critical Competencies defined below. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position.

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 Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of many," but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent or higher will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher).

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.

• 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
   • Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g. DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; Current Active Duty members must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter.) If you are a veteran and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility.
     If you are a veteran and you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. For more information on veterans' preference click here.

Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. 

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