Senior Museum Curator (Art) (Head of Modern & Contemporary Art) Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. NGA-25-042-DE Department National Gallery of Art
Salary $150,160.00 to $225,700.00 Grade 00 to 00
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 1/3/2025 Close Date 2/3/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

The incumbent plays a vital leadership role at the National Gallery and is one of four senior curators reporting to the Chief Curatorial and Conservation Officer (CCCO). The new curator will galvanize and direct the activities of the Modern and Contemporary art department to conceive and implement innovative and forward-thinking and audience-centered curatorial strategies, scholarship, and public service.

Duties

  • If selected for this position, the programs managed include, but are not limited to:   
    • Undertakes and oversees major art historical research projects based on observation, critical analysis, hypothesis, investigation, evidence, and conclusions, utilizing established art historical approaches as well as broader methodologies that illuminate new perspectives.
    • The incumbent leads the Department of Modern and Contemporary Art and is responsible for formulating and implementing its strategic plan in consultation with the Chief Curator and Conservation Officer. Manages the departmental budget and personnel matters. Participates in Gallery-wide activities and meetings related to curatorial or administrative matters of concern to the department or the Gallery at large. As a Senior Curator, the incumbent assists the Chief Curator and Curatorial Officer in management duties beyond the departmental level, as assigned. Participates in Gallery-wide advisory, curatorial, and management committees.
    • Proposes acquisitions as gifts or purchases to ensure the growth and expansion of the collection. Performs and/or delegates scholarly work on the collection as well as potential acquisitions to ensure proper authentication and documentation of modern and contemporary belonging to the Gallery or proposed as gifts or purchases. Writes and/or directs others to write proposals for acquisition and ensures that changes of attribution are reviewed by the Chief Curator and Conservation Officer and the Director for consideration by the Board of Trustees.
    • Cultivates close and cooperative long-term relationships with donors, collectors, scholars, and art dealers to attract and secure single objects, collections, purchase funds, or other types of gifts. Works collaboratively and cross-departmentally to implement interpretive, brand content, and programmatic strategies that serve the museum’s multiple publics.
    • Manages staff, which includes hiring employees; assigning, monitoring, reviewing, and providing constructive feedback to the work of subordinates; prepares position descriptions, performance standards, and annual evaluations of staff; recruits and retains a diverse, high-quality workforce. In addition to the senior curator, the department includes seven-full time permanent curators across several areas of expertise in modern and contemporary art, including positions devoted to modern art, contemporary art, African American and Afro-Diasporic and Latinx art. The department has four curatorial support. staff.                                                                                                                                                                                               

Requirements

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

Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant work experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to this job opportunity. 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

Basic Qualification Requirements for 1015 (Museum Curator series):
A) Degree: museum work; or in an applicable subject-matter field; or

B) Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education; or

C) Four years of experience that provided knowledge comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of the 4-year course of study as shown in A above.

You must submit transcripts
as proof of education or certification to be considered for this position. You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying specialized experience. Specialized 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.

In addition to meeting the basic education requirements, applicants must meet the following minimum qualifications.

Specialized Experience Statement: While not required by regulation, agencies may require that at least 1 year of the specialized experience must be at least equivalent to experience at GS-15 (5 CFR 319.301(c)(2))

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, candidates must possess a minimum of one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to grade level GS-15.

Specialized experience is defined as curating contemporary or modern and contemporary art of the Global South exhibitions and collections for a museum or other cultural institution and the demonstrated ability to perform the duties of the position, including progressively broad and complex experience directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) below.

OPM Qualifications Standard:

Individual Occupational Requirements: Museum Curator Series 1015

Associated Group standard:  Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Professional and Scientific Positions

MANDATORY QUALIFICATIONS:
Applicants must address the following mandatory qualifications separate from their resumes. Statements must provide specific examples that address relevant experience, accomplishments and evidence that you possess demonstrated superior technical qualifications. You will not be considered for this position if you fail to submit qualification statements specifically addressing each mandatory technical qualification requirement.

Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs): Maximum of two pages per MTQ.

  • MTQ 1. We are interested in your experience in researching works of art since that function is prominent in this role. Have you overseen major art historical research projects? Were those projects in the area of contemporary or modern and contemporary art of the global south or in other areas? Did the research involve directing others, and were you responsible for assigning and approving work? What were the outcomes of your research? Provide links to the work if applicable.
  • MTQ 2. This role benefits from someone who has experience across museum departments and divisions to develop and implement projects and initiatives that support or advance a larger institutional vision. Have you had to initiate or participate in a large museum project that required cross-departmental work related to contemporary art or modern and contemporary art of the Global South? Did you have to develop strategies to advance that collaborative effort? Were you responsible for building team consensus and creating a final product?
  • MTQ 3. Describe your skill in acquisitions related to contemporary art or modern and contemporary of the Global South. Have you developed a strategic collecting plan or determined priorities? How did you gain consensus from stakeholders on what pieces of art to acquire? Describe the situation and any obstacles you overcame. How recent was this experience?
  • MTQ 4. Describe your recent experience with networking on behalf of an organization. How recent was it? What kinds of relationships have you developed, and how? Are you active in any professional organization, particularly in CAA, AAM, AAMC, and CiMAM-specific networking? regardless, which organizations or affinity groups afforded you a chance to work with groups in similar or complementary fields to yours? What activities were involved in the networking experiences (presenting, listening, teaching, social, serving as an officer, etc.)?
  • MTQ 5. Describe your skill in setting short- and long-term goals for yourself and others. How have you ensured that the activities of a team are well-integrated with those of other teams? How have you planned a year or more ahead of time and then delivered on that plan? Address the way and frequency with which you have collaborated with others to achieve something bigger than one person can achieve. Elaborate on methods and outcomes related to generating new ideas for opportunities and initiatives to advance an employer's goals. Has professional development and education factored into the way you lead others – how do you keep up to date on the latest information in your field? Describe the way you supervise and mentor others, including the full range of hiring, supervising, and terminating as circumstances warrant.

Other Relevant Eligibility Criteria:

Requires availability for domestic and international travel up to 10%.

Your responses to the MTQs will be evaluated based on how clearly and concisely you emphasize your level of responsibilities, particularly, the scope and complexity of the programs, activities, or services managed; program accomplishments; policy initiatives undertaken; level of contacts; the sensitivity and criticality of the issues addressed; and the results of actions taken.

You are required to submit separate narrative statements for each MTQ to receive consideration for this position. Please see the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section for complete details regarding the page limitation and formatting requirement.

Applicants must carefully review the information in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section for important information and instructions pertaining to the multi-hurdle assessment process for this position.

Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

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.

Education

Basic Qualification Requirements for 1015 (Museum Curator series):
A) Degree: museum work; or in an applicable subject-matter field; or

B) Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education; or

C) Four years of experience that provided knowledge comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of the 4-year course of study as shown in A above.

You must provide documentation supporting your education claims.

Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.

Additional information

The National Gallery of Art fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement.

Relocation expenses will not be paid.

Some positions may require completion of a probationary period of up to 1 (one) year.

Some positions may require completion of a supervisory/managerial probationary period of up to 1 (one) year.

AN EXTERNAL SELECTED CANDIDATE MUST BE FINGERPRINTED AND RECEIVE A BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION, RESULTING IN A SATISFACTORY SUITABILITY DETERMINATION BEFORE BEING HIRED FOR THIS POSITION.

All males born after December 31st 1959 must abide by laws regarding Selective Service registration. To learn more about this law, visit the Selective Service web page, Who Must Register. If you are not registered and don't have an approved exemption, you will not be eligible for employment with the Federal government.

EEO Policy: https://help.usajobs.gov/equal-employment-opportunity

Reasonable Accommodation Policy: https://help.usajobs.gov/reasonable-accommodation

Veterans Information: https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans

Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/

Reasonable Accommodation Requests:

To learn more, please consult the following resources:

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.

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.

Applications will be evaluated based on the quality and extent of accomplishments and experience as they relate to the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs). This information will be obtained from the application and narrative statements. Failure to provide specific information in each of the narrative statements will result in you receiving a lower rating or disqualification. A minimum qualifications screening will be conducted by Human Resources. Eligible applicants will then be evaluated by evaluated by a screening panel composed of a diverse mix of senior executives and/or general officers selected from organizational and/or functional backgrounds relevant to this position. The panel will rate minimally qualified applicants in order to determine which candidates are considered  "Superior" (top), "Very Good" (middle), or "Acceptable" (bottom) category. Generally, only the individuals in the Superior (top) category will be referred to the Hiring Manager/Selection Official for interview. Please make sure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your evaluation.

Note, the Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three" instead Category Rating protects the rights of qualified veterans by placing them ahead of qualified non-preference eligibles within each category. Qualified preference-eligibles will be listed at the top of their assigned category and considered before qualified non-preference-eligibles in that same category. And preference eligible applicants that meet the qualification requirements for the position and have a compensable service-connected disability rating of ten percent or more are listed at the top of the superior (top) category, except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 level or higher. Your responses should be clear and concise and show a level of accomplishment and a degree of responsibility. We use a multi-step process to evaluate and refer applicants:

1. Screen for Eligibility and Minimum Requirements: Your application must show that you meet all requirements, including any minimum education and/or experience required for this position. You may be found "not qualified" if you do not possess the minimum competencies required for the position. If your application is incomplete, we may rate you as ineligible.

2. Ranking and Rating: You will be evaluated by a screening panel composed of a diverse mix of senior executives and/or general officers panel based on your responses to the mandatory technical qualification (MTQ) requirements stated in this announcement.

3. Referral: If you are among the Superior (best qualified) candidates, your application will be referred to the hiring manager/selecting official for consideration and possible interview.

In addition to a resume, each applicant is required to submit a comprehensive narrative statement addressing each MTQ individually.


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

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

  1. Your Resume 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
  • Required Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs): Maximum 2 pages per MTQ.
  1. Other supporting documents:
    • Cover Letter, optional
    • Most recent Performance Appraisal, optional
    • SF-50 (optional) 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' 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 clickhere.

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.

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

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application.

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section of this vacancy. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date to receive consideration.

If you have questions about this job, please contact the HR Office representative listed in the "Agency Contact Info" section of this vacancy announcement. If you need assistance in applying on-line, please refer to the How to Apply section below and explore the Federal Application Process information on the USAJobs website.

  • To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account.
  • You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application.
  • Read the Eligibility questions carefully. The questions address if you are eligible to apply to this JOA. Your responses will affect your consideration for the position. You may qualify for more than one eligibility, so please choose carefully. You will only be considered under the options you have selected. If you respond that you do not meet any of the eligibility questions, you will not be considered for this position.
  • You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement.

If experiencing a significant hardship which hinders your ability to apply on-line, please contact the Agency Contact listed on this announcement at least two business days before the closing date, to discuss your situation. Failure to contact us within sufficient time may result in your hardship request being denied.

The National Gallery of Art receives many applications for each job. Each application is reviewed carefully which may take a few weeks. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc. If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content (e.g. SSN or DOB), your resume will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations and you will not be considered for this vacancy.

Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office. Some supplemental documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you. You may sanitize these documents to remove another person's personal information before you submit your application. You may be asked to provide an un-sanitized version of the documents if you are selected to confirm your eligibility.

Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

Agency contact information

Staffing
Phone
202-842-6814
Fax
000-000-0000
Email
staffing@nga.gov
Address
National Gallery of Art
4th and Constitution Avenue NW,
Washington, District of Columbia 20565
United States
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

After each step in the recruitment process, your status will be updated in our application tracking system. Once this happens, if you have elected to receive e-mail updates, you will be notified through your USAJOBS registered e-mail address. If you have not elected e-mail updates, you can review your current application status in USAJOBS at any time. Please check that your USAJOBS profile contact information is current and correct each time you apply to a job--this will ensure we are able to contact you as quickly as possible.

In addition to changing your status online, we will send you e-mail notifications at each major step in the process, to include: application received, eligible or not eligible, referred or not referred, selected or not selected.

We expect to make a selection within 30 to 90 days of the closing date of this announcement.

For Fair Chance Act Covered Positions: An agency may not request, orally, in writing, or electronically through the USA Jobs website or other electronic means, that an applicant for appointment for a position in the civil service disclose criminal history record information before the appointing agency extends a conditional offer of employment. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency or visit https://www.opm.gov/about-us/careers-at-opm/opportunities/


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.