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Museum Curator (ART)

Smithsonian Institution
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Media Arts Department, National Portrait Gallery (NPG), Smithsonian Institution (SI) located in Washington, DC.  The primary purpose of the position serves as an Associate Curator, conducting work in the areas of research, acquisitions, cataloguing and documentation, care and management of time based media art (TBMA) collections, exhibitions, and public programs.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open date: 04/01/2019
Closed date: 04/22/2019
Location
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$81,548 - $106,012 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Promotion potential
13
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time - Full-Time, Permanent
Travel Required
25% or less - The incumbent maybe required to travel occasionally, 5-6 times per year on average, usually within the US.
Appointment type
Permanent - Federal
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Announcement number
19A-MP-304424-DEU-NPG
Control number
529011600

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This position is open to all U.S. Citizens or U.S. Nationals (including Veterans recruitment). Excepted Service employees may also apply to this announcement. Note: Federal employees with permanent status or individuals eligible for special appointing authorities may also apply to Job Announcement #19A-MP-304424-MPA-NPG. More than one selection may be made from this announcement.

Duties

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  • Works with the chief curator to identify and research objects for acquisition; monitors processing of acquisitions and collections care.
  • Conducts sophisticated research in order to conceive and propose exhibitions, both temporary and related to the museum’s collections.
  • Presents gallery talks, lectures, and participates in scholarly programs or public programs in a museum.
  • Responds to a wide variety of public inquiries, publishes scholarly essays and writes exhibitions materials.

Requirements

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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.

Qualification requirements must be met within 30 days of the job announcement closing date.

For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions viewable on the web at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.

Qualifications

You must meet these Basic Education Requirements:

Museum Curator Series, 1015

Basic Requirements:

  1. Degree: museum work; or in an applicable subject-matter field.

    OR

  2. Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major, as shown, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

    OR

  3. 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 above.

In addition to the Basic Requirements above you must have the following:

Specialized Experience: You qualify for this position if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal Service or comparable pay band system. For this position Specialized Experience is defined as experience developing and maintaining museum collections, conducting and publishing research on American art, conceiving and developing exhibitions for a museum; and presenting public programs including gallery talks and lectures.

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.

Education

See Education Requirements Section

Additional information

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:

  1. Knowledge of American art and portraiture and the non-American sources and influences on American art sufficient to research American historical and contemporary portraiture in order to curate exhibitions, document collections and identify potential acquisitions.
  2. Skill in recognizing objects and subjects suitable for a museum to broaden collections in under-represented categories.
  3. Skill in American art, history and culture to conduct specialized research to contextualize the interpretation of portraits and integrate biographical and cultural components.
  4. Skill in written communication to effectively prepare written presentations, reports, analysis papers, and communication materials in the fields of American art and history for both scholarly and general audiences. 

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 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 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 and/or have not answered all of the vacancy questions will not be considered for this position.

Important Note: The review of your resume will determine your final rating and should provide sufficient information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed.


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Smithsonian Institution

The Smithsonian Institution values and seeks a diverse workforce. Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."

Agency contact information

Marie Parks
Phone
202-633-6332
TDD
202-633-6409
Fax
000-000-0000
Email
Parksma@si.edu
Address
SMITHSONIAN
Office of Human Resources
POB 37012, 600 Maryland Avenue, MRC 517
Suite 5060
Washington, District of Columbia 20013-7012
United States

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