Clarification from the agency

Open to current and former Federal employees with competitive status; reinstatement eligibility; individuals who are eligible for a special appointing authority. Also advertised as 21R-TL-306344-DEU-NASM for U.S. Citizens, nationals, or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.. To be considered for each vacancy, apply to BOTH jobs. More than one selection may be made from this job opportunity announcement. This position is a 4 year term. More than one selection may be made from this announcement.

As a Museum Technician, the incumbent would perform the following duties:

• Performs tasks of a technical nature in support of collections management.
• Works with a crew of museum technicians and specialists that are responsible for the packing, handling, moving, transporting, storing, and monitoring of artifacts such as airplanes, helicopters, aircraft engines, missiles, cannons, guns, spacecraft, satellites, spacesuits, uniforms, art, and other related aeronautical and space objects.
• Routinely makes significant use of the museum’s computerized Collections Information System. This includes creating specific artifact databases, adding information to those databases, and assisting the curatorial departments with other areas of the database.
• In preparation for storage, shipping, transportation or exhibition, the incumbent must disassemble, assemble, load, unload, secure, crate, or cradle aforementioned types of artifacts. These tasks require the incumbent to construct cradles, dollies, and other supports necessary to ensure safe handling, movement, and storage of the artifacts.
• Performs all types of artifact handling operations, including de/installations, which require the operation of trucks, hoists, forklifts and similar equipment.
• Assists NASM staff and visiting researchers in obtaining information from specimens.

Conditions of employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Investigation
• May need to complete a Probationary Period
• 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.

Physical Demands: Considerable physical activity is required in the movement of large, heavy, and/or fragile objects located in high, difficult to reach places. The use of mechanical equipment is required, and the use of ladders and carts is common. Much of the work may be performed in a standing position, can be of a strenuous nature and may require considerable bending, lifting, stooping, climbing, walking and working in awkward positions both indoors and outdoors, often in inclement weather. The incumbent must be able to lift up to 50 pounds and exhibit the manual dexterity to handle hand tools, as well as fragile objects.

Qualifications

Specialized Experience: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the occupation. Applicants who have the 1 year of appropriate specialized experience, are not required to have general experience, education above the high school level, or any additional specialized experience to meet the minimum qualification requirements.

For this position at the GS-07 level, applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-05, in the Federal Service or equivalent. 

For this position, specialized experience is defined as: experience handling fragile and industrial artifacts in a museum setting; rehousing and packing museum artifacts for shipment; and inventorying and tracking artifacts in museum collections database.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid work on the same basis as for paid experience.  Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. To receive credit for such experience you must indicate clearly the nature of the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the average number of hours per week spent in such employment on your online resume.

Note:  Your specialized experience must have been in a position(s) equivalent to duties for the occupation at the next lower grade level for the position being filled as defined by applicable Federal standards. 

How you will be evaluated

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

Your application will be evaluated first for the basic qualifications described above.  The applications that meet the basic qualifications will be evaluated further against the following criteria:

• Museum Collections Management.
• Handling Objects.
• Collections Database.
• Use of Equipment.
• Written Communication.

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 detailed information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed.