Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens

The Indian Arts and Crafts Board's (IACB) mission is to promote the economic development of American Indians, Indian Tribes, and Alaska Natives (Indians) through the promotion of Indian arts and crafts and the expansion and protection of the market for the products of Indian art and craftsmanship pursuant to the IACB's statutory authorities. In executing its mission, the IACB endeavors to improve the economic status of Indians, ensure the continuing vitality of a valuable American heritage, increase Indian participation and control in the growing Indian fine arts and handcrafts business, enable Indians to realize their full potential for employment and income from the demand for their creative work, and assist Indian cultural leaders who are developing an institutional framework to support the preservation and evolution of Tribal cultural activities.

The IACB museums play a role in promoting authentic Indian arts and crafts through their permanent exhibitions, changing promotional sales exhibitions, and public educational activities. The museum staff serve as advocates to educate the public on the Indian Arts and Crafts Act (Act) and to encourage submission of valid complaints of violations under the Act. The museums serve as major economic, cultural, and educational attractions in their respective regions.

This position is located within the Department of the Interior, at the IACB's Museum of the Plains Indian (MPI) and reports to the Curator of the MPI, in Browning, MT.

At the full performance level (GS-05) the major duties of this position include but are not limited to the following:
1. Assists the Curator with the museum's exhibitions.
2. Assisting the Curator with the documentation, care, and preservation, and use of the MPI collections.
3. Assisting the Curator with the MPI outreach and education programs.
4. Assists with the daily maintenance/physical care of the facility and general clerical duties.
5. Responsible for photography of the arts and crafts MPI collections.
6. Responsible for greeting visitors and assisting the Curator with public relations issues related to the MPI.

The Office of the Secretary has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.

Salary Information
GS-05: $36,118 - $46,953 per annum.

This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available.

This vacancy is also announced as OS-6024-22-RD-028(MP) for those applicants who wish to apply and be considered under Merit Promotion procedures.

Indian Preference Policy: Preference in filling this vacancy is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act of 1934 (Title 25, USC, Section 472). Verification Form BIA-4432 must be submitted with the application prior to the closing date of the announcement, if claiming Indian Preference. Applicants selected under Indian preference from this vacancy will be appointed under the Excepted Service, Schedule A 213.3112(a)(7) appointing authority. Consideration will be given to Non-Indian applications in the absence of qualified Indian Preference eligibles.

NOTE: This HR Office uses an automated recruitment system. We query a question labeled "Background Information" in the Occupational Questionnaire to identify applicants claiming Indian Preference. You must answer this question. If you are claiming Indian Preference, you must also submit your valid BIA-4432 form to verify your claim. Preference in filling this vacancy is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act of 1934 (Title 25, USC, Section 472). Verification Form BIA-4432 must be submitted with the application prior to the closing date of the announcement, if claiming Indian Preference. Applicants selected under Indian preference from this vacancy will be appointed under the Excepted Service, Schedule A 213.3112(a)(7) appointing authority. Consideration will be given to Non-Indian applications in the absence of qualified Indian Preference eligibles.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work requires physical exertion when participating in repair and maintenance work or when installing museum exhibitions, which involve bending, stooping, or lifting moderately heavy items such as paintings or sculptures. Must have accurate color vision because of extensive involvement with the visual arts.

WORKING CONDITIONS: The work is generally performed in a high-security museum facility, and the employee must follow prescribed security procedures meticulously. Otherwise, the work environment involves everyday risks and discomforts, which require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, meeting/training rooms, libraries, museum storage rooms, workrooms, and museum galleries. The employee must apply workplace safety practices for the use of office equipment, gallery, and storage equipment, ladders, and observance of security and fire regulations.

Conditions of employment

• You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination
• You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.
• You must submit ALL required documents and a completed questionnaire.
• You must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service system, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification Requirements:
To qualify for this position, you must meet either A, B or C for the grade to which you are applying.

A. Specialized Experience:

To qualify for the GS-05, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is 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. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 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.

-OR-

B. Education: Four full academic years (120 semester hours) beyond high school at an accredited Institution leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or 24 semester hours of course work in a related field. Related fields of study include art, history, museum studies, scientific subjects, or other courses related to the position to be filled. One year of full time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university.

-OR-

C. Combination: A combination of successfully completed post-high school education and experience that totals 100% of the experience requirements for the GS-5 grade level. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i.e., beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience.

AND

Selective Placement Factor:
In addition to the related fields of study (art, history, museum studies, scientific subjects), ALL applicants using education to qualify, must posses at least 2 courses from any of the subject areas listed below:
A. Art History;
B. Museum Education, Museum History and Theory;
C. Native American Studies;
D. Anthropology;
E. Conservation Studies;
F. History (related to indigenous peoples);
G. Collections Care;
H. Exhibition Planning;
I. Museum and Digital Media, Museum Management;
J. Museum and/or Contemporary Art.

Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualification Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions and is available at OPM's website: https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.asp

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the application process is complete, we will review your application to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the online questionnaire will be made. Your responses to the online assessment will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for this position. You are being evaluated under the Category Rating method, which means, if you are determined to be qualified you will be placed in one of three pre-defined categories. These categories are "Platinum", "Gold", and "Silver". However, your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. Candidates placed in the "Platinum" category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview. Veterans' preference rules for category rating will be applied.

Your answers to the on-line assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:
Technical Competence - Basic knowledge of exhibit planning, installation, and maintenance.
Fine Arts - knowledge of museum practices and knowledge of technical phraseology as it relates to the field of art and Native American art and craft work in particular. Knowledge of photographic processes to judge the reproductive quality of slides, photographs, and other visuals.
Regulations and Guidance - Knowledge of generally accepted methods and technical applications and conservation techniques.
Oral Communication - Ability to communicate clearly and courteously, both orally and in writing, with a variety of individuals.

If you are a status applicant (current career or career-conditional Federal employee or former permanent Federal employee with reinstatement eligibility in the competitive service), or are eligible under a special appointing authority and you are selected under this vacancy, you may be subject to serving a new one-year probationary period.

To preview the assessment questionnaire click: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11332230