Clarification from the agency

This position is open to all U.S. Citizens or U.S. Nationals . Note: Federal employees with permanent status or individuals eligible for special appointing authorities may also apply to Job Announcement #22A-JW-305007-MPA-NPG. More than one selection may be made from this announcement.

• Leads all historical research and interpretation; monitors the historical accuracy of the work produced by the History Department.
• As a professional scholar, authors articles and books; responds to letters of inquiry on historical topics from the public, researchers, and scholars.
• Oversees the evolution of America’s Presidents; develops special temporary exhibitions on American history, art, and biography; selects artworks to create educational and visually stimulating exhibitions.

Conditions of employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Investigation
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
• May be required to serve an 18-month probationary period for supervisors.

Conditions of Employment

For the latest information on the COVID-19 vaccination requirements and its impact on your application, click on Smithsonian Institution’s Frequently Asked Questions. 

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 below.....

Individual Occupational Requirements

Basic Requirements

1. Degree: history; or related field that included at least 18 semester hours in history.

or   2.Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in history, or a major in a related field that included at least 18 semester hours in history, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Evaluation of Graduate Education

Graduate study in the social sciences or humanities may also be credited when such study included training in historical research methodology; or the thesis approached the subject from an historical viewpoint and used professional historical research methodology and techniques in its preparation. 

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

Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-14 level in the Federal Service or comparable pay band system.  For this position Specialized experience is defined as demonstrating research using contemporary methodologies of historical analysis drawn from multiple sources; publishing outside peer-reviewed scholarly research; and leading a team of historians and researchers at a museum, library, archive, or university.

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.

For a full explanation of this option please see the Qualification Standards. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are qualifying by education and/or you have education completed in a foreign college/university described above, it is your responsibility to provide transcripts and proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study. For instructions on where to fax these documents, see the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

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:

• Ability to direct scholarly research programs to produce ground-breaking, original content on individuals who have shaped the history of the United States of America.
• Knowledge of staff supervision and development to lead a team of historians, publication professionals, and researchers to produce museum exhibitions and publications, present public programs, and conduct original research on American history and biography.
• Knowledge of historical scholarship writing principles to interpret, edit, and present complex materials of objective historical narratives.
• Knowledge of conceptualizing and delivering thought-provoking publications, exhibitions, and programs grounded in original research and fresh ideas in American history that utilize portraiture and other media to elucidate and chronicle the impact of individuals on American life and culture.

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.