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 # 22R-MP-307496-MPA-NMAFA. More than one selection may be made from this announcement.

The Supervisory Museum Specialist serves as Head Registrar within the Registration Department of NMAFA.  The Registration Department is responsible for collection management activities in the areas of accessioning, digital photography, incoming and outgoing loans, object movement, storage, packing and shipping, and care and handling of objects in the Museum’s custody, as well as the ethical and legal documentation issues associated with these activities.

In this position you will:  

• Implement a collections management policy, continuously monitoring the policy for suitability to the institution’s needs and conformance to applicable current laws and statutory regulations, updating and revising as appropriate.
• Manage a collections information and management system, both manual and automated as well as coordinates responses and suggestions from administrative, curatorial and conservation staff regarding the type of information to be entered and the production report. 
• Coordinate responses and suggestions from administrative, curatorial and conservation staff regarding the type of information to be entered and the production report.
• Manage all registration aspects of the temporary loan exhibition program, which may include exhibition organized and exhibited at the National Museum African Art (NMAFA) and sent to other museums, as well as exhibitions organized by other museums and exhibited at NMAFA.
• Assure that objects on loan to museum are properly insured and that objects from the Museum’s collection are insured while off the premises of the Smithsonian Institution.
• Oversee the movement and security of objects within the Museum and assures that all objects belonging to the Museum or in its custody are handled with care.

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.

Conditions of Employment

COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS:

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

Qualifications

Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal Service or comparable pay band system. For this position Specialized experience is defined as experience with current ethical parameters that guide the acquisition and repatriation of African art. In addition, experience in the implementation and management of a mass digitization program for the photography of art works in a museum, historic property, or other collecting setting.

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.

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:

• Ability to implement a Collections Management Policy including the acquisition and accessioning of objects, access to collection objects, insurance and inventories
• Ability to manage and operate the Museum System (TMS) records and software for the museum. wide variety of objects involving difficult and delicate problems and called on for expert advice frequently.
• Skill in registration of all kinds of art objects, across eras, associated languages, countries of origin, styles and media. 
• Ability to balances ongoing duties in inventory and registration with ad hoc assignment involving travel, legal inquiries, and IT Support.  

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:

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