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Summary

The Department of Northern European Paintings (CNE) is responsible for the National Gallery’s acquisition, care, study, and display of approximately 375 premier Netherlandish, German, Dutch and Flemish paintings from the 15th through the 18th centuries.  The incumbent serves as an Assistant or Associate Curator, reporting to the head of the Department of Northern European Paintings (CNE), under the executive office of the Chief Curator and Conservation Officer.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
10/07/2022 to 11/04/2022
Salary
$74,950 to - $116,788 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 12
Location
Washington, DC
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Less than 25%
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
NGA-23-001-DE
Control number
682223200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

US citizens and nationals

Duties

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The incumbent:

  • Perform advanced scholarly research on prospective acquisitions and on objects for examination in studies, scholarly journals, Gallery publications, lectures, symposia and colloquia, or exhibitions.  Work with members of CNE to ensure that objects entering the CNE collection are properly researched and catalogued, that already existing object records are updated as new information becomes available, and that artists’ biographies in the database are accurate and current.  Trace and document provenances.
  • Keep abreast of bibliography, exhibitions, collecting, publishing, and other developments in the field of European paintings.  Draft or contribute research to acquisition proposals.  Research provenance of proposed gifts and purchases including research on objects with potential World War II provenance issues; consults with outside experts as necessary.  Notify management of results of potential acquisitions research and works to resolve issues and problems encountered.
  • Support the expansion and deepening of the Gallery’s collections through the acquisition of works of art of the highest quality and relevance to the Gallery’s collecting policies.  In consultation with the Head of Department, assist with development initiatives to build the CNE collection and support relationships with collectors, scholars, and art dealers to attract and secure single objects, collections, funds, or other types of gifts to the Gallery.
  • The incumbent assist with exhibitions or undertakes by assignment or on own initiative, in consultation with CNE colleagues, to propose, organize, and coordinate small scale exhibitions and installations that draw from the Gallery’s holdings of 15thand 16thcentury Northern European Paintings, as well as from other institutions and private collections.  Coordinate with the departments of Exhibitions, Conservation, Registrar and Design and Installation to meet exhibition production schedule deadlines and budget requirements.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a United States Citizen.
  • This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
  • Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
  • See "Other Information" section regarding Selective Service requirements.

“To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a Federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to Executive Order 14043, that requirement does not currently apply.”

Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant work experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to this job opportunity. 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). Your resume must include the dates of all qualifying experience (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours worked/volunteered per week.

Qualifications

Candidates must meet the Qualification Standards Handbook requirements for the GS-1015-11/12.

Specialized Experience Statement

GS-11 For this position, specialized experience is at least one year of experience, equivalent in responsibility to the GS-9 level in the Federal service, as curator of a collection of Northern European paintings; serving as a curatorial fellow at a peer institution; or serving in a position at a peer institution that grants equivalent exposure to curatorial work.

GS-12 For this position, specialized experience is at least one year of experience, equivalent in responsibility to the GS-11 level in the Federal service, as curator of a collection of Northern European paintings; serving as a curatorial fellow at a peer institution; or serving in a position at a peer institution that grants equivalent exposure to curatorial work.

Other Relevant Eligibility Criteria: Requires weekend duty.  Requires U.S. and European travel, up to seven (7) days per trip.  Must have advanced reading ability in at least two of the following languages: German; French; Dutch, Italian; and Spanish.

Your application and resume must demonstrate that you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather, you must show in your résumé how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the KSAs identified below. If asked to do so, cite specific examples of employment or experience contained in your resume and describe how this experience has prepared you to successfully perform the duties of this position. DO NOT write "see resume" in your application!

Those applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements will be evaluated against these factors to determine the best-qualified candidates.

  1. Skill in art historical research and scholarship.
  2. Knowledge of Northern European paintings of the 15th-16th centuries.
  3. Ability to curate one of the main areas of the Permanent Collection 
  4. Knowledge of museum exhibition procedures and logistics

 "Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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.

CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

EDUCATION: Are you using education to qualify?

 This position have a positive education requirement, you may submit copies of your transcripts or a course listing. You must provide documentation supporting your education claims.

Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.

Additional information

The National Gallery of Art fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

• More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement.

• Some positions may require completion of a probationary period of up to 1 (one) year.

AN EXTERNAL SELECTED CANDIDATE MUST BE FINGERPRINTED AND RECEIVE A BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION, RESULTING IN A SATISFACTORY SUITABILITY DETERMINATION BEFORE BEING HIRED FOR THIS POSITION.

• All males born after December 31st 1959 must abide by laws regarding Selective Service registration. To learn more about this law, visit the Selective Service web page, Who Must Register. If you are not registered and don't have an approved exemption, you will not be eligible for employment with the Federal government.

EEO Policy: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/EEO_Policy_Statement

Reasonable Accommodation Policy: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Reasonable_Accommodation_Policy_Statement

Veterans Information: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Veterans_Information

Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/

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 and rated under the Category Rating and Selection procedures. The quality categories are defined as "Best Qualified", "Well Qualified", and "Qualified".

Based on your responses to the job-specific self-assessment questions, eligible candidates are placed for selection consideration into one of three pre-defined quality categories as described below:

Best Qualified Category - In addition to meeting minimum qualifications for the position, candidates must fully demonstrate proficiency in all major aspects of the position.

Well Qualified Category - In addition to meeting minimum qualifications, candidates must demonstrate proficiency in some, but not all of the major aspects of the position.

Qualified Category - In addition to meeting minimum qualifications, applicants must demonstrate a basic level of knowledge, skill and ability of the position.

If you are eligible for career transition assistance plans such as ICTAP or CTAP, you must meet the definition of "well qualified" which is defined as having a score of 85 or better.

Application of Veterans Preference: The Category Rating Method 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 pre-defined quality category. Preference eligibles who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent (i.e., CPS and CP) must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher.

If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly.                                                                                             

                                                                                   


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