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 # 23R-SB-306870-MPA-NASM More than one selection may be made from this announcement.

As the Museum Specialist, you will:

• Perform tasks of a technical nature in support of collections management.
• Work 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, many times serving as the team leader for such projects.
• Make 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.
• Prepare 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
• Oversee and perform all types of artifact handling operations, including de/installations, which require the operation of trucks, hoists, forklifts, tractor trailers, and similar equipment.
• Articulate and communicate to the team the assignment, project, problem to be solved, actionable events, milestones, and/or issues under review, and deadlines and time frames for completion.

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.
• Must have a valid Class A Commercial driver’s license.

Conditions of Employment

Must have a valid driver’s license and must obtain a Class A Commercial Driver’s License within the probationary period and maintain it thereafter.  

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. 

Qualification requirements, including one year time-in-grade at the next lower grade level for promotion candidates, 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 OPM Website.

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet either the education or experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.

To qualify for the GS-07 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-05 it must include:

• Experience in the operation or management of a museum or similar collection of valuable objects.
• Experience working in a museum environment handling aeronautical and space artifacts such as: airplanes, aircraft engines, helicopters, satellites, spacecraft, missiles, space suits, guns, and cannons; caring for and cleaning; cataloging; creating and enhancing digital collection records; utilizing collection database to assist with digital assets management.
• Experience preparing, compiling, and transmitting reports; performing collections processing by: packing, handling, moving, and storing of aforementioned types of artifacts utilizing equipment such as forklifts and dollies; and disassembling, assembling, loading, unloading, securing, crating, cradling, or creating containers/mounts for artifacts. 

To qualify for the GS-07 on Education alone, you must have at least 1 year of graduate-level education OR superior academic achievement.
•    **Superior Academic Achievement is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership.
•    1. Class standing -- Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.
•    2. Grade-point average (G.P.A.) -- Applicants must have a grade-point average of: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.

You can also qualify based on a combination of graduate level education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.

To qualify for the GS-09 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-07 it must include:

• Experience in the operation or management of a museum or similar collection of valuable objects.
• Experience working in a museum environment caring for and cleaning; cataloging; creating and enhancing digital collection records; utilizing collection database to assist with digital assets management; preparing, compiling, and transmitting reports.
• Experience performing collections processing by: packing, handling, moving, and storing of aforementioned types of artifacts utilizing equipment such as forklifts and dollies; and disassembling, assembling, loading, unloading, securing, crating, cradling, or creating containers/mounts for artifacts.

To qualify for the GS-09 on Education alone, you must have 2 full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or have been awarded a master's or equivalent graduate degree. You can also qualify based on a combination of graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.

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.

Or a Combination: Education and experience may be combined to meet the basic qualifications. 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 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:

1. Knowledge of accepted museum collections management methodology and practices related to small, medium, and large aeronautical and space related artifacts.
2. Knowledge of museum object handling and storage standards for a widely varied aeronautical and space artifact collection.
3. Ability to use specialized computer programs to input artifact related data into the collections information database.
4. Skill in the use of stationary and power hand tools used in the preservation, storage, moving, or transporting of artifacts.
5. Skill in operating material handling equipment, such as forklifts; scissor lifts; Aerial Work Platforms and similar equipment.
6. Ability to communicate in writing for the purpose of writing and documenting physical descriptions of artifacts or digital material in accordance with procedures and established standards and communicating with staff within and outside the unit. 

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.