Clarification from the agency

Current Federal Smithsonian employees who have Federal career/career-conditional status or eligibility.

Collaborates with and serves as principal advisor to the Director and Deputy Director of the NMAAHC in the identification and creation of short and long-term plans for space and exhibition design, audience wayfinding, and traveling exhibitions.  S/he is responsible for determining project viability, needs, defining project goals and developing project work plans to accomplish museum priorities.

Manages programmatic needs of the Museum and the milestones necessary to achieve those goals. Conducts planning sessions with various NMAAHC offices to determine scope, timing, and resources needed to accomplish all tasks. Manages all aspects of major projects for the Museum through all phases of the projects by developing annual, multiyear, or similar types of long-range work plans and schedules that include both in-service and contracted work. Responsibilities include but are not limited to the planning, organization, coordination, and control of the assigned projects and the resources that are provided. Responsible for planning and completing projects in accordance with project plans, schedule, and budgets and for advising the Museum Director and Deputy Director in a timely manner if events occur that conspire to prevent successful completion. Approves the expenditures of all financial resources for assigned projects, leads and/or facilitates all project team activities, serves as the contracting officer’s technical representative, and makes formal decision presentations and reports to the Museum Director at major project milestone reviews.

Provides leadership and exercises managerial responsibility through the articulation of goals, continuing reevaluation of goals, objectives, tools and concepts, motivation of senior project managers and team members and through the development of plans and budgets. Recommends changes needed to maintain program support and improvements. Represents the Museum on project management matters with all other organizations, both internal and external to the Museum and the Smithsonian. 

Develops and justifies annual and multiyear federal and trust budgets. Ensures compliance with all Federal, Smithsonian and Museum financial management policies and procedures and HR regulations, ensures adequate office control systems are in place to monitor expenses and budget limitations, contracts, and procurements.

Prepares scopes of work and determines schedules and budgets necessary to achieve the goals of the project. Works with outside organizations and negotiates formal agreements for major collaborative exhibitions and other programmatic activities that may involve substantial expenditures.

Establishes a system to review, control, report, and monitor project status. Makes recommendations of which phases of the project will be performed by in-house staff, contractors, or other professionals. Recommends sequences for actions, procurements, purchases, and coordinates necessary meetings to ensure the timely delivery of products and services.

Provides advice to the Director and others on the feasibility of projects, timelines, and resources. Readjusts resources and work for accomplishing projects within time and budgetary constraints.

Serves on the Director’s Senior Level Staff Advisory Team, collaborating with other senior staff to advise the Director and Deputy Director on the implementation of decisions and on achieving the Museum’s strategic priorities.  S/he works with the Senior Level Staff Advisory Team to set priorities, formulate policy, and develop strategies to accomplish goals for the overall construction efforts, exhibitions efforts; and collaborates with the other senior level staff.

Oversees the head of design and the design office.  Has oversight of project management for exhibition production and installation; to include monitoring work and results of public space design and exhibitions.  Provides oversight of exhibition staff to include hiring, managing, and coaching staff members, and establishing performance goals.

Develops plans and requirements for all levels of building construction and exhibition design, fabrication, and installation.  Coordinates logistics with curatorial staff on exhibit moves, space, design, storage, and storage-related matters associated with construction and exhibition fabrication and installation.

Develops plans and requirements for the Information Commons area.  Coordinates with staff and stakeholders on design and programming space needs for 2^nd floor Information Commons.

Collaborates with the Smithsonian Facilities and the Contracting Office, architects, and construction contractors to facilitate communication and integrate activities within projects related to the design, production and construction of the Museum and its exhibitions.

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

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

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants must clearly demonstrate the necessary level of managerial and leadership skills and competence to perform successfully in this position. This includes a degree in an applicable subject-matter field, or a combination of education and appropriate experience that provides knowledge comparable to that normally acquired through successful completion of a four-year course of study in an applicable subject-matter field.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE

In addition, applicants must have one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-15 level. Specialized experience is defined as the demonstrated knowledge and skill of project management for a large museum or cultural organization as it relates to the design and construction of a new facility, including public space design and exhibition installments.

The applications that meet the basic qualifications will be evaluated further against the following criteria:

1. Knowledge and skill in executive level project management, budgetary process and resource management.

2. Demonstrate skill in planning and managing the design, production, construction of a facility, including public space design for exhibition productions and installments.

3. Leadership experience at the managerial level that includes goal setting, establishing policies and procedures, and developing strategies for a large museum or cultural organization.

4. Skill in leading, supervising, and managing a multi-disciplined and culturally diverse workforce, including fostering teamwork and high morale; attracting, retaining, motivating, and providing guidance to a diverse workforce; and implementing EEO/Affirmative Action policies and programs.

How you will be evaluated

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

The qualifications listed in this document will be used along with your resume and your responses to the questions posed in the electronic application process to determine the candidates who will move forward in the evaluation process.  When crafting your responses to the questions, please provide concise, detailed information on your background and experience. 

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 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 the major duties and qualifications criteria listed for this position.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid work on the same basis as for paid experience. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. To receive credit for such experience you must indicate clearly the nature of the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the average number of hours per week spent in such employment.