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 # 23A-SB-308738- MPA-AAA. More than one selection may be made from this announcement.

The Collections Specialist is responsible for acquiring primary sources as gifts from a broad geographic range in the United States, with special emphasis on documenting the Asian Pacific American experience in the art world. 

In this position, you will:

• Develop and follow an approved collecting plan focused on Asian Pacific American art and artists in consultation with leadership and contribute to national collecting initiatives as part of the curatorial team.
• Select, develop accurate descriptions, and provide scholarly appraisal of collections through a close examination of their contents and negotiate the conditions of gifts through a fully executed deed of gift.
• Arrange for packing and shipment of materials from donor, track contacts, accession new acquisitions, prepare collections for archival processing, and prepare statistical and narrative reports on acquisitions.
• Serve as an authority on Asian Pacific American art history, consulting with and advising researchers, including curators, art historians, graduate students, and others.

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. 

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions on OPM website.

Qualifications

Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal Service.  For this position, specialized experience is defined as serving as a subject specialist in the field of Asian Pacific American art with experience in the solicitation, acquisition, description, and scholarly appraisal of archival collections, including communicating with a variety of internal and external contacts to negotiate acquisitions and respond to inquiries regarding potential solicited and unsolicited gifts.

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 resume will be used to evaluate your experience, education, and/or training that address the competencies below:

1. Ability to interpret and apply existing collecting guidelines and procedures to achieve program objectives. 

2. Knowledge of Asian Pacific American art history and the American art world, including current scholarly activity, standard appraisal criteria, and archival principles and techniques.

3. Ability to cultivate, develop and maintain relationships, and negotiate with tact, diplomacy, and persistence.

4. Skilled at communicating orally and in writing including ability to use collections management systems and other databases. 
   
   

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.