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The Education Specialist will provide a broad range of educational, research, content development and digital-media production support to the Science Education Department (SED) of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, which is dedicated to improving STEM education and to increasing public interest in and understanding of core science concepts related to astronomical research.
02/02/2024 to 03/19/2024
$67,743 - $88,065 per year
IS 09
1 vacancy in the following location:
No
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Occasional travel - Travel may be required for conferences, meetings with project partners and potential museum venues.
No
Permanent - Indefinite Trust Appointment. This is not a Federal position.
Full-time
Competitive
09
No
No
24-14
774434100
This position is open to all qualified candidates eligible to work in the United States.
The primary responsibility of the education specialist will include supporting SED’s research and development of programs for youth, educators, and public audiences that engage learners in using SAO’s MicroObservatory online telescopes. Additional responsibilities include contributing to research and evaluation data collection and analysis activities for SED education projects.
Duties:
For the latest information on the COVID-19 vaccination requirements and its impact on your application, click on Smithsonian Institution’s Frequently Asked Questions.
All applicants must meet these Basic Education Requirements:
A. Degree: that included or was supplemented by major study in science education or in a subject-matter field appropriate to the position.
OR
Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major in education, or in a subject-matter field appropriate to the position, plus appropriate experience or additional course work that provided knowledge comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of the 4-year course of study described in A above.
In addition to meeting the basic education requirements, applicants must meet the following criteria to qualify for the grade level specified.
Experience:
One year of full-time experience at the GS-07 level that is close or similar to the work of this job. The experience includes activities such as implementing science learning programs for classroom or out of school audiences.
Education: Two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent degree in education or a field related to the position may be substituted for the required 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.
For information on qualification requirements, see the Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions, which is viewable at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact the Human Resources Specialist listed. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that a workforce comprising a variety of educational, cultural, and experiential backgrounds supports and enhances our daily work life and contributes to the richness of our exhibitions and programs. For more information on the Smithsonian EEO program, please visit www.si.edu/oeema.
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:
Knowledge of astronomy and a solid understanding of the basic science concepts emphasized by the projects, as evidenced by a degree in math or the physical sciences and coursework or equivalent experience in science education. Informal education or classroom teaching experience is desired but optional.
Knowledge of educational and public outreach opportunities related to scientific research, the educational needs of students and public audiences, and the ability to interpret scientific concepts for diverse audiences.
Skill in producing innovative written materials and presenting these educational materials to audiences with varying levels of understanding demonstrated through excellent oral and written communications skills.
Knowledge and skills in educational technology and in the development of rich media and the use of audio and video authoring tools
Skill in making oral presentations to audiences at workshops, meetings, conferences, and other educational events and the ability to develop educational materials that are accessible to diverse audiences
Skill in the use of word processing, image processing, and graphics software and in developing content material for the internet.
Important Note:
Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire or other assessment tool for consistency.
Your resume should provide detailed information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed.
Your application package should include the
following documents
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Click on the "Apply Online" button on the upper right side of the page.
Please Note:
You will receive an e-mail to acknowledge that your application has been received. Please be aware that the confirmation e-mail could reside in your "junk" or "bulk" mail folder depending on your filters.
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory receives many applications for each job. Each application is reviewed carefully which may take a few weeks. We will send you an e-mail to update you as we go
through phases of the application review process. You may also check your application status by logging into www.usajobs.gov and
selecting the tab "My USAJOBS;" e-mailing vacancy.info@si.edu; or by contacting the Office of Human Resources Representative listed.
Additional Information:
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/774434100. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
