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Summary

The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. This position is located in the Office of Digital and Innovation (ODI).  The Office of Digital and Innovation (ODI) is driving the future of how the Smithsonian advances its mission and connects with the world.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
01/28/2026 to 02/02/2026
Salary
$169,279 to - $197,200 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 15
Location
Washington, DC
FEW vacancies
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—Ad hoc telework only
Travel Required
Occasional travel - 5% or less travel required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent - Federal
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
15
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
26R-ID-313434-MPA-ODI
Control number
855689700

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Current Smithsonian Institution Internal Employees/Agency Employees Only may apply including current Smithsonian Institution employees with Federal career/career-conditional status or eligibility. More than one selection may be made from this announcement.

Duties

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The IT Program Manager (Policy Planning) decides on, leads and oversees the Institution’s digital stewardship function.

In this position, you will:

  • Develop and implement SI’s digital stewardship strategy, policy, standards and reporting and communication tools. Own and promote a “prepare, gather, enhance, save and share” model for digital stewardship across the Institution. 
  • Serve as the primary liaison for digital stewardship across the Institution, bringing together archivists, IT specialists, attorneys, librarians, scientists, researchers and curators to develop requirements and processes that both support and protect collections management, research, education and preservation functions.
  • Plan work to be accomplished by subordinates. Sets and adjusts staff short-term priorities and schedules completion of assigned work.
  • Carry enterprise-wide responsibility for governance, policy development and coordination across SI to protect the current investment and ensure long-term access to and integrity of digital assets. Advises senior leadership on risks, opportunities and investments related to governance and policy and process development to ensure success and alignment.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Requires career/career-conditional status or eligibility.
  • Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.

Conditions of Employment

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. See the 'Required Documents' section for additional information.

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

Qualifications

GS-15 Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-14 level in the Federal Service.  For this position, specialized experience is defined as experience leading digital stewardship efforts; developing and applying metadata frameworks; establishing and enforcing preservation and modern data standards; managing the full digital asset lifecycle from ingest through disposition; directing data governance policies and practices; and providing requirements that inform strategic investments in technology to support long-term access, use, and sustainability of digital assets.

In addition to meeting the Specialized Experience for all positions individuals must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below:

Attention to Detail: Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.

Customer Service: Anticipates and meets the needs of both internal and external business partners and customers (any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unity produces including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government). Provides information or assistance. Delivers high quality products and services; is committed to continuous improvement. Effectively manages customer relationships.

Oral Communication: Makes clear and convincing oral presentations to individuals and groups. Listens effectively; clarifies information, as needed. Speaks and writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner that is appropriate to the audience. Facilitates an open exchange of ideas to ensure all group input is considered. Handles technical, sensitive, or controversial topics with agility involving executives/managers as appropriate.

Problem Solving: Identifies and analyzes problems, weighs relevance and accuracy of information, generates, and evaluates alternative solutions, and makes sound recommendations.

Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages and should clearly demonstrate how your experience aligns with the responsibilities and specialized experience required for this position. Do not copy language directly from the vacancy announcement, as you will be deemed ineligible for consideration. Instead, provide detailed, descriptive information about your actual experience.

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.

In an effort to streamline our hiring process, SI employees whose current position of record is in the same job series (2210) and who are in a Federal Competitive appointment as this advertised position, are not required to submit a transcript with your application package. However, if selected, you will be required to provide a copy of your transcript before your start date in the position.

Time-in-Grade Requirements: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under a non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying).

Additional information

This position is not included in the bargaining unit.

Recruitment Incentive: Recruitment incentive(s) may be authorized for this position. However, approval for incentives are contingent upon various availability. If authorized, certain incentives will require the incumbent to sign a service agreement to remain in the Federal government for a certain time period.

Note: This statement does not imply nor guarantee an incentive will be offered and paid.

Selections may be made for vacancies across the Smithsonian Institution (SI). By applying to this position, you agree to allow your application and other personal information to be shared with one or more SI hiring officials for employment consideration for same/similar positions within the location(s) identified in this announcement.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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 managing the full digital asset lifecycle, including standards and integration, and skill in leading digitization and data management programs, building practical workflows across teams, and planning complex projects and improving processes for quality and efficiency.  
  2. Skill in collaborating across departments and units to advance shared digital stewardship goals, representing an organization in external/internal partnerships, professional networks, or standards bodies, and communicating complex technical and stewardship concepts in clear, practical terms to diverse audiences.
  3. Skill in leading and developing staff, setting clear priorities for teams’ work, and assigning work based on strengths and needs.
  4. Skill in leading organization-wide programs or initiatives, supporting executive decision making, and leading governance and policy development.

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 detailed information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed.


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