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Summary

The National Gallery of Art welcomes all people to explore art, creativity, and our shared humanity. Millions of people come through our doors each year, with even more online, making us one of the most visited art museums in the world. Our renowned collection includes over 160,000 works of art, from the ancient world to today. Admission to the West and East Buildings, Sculpture Garden, special exhibitions, and public programs is always free.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
04/13/2026 to 04/27/2026
Salary
$46,610 - $60,593 per year

The salary range listed is an approximation and subject to locality adjustment.

Pay scale & grade
GS 05
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—Yes - As determined by the agency policy
Travel Required
Not required - Enter travel % if required. Delete if not.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
05
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
NGA-26-140-DE
Control number
864852200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This position is open to all United States Citizens and Nationals. More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement.

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Duties

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This position is in the Office of Protection Services, Administrator's Staff, National Gallery of Art (NGA). The incumbent is supervised by a Sergeant, AOP­ Operations (AOP-OPS).  The primary purpose of the work in this position is to perform as security escort to contractors or visitors to the National Gallery of Art.

In this poisition, you will: 

  • Primarily escorts contractors who are working at the National Gallery during public and non-public hours.
  • Serve as an escort to visitors in public and non-public spaces.
  • Maintain access control and escorts National Gallery contractors in locations vulnerable to crimes against persons, theft, vandalism, and other damage.
  • Control access by monitoring the identification credentials for National Gallery employees, contractors and visitors entering controlled areas and referring persons who lack proper credentials to a control point to arrange access. 
  • Deny admission to undesirable or unauthorized persons, prevents unauthorized removal of National Gallery property, answers inquiries from National Gallery employees, contractors, or visitors. Is alert for unusual conditions and incidents, and immediately investigates and assesses abnormal conditions.
  • May be required to secure buildings, sound alarms, detain violators or call for police assistance.
  • Initiate appropriate response to alarm devices which may be installed in remote locations away from the Security Command Center.      
  • Enforce federal and local laws and National Gallery rules and regulations to ensure the welfare and the safety of visitors and employees, and to protect priceless and irreplaceable works of art.
  • Conduct preliminary investigations that require taking notes and preparing reports. Detects and prevents offenses; pursues and arrests violators. and initiate emergency procedures to cope with the situation. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a United States Citizen.
  • This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
  • Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • Pass Pre-employment Background Investigation.
  • Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation.
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
  • You will be required to obtain a successful pre-employment physical exam

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 viewable on OPM Website. It is your responsibility to ensure that you submit appropriate documentation prior to the closing date. Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant experience as it relates to this job announcement. Be clear and specific when describing your work history since human resources cannot make assumptions regarding your 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). Your resume must include the dates of all qualifying experience (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours worked/volunteered per week.

Qualifications

Specialized Experience StatementCandidates must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent in responsibility to the federal GS-4 level, as a security escort to visitors to a place of business.

Note: Competition for Security Guard positions is restricted by law to persons entitled to veterans' preference as long as such applicants are available for appointment.

OPM Qualifications Standard:

Individual Occupational Requirements: Security Guard Series 0085

Associated Group standard:  There is no Group Coverage Qualification Standard for this series. Use the Individual Occupational Requirements in the link below. 

Security Guard Series 0085

Medical Requirements

The duties of these positions require moderate to arduous physical exertion and/or duties of a hazardous nature. The following medical requirements apply to all applicants: good near and distant vision, ability to distinguish basic colors, and ability to hear the conversational voice. Agencies may establish additional, job-related physical or medical requirements provided that the specific position(s) involves the arduous or hazardous duties to which the requirements relate. (Please see Other Relevant Eligibility Criteria’ section for additional agency established requirements)

Applicants and employees must have the capacity to perform the essential functions of the position without risk to themselves or others. In most instances, a specific medical condition or impairment will not automatically disqualify an applicant or employee. A medical condition or impairment is disqualifying only if the condition, for good medical reason, precludes assignment to or warrants restriction from the duties of the specific position. For some positions, the loss or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid. Reasonable accommodation shall also be considered in determining an applicant's ability to perform the duties of a position. Reasonable accommodation may include, but is not limited to the use of assistive devices, job modification or restructuring, provision of readers and interpreters, or adjusted work schedules.

Other Relevant Eligibility Criteria:

Candidates must meet the criteria for veterans’ preference unless there are more vacancies than eligible veterans in the applicant pool. Must be able to work varying work hours, with a reporting time as early as 5:30 a.m. on a regular basis. Overtime may be assigned as needed. Must be able to lift and carry an unconscious person, with the assistance of one other person. Must be able to stoop and bend. Must be able to carry a 20-pound object without assistance. Must be able to climb and descend fixed vertical ladders and two flights of steps quickly, without difficulty.

Must be able to stand and/or walk continuously for 2.5 hours, without a break, daily. Must be able to stand and or walk every workday for cumulative total of 5 hours and 40 minutes. Must be able to work in closed and confined spaces, such as a security booth and underground facilities with a wide variance of temperature. Must have the agility and ability to subdue violent suspects. Must be able to hear conversational voice and radio transmissions, and able to convey information via portable radio and telephone at a normal conversational volume.

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

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.

Note: Applicants who are referred to the hiring office for selection consideration may be required to submit writing and/or work samples as part of the interview/selection process. If the hiring office decides to request a writing and/or work sample as part of its selection process, the vacancy contact will reach out to you by email to: (1) inform you of this requirement; and (2) provide further instructions.

Education

This position does NOT have a positive education requirement.  

Additional information

The National Gallery of Art fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. EEO Policy: https://help.usajobs.gov/equal-employment-opportunity

More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement.

This position is not included in the bargaining unit.

Relocation expenses will not be paid.

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.
Reasonable Accommodation Policy: https://help.usajobs.gov/reasonable-accommodation
Veterans Information: https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans
Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, the veteran must be a preference eligible or a veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions.

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility
requirements visit the following websites:


Reasonable Accommodation Requests: The National Gallery of Art provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need an accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the contact person listed 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 resume will be used to evaluate your experience, education, and/or training that address the competencies below: 

Security:  Knowledge of the laws, regulations, and guidelines related to securing personnel, facilities, and information, including the requirements for handling, transporting, and protecting classified information and proper reporting of security incidents.

Oral Communication:  Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.

Written Communication: Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.

Category Rating: Qualified candidates will be assigned to one of the three quality categories: The quality categories are defined as: Qualified, Well Qualified, or Best Qualified.

Qualified Category = Does not exceed the basic qualifications requirements described in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement.

Well Qualified Category = Meets the basic qualifications requirements described in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement and demonstrates proficiency in the Critical Competencies defined below. (This category must be met to be considered under ICTAP procedures)

Best Qualified Category = Meets the basic qualifications requirements described in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement and excels in the Critical Competencies defined below. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of many," but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent or higher will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher).

Note: Applicants who are referred to the hiring office for selection consideration may be required to submit writing and/or work samples as part of the interview/selection process. If the hiring office decides to request a writing and/or work sample as part of its selection process, the vacancy contact will reach out to you by email to: (1) inform you of this requirement; and (2) provide further instructions.


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

National Gallery of Art

The National Gallery of Art welcomes all people to explore art, creativity, and our shared humanity. Millions of people come through our doors each year—with even more online—making us one of the most visited art museums in the world. Our renowned collection includes over 160,000 works of art, from the ancient world to today. Admission to the West and East Buildings, Sculpture Garden, special exhibitions, and public programs is always free. Every day, hundreds of employees—from electricians to data analysts, educators to carpenters—bring the nation’s art museum to life for all to enjoy.

Agency contact information

Staffing
Phone
240-673-0710
Fax
000-000-0000
Email
staffing@nga.gov
Address
National Gallery of Art
4th and Constitution Avenue NW,
Washington, District of Columbia 20565
United States

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