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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 Exhibition Production Department, Office of Building Renovation & Exhibition Services (OBRES), National Museum of American History (NMAH). NMAH is home to more than 1.8 million objects and more than three shelf-miles of archival collections, preserving and sharing the greatest single collection of American history in the world. 

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted this week · Apply by 07/10/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 10, 2026
Location
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—Ad hoc only.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$121,785 - $158,322 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Promotion potential
13
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time - Full-Time, Permanent
Travel Required
Not required
Appointment type
Temporary - NTE 1 year. This temporary promotion may be extended for an additional year and may be made permanent without further competition.
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
Yes
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Other
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
26R-SNJ-314050-MPA-NMAH
Control number
875225900

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 Supervisory Exhibits Specialist is the head of the Fabrication Shop and supervises a team of full-time exhibition specialists, as well as occasional interns and detailers, who are responsible for the fabrication and installation of exhibitions and exhibition components. Other responsibilities include the daily oversight of the Metal Shop, Paint Shop and Plastic Shop, all within the Fabrication Shop.

In this position, you will:

  • Direct, supervise, and plan all work performed by the Fabrication Shop.
  • Act as the Project Manager for designated fabrication programs and projects as assigned by the Exhibits Production Director, ensuring successful delivery within established scope, schedule, budget, and quality standards.
  • Meet with the Exhibits Production Director and other Exhibit Production Supervisors to discuss current operations, emerging industry trends, and important issues affecting Exhibits Production.

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

  • Work is generally sedentary. Incumbent may be required to stand for long periods of time and to lift objects weighing up to 50 lbs. unassisted.
  • Work is generally performed in an exhibition production workshop and office setting. The incumbent will work with wood, plastics, solvents, adhesives, and paints during exhibit construction. Incumbent may be exposed to hazardous chemicals, loud noises, fumes, dust, and other construction hazards.
  • Incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain COTR Level 1 certification.
  • Incumbent will be required to take regular safety training to perform work duties.
  • Work requires special safety precautions and the use of protective masks, goggles, shoes, and other necessary personal protective equipment (PPE).

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

Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal Service.  For this position, specialized experience is defined as planning, organizing, and coordinating fabrication projects; consulting with clients to assess project requirements; collaborating with internal and external offices to facilitate fabrication work; and ensuring compliance with applicable policies, procedures, and operational standards.

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.

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).

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

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.

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

  • Ability to supervise the work of exhibit production staff in the areas of cabinetry, finishing and painting, crafting, objects processing and plastics.
  • Knowledge of project management techniques, practices, and guidelines relating to the planning, budgeting, design, production, and installation of museum exhibitions.
  • Ability to develop and implement effective strategies aligned with the mission and goals of the NMAH, evaluating issues from both short and long-term perspectives and incorporating emerging trends, best practices, and innovations in the museum exhibition field.

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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Smithsonian Institution

Join the Smithsonian Institution, the world's largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums, 14 education and research centers, and the National Zoo, in inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery. 

Agency contact information

Symphony Johnson
Phone
202-633-6282
Fax
000-000-0000
Email
johnsonsn@si.edu
Address
SMITHSONIAN
Office of Human Resources
POB 37012, 600 Maryland Avenue, MRC 517
Suite 5060
Washington, District of Columbia 20013-7012
United States

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