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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 National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI). The Collections Care and Stewardship Program (CCSP), the CCSP is accountable for the museum's permanent object collection thereby maintaining oversight of all aspects of storage, care, use, protection and disaster management.

More than one selection may be made from this announcement.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted today · Apply by 07/24/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 24, 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
Occasional travel - Occasional travel to the NMAI-NY in NYC, conference travel
Appointment type
Permanent - Federal
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
Yes
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Other
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Announcement number
26R-BY-314236-MPA-NMAI
Control number
876104200

Duties

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The Supervisory Collections Manager, is responsible for maintaining a strong focus on responsible and ethical stewardship of NMAI's collections in collaboration and partnership with Native and indigenous people while also considering the Smithsonian's mandate for the diffusion of knowledge, widely accepted standards of museum practice and the professional ethics of staff members who carry out the NMAI's mission.

In this position, you will:

  • Be responsible for the overall safe and proper care, storage, handling, moving, packing and integrated pest management of NMAI's collections at its three facilities.

  • Collaborate across NMAI departments and SI Units to ensure the physical security of the collections.

  • Oversee access to and the use of the collections by a wide variety of audiences internal and external to the Smithsonian and NMAI, guide specialized tours, including those for important guests and stakeholders such as tribal leaders, Smithsonian and NMAI leadership or government dignitaries.

  • Represent the NMAI and its programs to Native constituencies, stakeholders and external partners with expertise, skill and also demonstrate collaborative teamwork across the museum to effectively implement strategic goals and priorities.
      
  • Provide overall direction and management to collections management staff to include the establishment of work priorities, goals, assignment and schedules to meet NMAI's goals.

  • Be responsible for a full range of supervisory and managerial authorities related to assignment of work, setting performance standards for work, coordination with other programs, management advisory services and technical work direction.

Requirements

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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

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 experience serving as a senior specialist in the oversight and management of a sizable Native American collections in a museum, cultural or historic organization. 

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.

Education

Education cannot be substituted at this level.

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. Working knowledge of collections processes and procedures gained through experience and practical work.

  2. Knowledge of effective strategies and processes for implementing collections moves to facilitate museum operations, recover misplaced items or identify the history of unexpected items found in the collections.
  3. Knowledge of Native American culture, art, and history to provide culturally sensitive oversight to the handling and storage of collections and objects, to provide relevant information to researchers and to assist visitors to the collection.

  4. Knowledge of interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills to cultivate and maintain working relationships with a variety of individuals/groups.

  5. Ability to supervise and manage staff, set work expectations and schedules, ensure a culture of a safe work environment and safe work practices, assess and improve workflows and processes and evaluate and report on results in the federal government environment.

BASIS OF RATING:  Once the announcement closes, your application will be automatically evaluated and rated by the system and a Human Resources Specialist. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your application and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the occupational questionnaire. The numeric rating you receive is based on your responses to the questionnaire. The score is a measure of the degree to which your background matches the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of this position. If, after the Human Resources Specialist reviews your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that the score you have received is not a true reflection of your qualifications and/or experience, your score can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect the information you provided that support your abilities. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Your resume should provide detailed information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed.

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA):  If you are applying for a VEOA appointment, you must be a veteran and must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed 3 or more years of active service. ("Active Service" under this law means active duty in a uniformed service and includes full-time training duty, annual training duty, full-time National Guard duty, and attendance, while in the active service, at a school designated as a service school by law or by the Secretary concerned.) A veteran who is released under honorable conditions shortly before completing a 3-year tour is also eligible.


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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

Baaba Yanney
Phone
202-633-6342
Email
yanneyb@si.edu
Address
SMITHSONIAN
Office of Human Resources
POB 37012, 600 Maryland Avenue, MRC 517
Suite 5060
Washington, Maryland 20013-7012
United States

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