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Summary

The Smithsonian Institution (SI) is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo.  This position is located in the Financial Planning Office, Office of the Director, Office of the Senior Advisor, National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) Under Secretary for Museums and Culture (USMC).

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted yesterday · Apply by 08/11/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on August 11, 2026
Location
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—Ad-Hoc only
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$143,913 - $187,093 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Promotion potential
14
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time - Full-Time, Permanent
Travel Required
25% or less - Occasional travel to NMAI-NY in NYC.
Appointment type
Permanent - Federal
Supervisory status
Yes
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
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
Announcement number
26R-BY-314339-MPA-NMAI
Control number
878212800

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 Assistant Director (Finance) is responsible for the financial administration of the National Museum of the American Indian. 

In this position, you will:

  • Supervise, manage, and oversee staff addressing the myriads of recordkeeping, process implementation, oversight, etc., of an annual federal budget of more than $30M and a Trust fund budget exceeding $13M.

  • Manage, direct, and implement financial programs in keeping with the Museum’s mission of broad service and contact with Native organizations and individuals, with heavy emphasis on long range planning and budgeting related to the Museums three sites, and unique outreach activities to communities throughout the Western hemisphere.
  • Plan and carry out financial management and operational studies specifically addressing the needs of a rapidly evolving Museum program.  Based on reviews, surveys, fact finding, organizational structures and relationships, available resources, and programmatic priorities, etc., develop options and recommendations for senior management to consider in arriving at decisions.  

  • Prepare submissions related to formulating, writing, justifying and executing annual and multi-year Federal and Trust budgets for the Museum. 

  • Serve as liaison with the SI Office of the Treasurer on such matters as debt repayment schedules and status, and evolving financial support needs of the Museum as it undertakes special projects at all three locations including programs and capital improvements, etc. 

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

Qualifications:

GS-14 Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 level in the Federal Service.  For this position, specialized experience is defined as experience supervising or serving as a lead in a finance or administrative unit or team; preparing submissions related to formulating, writing, justifying and executing annual and multi-year federal and trust budgets; and providing financial guidance to senior staff related to the development of program budgets and spend plans.  

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.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are qualifying by education and/or you have education completed in a foreign college/university described above, it is your responsibility to provide transcripts and proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study. For instructions on where to fax these documents, see the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Or a Combination: Education and experience may be combined to meet the basic qualifications; For a full explanation of this option please see the Qualification Standards.

In an effort to streamline our hiring process, SI employees whose current position of record is in the same job series (0501) and who are in a (Federal competitive or excepted service 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).

Education

There is no subsitution for education 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. Ability to manage, supervise, and guide daily program operations and a staff providing administrative and technical oversight, setting priorities, assigning work, assessing employee performance, and ensuring staff development and counseling.   

  2. Expert knowledge of the legislation, regulations, principles, practices and policies of financial administration budget formulation, justification, presentation and execution to prepare museum federal and trust fund budget submissions, oversee established control systems to monitor expenses, and provide oversight of other automated reporting systems.  

  3. Knowledge to plan and carry out management and operational studies within a museum/cultural institution setting to assess the needs, efficiency, and effectiveness of a rapidly evolving museum program.

  4. Knowledge to develop long and short-range plans for new program initiatives and/or facilities, including budgets, construction and equipping costs, maintenance, projected cash flow, and contracts.
  5. Interpersonal communication skills to establish and maintain effective working relationships with senior leadership of the Smithsonian, NMAI, representatives of other government agencies, private foundations, cultural institutions, and Native Peoples.   

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

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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