Clarification from the agency

This position is open to all U.S. Citizens or U.S. Nationals. Note: Federal employees with permanent status or individuals eligible for special appointing authorities may also apply to Job Announcement #26R-SNJ-314435-MPA-NMAH. More than one selection may be made from this announcement.

The Supervisory Conservator supervises and manages a professional team of conservators who hold expertise in areas such as paper, objects, costumes, and textiles. The Supervisory Conservator is responsible for the comprehensive administration of the conservation laboratories. 

In this position, you will:

• Perform a full range of technical examinations of objects to identify their structure and components; determine their condition as well as the appropriate conservation treatment procedures to be performed; and recommend appropriate preventative conservation measures.
• Perform management and supervisory responsibilities by developing performance plans, identifying opportunities for employee growth and development, and cultivating skills that support the stabilization, care, and display of museum objects.
• Design and implement the conservation program, recommending policies for collections care based on accepted museum and collection management standards.
• Develop and propose annual budgets for the conservation laboratories and oversee procurement activities and contract administration in support of laboratory operations.

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

• Position duties require physical exertion, including prolonged standing, repetitive movement, manual dexterity, and precise, tremor free work under a microscope.
• Work involves hazardous laboratory materials and requires the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and compliance with safety training and protocols.

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 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 the coordination and organization of multiple conservation projects in a museum or cultural institution; performing conservation analysis and treatment on a wide variety of historic objects; and overseeing the work of others including setting priorities, setting schedules, and assigning and reviewing work.

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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applicants for this position may be evaluated in multiple stages. The first stage is an evaluation of your responses to the online multiple-choice questions that assess your experience, education, and/or training for the job-related competencies below:

• Skill in treating a wide variety of objects through scientific and technical material analysis, interpreting analytical data, and applying appropriate methods to characterize object media.
• Skill in supervising an interdisciplinary team to foster collaboration.
• Knowledge of the theories, practices, and techniques of historical object conservation in order to develop and maintain policy and procedures for the operation of a museum laboratory program.
• Knowledge of administrative and management functions, including budgeting, procurement, contracting, and program oversight.

Applicants who meet or exceed minimum qualifications will be assigned to one of three category groups based on job-related criteria:

• Best Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and excels in most of the job related competencies above.
• Better Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and satisfies most of the job related competencies above.
• Good Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements, but does not satisfy most of the job related competencies above to a substantive degree.

This category rating process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three", but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Category) provided no preference eligible in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied. Preference eligibles who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher. Applicants who have not submitted a resume in the USAjobs system and/or have not answered all of the vacancy questions will not be considered for this position.

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