Clarification from the agency

This Merit Promotion position is open to Current Federal Employees and Former Federal Employees with permanent status or reinstatement eligibility. Individuals who are eligible for a special appointing authority may also apply such as Individuals with Disabilities (Schedule A), former Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, and Vista volunteers; certain Military Spouses, or individuals eligible under various programs for Veterans (VRA, VEOA, 30% disabled).

The Office of Collections oversees the stewardship of NMAH’s national collection, ensuring physical, legal, and inventory control. The position is physically located in the Objects Processing Facility (OPF). The primary purpose of the position is to oversee, preserve, and process thousands of incoming and outgoing artifacts. This includes shipping, object movement, handling, monitoring the environment, ensuring adequate security, maintenance of inventory, and proper storage

In this position, you will :

• With guidance from supervisor, takes responsibility for the care and handling of museum objects in OPF custody.

• Receives, records, unpacks, and places objects in storage units prior to distribution to appropriate curatorial custody.

• Processes outgoing containers for departure seeing that they are properly wrapped, addressed, weighed, treasured, and marked, and that documentation is in order in accordance with Office of the Registrar requirements and domestic and foreign shipping regulations.

• Creates entry records in collections information system, (e.g. Mimsy XG), for new incoming acquisitions.

• Uses most modern successful packaging methods and materials in placement of objects for maximum protection.

• Maintains close effective communications with Manager, OPF to discuss priorities and review problems; provides written and/or oral reports for review of Manager, OPF, Office of the Registrar, NMAH Directorate, and/or individual collections and curatorial staff.

• Monitors and alerts supervisor to regulate environmental controls; ensures that high levels of security and safety are adhered to.

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.

• Employee will be required to wear personal protective equipment, including steel toe safety shoes when moving heavy objects, ear and eye protection, and gloves for lifting heavy objects.
• Must be able to operate manual and mobile equipment.
• Employee will be required to obtain and maintain FAC-COR Level I Certification

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to operate manual and automated equipment. Must be able to work at heights of up to 6 feet from the floor from a ladder, personnel lift, or secure shelving. Must be able to walk, stand, bend, and reach for long periods of time, and work in constricted spaces.
• Must be able to work in a range of weather conditions outdoors in all seasons, encountering rain and snow, and a wide range of temperatures, 30 to 90 degrees F.
• Work is performed in the presence of dust, dirt, and low-grade radioactive and other potentially hazardous material that is present in antique collections (e.g., radium).

Qualifications

Experience: You qualify for this position if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal service or comparable pay band system. For this position specialized experience is defined as: 1) providing collections management work for a collection in a historical museum or cultural setting including managing and preserving collections; 2) using and maintaining collections information components of museum or cultural collections and museum or cultural conservation, using collection information system and database; and 3) assisting with research in support of historical museums or cultural’ s collections, exhibitions, and other museum related projects.

OR

You qualify with Education:  Master's or equivalent graduate degree;

OR   2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR LL.B. or J.D., if related

OR You may qualify by a combination of experience and education.       

For a full explanation of this option please see the Qualification Standards. 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.

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.

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. Knowledge of and significant skill in any kind of professional collections management techniques, sufficient to ensure the preservation and long-term safety and sustainability of museum collections.
   
   
2. Skill in the use of collections management systems, such as Mimsy XG, to manage Museum collections data.
   
   
3. Knowledge of safe handling, movement, storage, packing and unpacking procedures for a variety of fragile, valuable, and unique objects in order to safely examine, transport, and store museum objects.
   
   
4. Skill to use correct English grammar, punctuation, spelling; in order to communicate information (e.g. facts, ideas, or messages) in a succinct and organized manner; produce written information.
   
   
5. Knowledge of disaster preparation and response and recover policy and procedures, as they relate to life- safety, building, and collections.

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.

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities:  The following links contain information on the eligibility requirements to be considered under a noncompetitive appointing authority:

• Primary Appointing Authorities for Career and Career-Conditional Appointments
• Hiring Authorities for Veterans
• People with Disabilities