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.

The Collections Specialist carries out collections management activities.  In this position, you will:

• be responsible for collections management functions that include preparing collections for long term housing, short- and long-distance transport, prepare for and submit truck run requests for objects moving between the museum's various facilities.
• disassemble, assemble, load, unload, secure, crate or cradle artifacts in preparation for storage, shipping, transportation or exhibition.  These tasks require the incumbent to construct cradles, dollies and other supports necessary to ensure safe handling, movement and storage of the artifacts.  These storage implements are often custom-made to hold objects of unique size, shape and structure.
• participate in integrated pest management program in storage locations, labs and galleries.
• be responsible for general collections storage housekeeping and maintains records that track environmental controls in collection storage.
• serve as the primary point of contact to all users of the collections, including SI staff, visitors, and colleagues around the world; communicates directly with specialists at SI and other institutions on issues related to collections management.  Collaborate with staff to conduct periodic inventories of the collection.
• design and implement procedures for physical care, conservation and transport of collection.

Conditions of employment

• Requires career/career-conditional status or eligibility.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
• Must have a valid State or District of Columbia drivers’ license.

Conditions of Employment

Must have a valid State, District of Columbia or U.S. Territories driver's license.  (Submit a copy with your application.)

Physical Requirements: Position requires lifting, stooping, walking, bending and climbing.  Work is indoors and outdoors, and in inclement weather.  Must be able to lift 40 pounds without assistance.

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

Basic Qualifications:  Experience related to the operation or management of a museum or similar collection of valuable objects. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include collections management, registration, cataloging, research, preservation, restoration, or conservation of collections of museum material, or other experience related to the position to be filled.  Most positions require a particular subject-matter specialization, e.g., aeronautics, anthropology, art, geology, history, natural science, technology, biology, or zoology.

In addition to the basic qualification requirement above:

Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 level in the Federal Service.  For this position, specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience implementing collections management policies and procedures; assisting in handling, moving, and storing small, medium or oversized objects; rehousing objects for long term storage; assisting in packing, installation, and de-installation for exhibition, and collections access support. 

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.

Or Education
Grade 7: One full year of graduate level education or Superior Academic Achievement may be substituted to meet the specialized experience requirement.

OR

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 (1016) and who are in a (Federal competitive 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).

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 procedures and methods used in the handling, storage, transport, care and preservation of museum collections, including the attendant record keeping.

2. Skill in managing small and medium or oversized objects including planning and execution for handling, rehousing, and support plans using rigging, forklifts, hoists and gantries.

3. Knowledge of integrated pest management.
4. Ability to monitor environmental controls (e.g., temperature and relative humidity).
5. Ability to communicate orally.
6. Ability to communicate in writing.

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.