Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Description

OPEN DATE: January 26, 2024

CLOSING DATE: February 19, 2024

POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite

SCHEDULE: Full Time

DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC 

Position sensitivity and risk: Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Open to all qualified applicants 

What are Trust Fund Positions?

Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program and may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care). 

 

Conditions of Employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated as low risk.
• Complete a Probationary Period
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
• The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.

OVERVIEW

The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. This position is in the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a national museum for the study and exhibition of African American history and culture.

The Assistant Director serves as a member of the curatorial staff with duties relating to the research, collections, interpretation, teamwork, and creative public engagement that generates publicly engaged scholarship, research, and preservation of collections; and the spirit of generous participation that nurtures collaboration in NMAAHC, buttresses history as a profession, and advances civic engagement at the national level.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

In this position, you will:

• specialize in the specialty program of Arts, which includes African American art history, contemporary art, visual art, photography, literary, pottery, sculpture, media art, design, performance art, and conservation, notably the Johnson Publishing Company collection and archive.
• research which typically results in publications and exhibitions that make authoritative and original contribution to the field. Collaborate with colleagues across division as well as with specialist in collections management, design, production, writing/editing, education, public programs and project management.
• contribute to the long-term health of the collection through strategic acquisition and deaccession, collections documentation within a shared data management system and the advancement of public access.
• serve as a senior representative in discussions about policy and direction and is frequently called upon to promote public awareness of the projects and their content through presentations (orally or in writing) to funders, media contacts; publications; and through presentations to nonacademic and academic groups.
• oversee the establishment of goals, articulation of priorities, development of schedules and checklists, and the assignment of tasks, through subordinate supervisors, to enhance the Museum’s work aligned with its strategic pillars.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Strong candidates will have most or all of the following: 

• Experience leading curatorial staff.
• Experience conducting research in the field of arts (e.g., African American art history, contemporary art, visual art, photography, literary, pottery, sculpture, media art, design, performance art, and conservation).
• Experience responding to queries relating to research, collections, exhibitions, and public outreach.
• Experience contributing to long-term health of collections through strategic acquisitions; and 
• Experience developing and implementing strategic collections plans.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience:

• Six to eight years of curatorial experience. 
• PhD degree in art history or a related field.
• Three or more years of experience supervising curatorial staff.

Applicants, who wish to qualify based on education completed outside the United States, must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.

 

Any false statement in your application may result in your application being rejected and may also result in termination after employment begins.

The Smithsonian Institution values and seeks a diverse workforce. Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."

 
Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.

What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.

 

Relocation expenses are not paid.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact [email protected] . Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.

 

The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer . We believe that a workforce comprising a variety of educational, cultural, and experiential backgrounds support and enhance our daily work life and contribute to the richness of our exhibitions and programs. See Smithsonian EEO program information:

Job Tags

Full time, Work experience placement, Relocation, Flexible hours,

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