APPOINTMENT TYPE: Temporary Not to Exceed Two (2) Years
SCHEDULE: Part-Time (30 Hours Per Week)
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.
Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.
The selected applicant will be required to provide copies of their transcripts.
Overview
This position is located in the Smithsonian Institution, Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM), Curatorial Office. The purpose of the position is to carry out assigned and approved projects in the four areas of curation: research, exhibits, development & management of collections and public service and to initiate and propose related projects for review by the Senior Curator and senior staff.
Incumbent must have a solid grounding within the broad field of American art but will specialize in one or more areas within that field. Specializations include, but are not limited to, topics such as: sculpture, photography, modern or contemporary art, folk art, 19th or 20th century art, African American art, Latinx, decorative arts and crafts, etc. This document describes only the overall requirement for knowledge of American art; individual specializations will be noted in each employee's performance plan.
Duties And Responsibilities
The ideal candidate will demonstrate scholarly excellence and promise in addition to a strong interest in a museum career. This position is open to all U.S. Citizens or U.S. Nationals. Incumbent must have a solid grounding within the broad field of American art with knowledge of art of the late eighteenth, nineteenth, and early twentieth century, but will specialize in one or more areas within that field. The preferred areas of specialization include, but are not limited to the arts of the American Shakers and early American folk art.
Conducts research on the permanent collection to help establish a complete database on each work.
Develops an in-depth understanding of the objects and their place in American art in a wide context.
Reviews works in regard to loan requests including examining collections for conditions requiring conservation and performs cataloging of collections.
Works with Senior Curator and senior staff to develop exhibition topics.
Independently directs all aspects of the project under supervision of Senior Curator.
May serve as SAAM liaison to guest curators, lenders, other offices and Bureaus and outside institutions for the purpose of coordinating the preparation, staging and touring of exhibitions.
Responsible for completeness and accuracy of exhibition graphics and wall text.
Presents gallery talks and lectures related to the museum collections. Responds to routine inquiries from the public.
As part of application packages, interested applicants are requested to provide:
A cover letter outlining the candidate's interest in the fellowship,
A statement of 750 to 1,000 words that describes the applicant's area of research and how it relates to one of the two areas of curatorial focus outlined above,
A published paper or other writing sample, and
Curriculum vitae with two references.
Qualification Requirements
To qualify for this position, applicants must possess a degree in museum work, or in an applicable subject-matter field; combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major, as shown in above, plus appropriate experience or additional education; or four years of experience that provided knowledge comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of the 4-year course of study as shown above.
The ideal candidate for this position has experience and/or background in art history museum work, or in an applicable subject-matter field.
The selected applicant will be required to provide copies of their transcripts.
Experience required for this position is as follows:
Knowledge in the field of American art history and its non-American sources including specializing in one or more areas of expertise within that field.
Knowledge of the principles and methods of art historical research.
Knowledge of the organization and preparation of exhibitions and publications.
Knowledge of museum collections, activities, and procedures.
Knowledge of the basics of museum practices and understanding the interrelationships between museum offices and responsibilities.
Ability to write clearly including grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure should require little or no editing.
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 weinwurmd@si.edu. 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: www.si.edu/oeema.
Seniority level
Not Applicable
Employment type
Part-time
Job function
Design, Art/Creative, and Information Technology
Industries
Museums, Historical Sites, and Zoos
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Smithsonian Institution by 2x