Assistant Registrar.

Smithsonian Institution

Washington (District of Columbia)

On-site

USD 70,000 - 90,000

Full time

18 hours ago

Be an early applicant

Get a reply from this employer

Your resume and cover letter, tailored to exactly what they’re hiring for.

Get past ATS filters

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Vacation and sick leave

Retirement program

Job summary

The Smithsonian Institution is seeking an Assistant Registrar to maintain records for the Museum's permanent collection and oversee loans, exhibits, and research interactions with the collection.

The role covers documentation, loan negotiations, packing logistics, and support for computerization planning to meet staff and public needs. Affects compliance with loan contracts and collection handling standards.

Qualifications

One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-11 in the Federal Service or comparable pay band system.
Specialized experience includes cataloging, negotiating terms of loans, managing and documenting the loan process, packing and shipping museum objects, and using a collections management system.

Responsibilities

Maintain documents and information regarding the artifact collection.
Manage domestic and international loans and ensure accountability of loaned objects.
Assist in computerization planning and systems enhancements for staff and public.
Provide object information to assist accession decisions by the Collections Committee and Director.
Prescribe packing materials and arrange shipping logistics with contract handlers.

Skills

Cataloging artifacts

Loan negotiations

Collections management system

Packing and shipping

Documentation

Job description

Duties

The Assistant Registrar generates and maintains records pertaining to the Museum's permanent collection and facilitates the interaction of people with the collection through the activities of loans, exhibits and research.

In This Position, You Will

Maintain documents and information regarding the artifact collection that are not more appropriately housed in the Museum’s Archives or curator’s files.
Manage domestic and international loans to and from the museum, and ensure the accountability of all NMAAHC collection objects under loan contract. Negotiate terms of loans, create, and sign loan contracts on behalf of the museum. Monitor compliance with contract terms and requirements.
Assist in the selection and implementation of cost-effective changes to the computer system to meet the needs of the staff and public. Assist in long and short range computerization planning.
Provide object information and documentation relating to the proposed accession to the Collections Committee and Director to assist them in their decision to follow through with or deny the accession.
Prescribe special packing materials and handling requirements in order to reduce the imminent risks of moving museum objects. Identify and select contract fine arts handlers and ensures the shipping logistics are made.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

Requires career/career-conditional status or eligibility.
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

Qualifications

You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal Service or comparable pay band system.

For this position specialized experience is defined as cataloging, controlling and documenting museum artifacts or objects; negotiating the terms of loans; managing and documenting the loan process; packing and shipping of museum objects; and utilizing a collections management system to catalog and track museum objects.

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.

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 the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying).

For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions viewable on

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.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

This position is included in the bargaining unit.

Recruitment Incentive

Recruitment incentive(s) may be authorized for this position. However, approval for incentives are contingent upon various availability. If authorized, certain incentives will require the incumbent to sign a service agreement to remain in the Federal government for a certain time period.

Note

This statement does not imply nor guarantee an incentive will be offered and paid.

Selections may be made for vacancies across the Smithsonian Institution (SI). By applying to this position, you agree to allow your application and other personal information to be shared with one or more SI hiring officials for employment consideration for same/similar positions within the location(s) identified in this announcement.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

The Smithsonian offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, vacation and sick leave, holidays, health/life insurance, accident insurance, and excellent retirement program options.

Please see Benefits at