Editor, IS-1082-09
Smithsonian Institution
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Asian Art seeks an Editor to ensure quality, accuracy, and sensitivity across all printed and digital text produced by the museum. This full-time, trust fund role is based in Washington, DC, with a compensation range aligned to federal patterns.
The Editor will translate complex scholarly material into clear, inviting copy for diverse audiences, collaborate with core teams, and help develop and maintain voice and style guidelines across
Qualifications
- Exceptional English-language writing and editing skills with strong grammar and style.
- Familiarity with Chicago Manual of Style and editorial workflows.
- Ability to translate complex scholarly material into clear public-facing copy.
- Strong research skills and ability to work with diverse stakeholders.
Responsibilities
- Reviewing, proofreading, and editing all written content for accuracy and consistency.
- Develop and maintain institutional and project-specific style guides.
- Collaborate with editors, writers, designers, curators, and stakeholders across the museum.
- Identify opportunities for content improvements and platform-specific adjustments.
- Stay up to date with industry trends and best practices in editing and museum interpretation.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Application Deadline: 31 August 2026
Department: National Museum of Asian Art
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Washington, DC
Reporting To: Head of Content
Compensation: $70,623 - $82,396 / year
OPEN DATE: July 31, 2026
CLOSING DATE: August 31, 2026
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC
Position sensitivity and risk: Non sensitive / Low risk
Open to all qualified applicants
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, which 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).
- Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
- 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.
About the National Museum of Asian Art The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art opened in 1923 as America’s first national art museum and the first Asian art museum in the United States. It now stewards on of the world’s most important collections of Asian art, with works dating from antiquity to the present. The museum also hosts an unparalleled collection of 19th- and early 20th-century American art.
Through an ambitious program of collecting, conservation, exhibitions, programming and research, both onsite and online, the museum serves as a global and national resource for understanding the arts and cultures of Asia and their interaction with America, past and present. By presenting the arts and cultures of Asia in their extraordinary richness, the museum furthers cross-cultural understanding and aims to exemplify foundational ideals of curiosity, creativity and respect.
Located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the museum is free and open 364 days a year (closed Dec. 25). The Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum, education and research complex and welcomes millions of visitors yearly. For more information about the National Museum of Asian Art, visit asia.si.edu
The Opportunity
NMAA is seeking a keen-eyed and thorough Editor to join the Editorial Team embedded within our Brand Engagement and Communications Department. Your role will support ensuring quality, consistency, accuracy, and sensitivity across all printed and digital text produced by the museum, which might include publications (both print and digital), in-gallery text, web copy, blog posts, signage, newsletters, brochures, flyers, advertisements, reports, internal communications, digital media projects, etc. You will also work closely as part of core teams of stakeholders to develop and maintain platform- and project-specific voice and style guidelines.
The successful candidate will be self-motivated, detail-oriented, and curious. They will be confident translating complex information (including academic research material) into clear and inviting copy for a variety of audiences, balancing cultural and political sensitivities, conducting independent research as needed, and reconciling the priorities of different stakeholders. They will be a team player who excels in a deadline-driven, collaborative team environment and who enjoys the challenge of working on multiple projects simultaneously.
Reviewing, proof-reading, and/or substantively editing all written content in support of the museum’s various activities and initiatives; conducting subject matter research as needed to ensure error-free content; identifying opportunities to adjust existing content for different platforms, formats, and audiences as needed; developing and maintaining institutional and project-specific style guides; and other duties as assigned.
- Work closely with other editors, writers, designers, content strategists, curators, and other key stakeholders around the museum
- Contribute to establishing and maintaining guidelines to promote consistency and coherence across all of our printed and digital content
- Identify opportunities for content improvements
- Build and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues across the NMAA and at central Smithsonian
- Stay up to date with industry trends and best practices in editing and museum interpretation
To qualify for the IS-09 level, applicants must meet one of the following:
Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the IS/GS-07 level in the Federal service, or comparable experience, that demonstrates the ability to perform the work of the position. Specialized experience includes experience assisting with editorial processes, such as reviewing manuscripts or written materials for grammar, clarity, style, consistency, and accuracy; proofreading or copyediting publications, reports, web content, or other written materials; coordinating editorial workflows, deadlines, or author/reviewer communications; preparing or maintaining publication files; and supporting production of print or digital content.
Education: Two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master’s degree, or a master’s or equivalent graduate degree, in a field related to the position, such as English, journalism, communications, publishing, art history, museum studies, humanities, or another field that provided the writing, editing, research and communication skills needed to perform the work.
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of graduate education and specialized experience may be used to meet the qualification requirement.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:
- Exceptional English-language writing and editing skills, including a strong grasp of style and grammar
- Fluency with the principles of editing and proofreading, including proofreader’s marks, commenting, and track changes functions
- Understanding of the different types of editorial work (e.g. copyediting, content editing, proofreading, etc.)
- Familiarity with Chicago Manual of Style standards
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams)
- Attention to detail
- Strong research skills
- Ability to work independently, take initiative, and manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
- Ability to interact with stakeholders tactfully, persuasively, and productively
- Ability to respond to constructive criticism and incorporate feedback
- Professional demeanor and collegiality
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Preferred:
- Experience editing art historical content, whether through formal education or professional experience
- Experience working for a large non-profit organization and/or in the cultural sector
- General understanding of AP and MLA style standards
- Familiarity with accessibility best practices
- Familiarity with collaborative task management software (i.e. Asana, Trello, Basecamp)
- Passion for art and culture, particularly as related to the collections of the National Museum of Asian Art
- Reading and writing proficiency in one or more foreign languages
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 rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.
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.
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact nmaa-hr@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.
To review The Smithsonian's EEO program information, please click the following: https://www.si.edu/oeo
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