Exhibit Specialist (Mobile Equipment), IS-1010-07

Smithsonian Institution; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental & Vision insurance

Transit benefits

403b Retirement Plan

Job summary

Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC seeks an Exhibit Specialist (Mobile Equipment) to manage the care, movement, and display of artifacts, using lifts and equipment in a dynamic conservation environment.

The role requires safety-focused operation of lift equipment, coordination with exhibit teams, and documentation of daily activities. Travel to NASM locations is possible; this Trust Fund position is full-time and indefinitive.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience operating lift equipment and performing safety inspections.
• Experience with museum collections or sensitive artifacts is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Operate and supervise use of 20-ft to 80-ft lifts and related machinery.
• Assist with maintenance, inspection, and stocking of equipment and tools.
• Provide lift operation support for NASM divisions and Smithsonian Enterprises.
• Ensure cleanliness of artifacts and exhibit spaces; maintain exhibit enclosures.
• Perform routine exhibit maintenance and cleaning; assist in moving large artifacts and gallery setup.

Skills

Lift equipment operation

Safety inspections

Documentation & reporting

Team collaboration

Operational knowledge of maintenance

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Forklifts

Aerial lifts

Scissor lifts

Job description

Exhibit Specialist (Mobile Equipment), IS-1010-07

Application Deadline: 17 September 2026

Department: National Air and Space Museum

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Washington, DC

Reporting To: Supervisory Exhibits Specialist

Compensation: $57,736 - $65,435 / year

Description

OPEN DATE: August 28, 2026

CLOSING DATE: September 17, 2026

POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite

SCHEDULE: Full Time

DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC (Though travel is infrequent, the selected applicant must be willing and able to travel, as needed, to other NASM locations, including Chantilly, Virginia, and Suitland, Maryland.)

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, 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).

Conditions of Employment

• 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.

OVERVIEW

The Smithsonian Institution, Undersecretary for Science & Research, National Air and Space Museum (NASM), collects, preserves, studies, and exhibits artifacts, archival materials and works of art related to the history, culture and science of aviation and spaceflight and the study of the universe. Its research and outreach activities serve all audiences, within and beyond its walls. The Museum commemorates the past and is committed to educating and inspiring people to foster appreciation for the importance of flight to humanity.

NASM is administered as one Museum with multiple locations: The National Mall building, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia and the Garber Facility in Suitland Maryland. NASM provides access to the nation's aviation and space flight history to an average of 7-9 million on-site visitors from around the world each year, making it one of the most visited museums in the world. In addition, NASM draws tens of millions of virtual visitors to its website and broadcast, digital applications and webcast educational programming.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The position serves as an Exhibit Specialist, IS-1010-07, within the Department of Conservation, Research, and Curatorial Affairs Directorate at the National Air and Space Museum. The Conservation Unit is responsible for the care, preservation, and stewardship of the Museum’s collections and supports the rehabilitation, maintenance, and enhancement of exhibits and public spaces. The position performs the following major duties: The successful candidate will work closely with Exhibit Specialists, Conservators, exhibition teams, and Facilities staff to support the care, handling, display, and movement of artifacts and related materials while participating in an active schedule of cleaning, exhibition maintenance, and collections movement activities. The selected candidate must be self-motivated and capable of working effectively both independently and as part of a team. Strong verbal and written communication skills are required to document daily work activities, prepare reports, and convey technical information clearly. Knowledge of the operation and maintenance of various types of lift equipment, safe work practices, and material handling techniques is essential.

Major Duties include:

• The operation of electric, gasoline, propane or diesel-powered machinery such as 20-foot one-man lifts, 40 and 80-foot manlifts,27,40 and 60-foot scissor lifts, aerial work platforms and forklifts.
• Assists with the maintenance and routine inspection of equipment, supplies, and tools ensuring they are adequately stored, secured, and appropriately stocked to support operations.
• Provides lift operation support for other NASM Divisions, including the Office of Facilities, Maintenance and Reliability activities involving mechanical, electrical and plumbing maintenance and for Smithsonian Enterprises.
• Responsible for ensuring the cleanliness of the artifacts on display and for the areas within artifact enclosures, including exhibit cases and other exhibitory spaces within the National Mall Building.
• Performs routine exhibitory maintenance and cleaning for various exhibits throughout the institution. Supports or participates in cleaning institutional spaces and collections that are in elevated areas above the institution floor or are considered sensitive artifacts within the collections.
• Assists in the removal of artifacts and objects from exhibits as requested, including the moving and removal of large artifacts such as aircraft, spacecraft and rockets and assists in the breakdown and setting up of gallery displays and removing artifacts and exhibits.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

To qualify for this position, applicants must possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university and/or at least three to five years of directly related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience operating a variety of lift equipment, conducting routine safety and operational inspections, and handling, moving, and cleaning large, complex, and delicate objects. Experience working with museum collections, artifacts, or similarly sensitive materials is highly desirable.

The selected candidate must possess or be able to obtain and maintain a valid driver's license, as well as any certifications required to operate equipment and motorized vehicles associated with the duties of the position.

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."

Relocation expenses are not paid.

The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact [e-mail]. 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