Management Support Assistant, IS-0303-7

Smithsonian Institution; Front Royal (VA); On-site; USD 49,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

The Smithsonian Institution in Front Royal, VA seeks a Management Support Assistant (IS-0303-7) to provide a range of administrative and budget-related support for NZCBI operations. This full-time role covers procurement, travel, financial reconciliations, and records management as part of center operations.

Open to qualified applicants; appointment is temporary not to exceed two years with funding. Expect non-sensitive to moderate risk duties in a dynamic museum research environment.

Qualifications

• One year of specialized experience equivalent to the IS-5 level in basic accounting and expense tracking.
• Experience with procurement procedures, purchase orders, and bid summaries.
• Experience handling complex domestic travel arrangements and related expenses.
• Experience in office environments, inquiries, correspondence, and filing systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide programmatic, procurement, financial reconciliations and travel support for the center.
• Assist in developing and improving work methods, procedures, and controls.
• Oversee logistics, property management, and HR-related actions as needed.
• Support administration and record-keeping for unit operations.

Skills

Accounting basics

Procurement procedures

Travel management

Office administration

Job description

Management Support Assistant, IS-0303-7

Application Deadline: 21 September 2026

Department: National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Front Royal, VA

Compensation: $57,736 / year

Description

OPEN DATE: September 8, 2026

CLOSING DATE: September 21, 2026 (This job will close once 100 applications are received which may be sooner than the closing date.)

POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Temporary, not to exceed two years. May be extended based on funds availability.

SCHEDULE: Full-Time

DUTY LOCATION: Front Royal, VA Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Moderate Risk

Who May Apply:

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 is a unique complex of 21 museums and galleries, the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute and nine research centers. The Smithsonian is a national and world treasure and is dedicated to its founding mission, “the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute plays a leading role in the Smithsonian’s global efforts to save wildlife species from extinction and train future generations of conservationists.

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) is a leader in the conservation, care, exhibition, and research of wildlife and habitats. NZCBI’s employees in the nation’s capital, Virginia, and worldwide and as part of the Smithsonian make it prominent in national and international affairs involving conservation, zoos, wildlife, public outreach, and biological research.

This position is located at NZCBI Front Royal, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA 22630.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The incumbent serves as administrative contact and is expected to provide a range of office requests in support of center operations. These requests include programmatic support, procurement, financial reconciliations and oversight, logistics, property management, travel orders, record keeping, initiating HR actions and other operational needs associated with a unit and/or program. The incumbent assists in developing, analyzing, evaluating, advising on, and improving the effectiveness of work methods and procedures, organization, manpower utilization, distribution of work assignments, delegations of authority (based on the individual office), management controls, information and documentation systems, and other similar functions of management.

In this position, you will conduct the following duties and responsibilities:

• Fund management and budget administrative support.
• Procurement Support.
• Travel Support.
• Administrative Support.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE

You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the IS-5 level that is close or similar to the work of this job. Incumbents must possess:

1. Knowledge of basic accounting principles and the application/techniques of tracking income and expenditures, tracking invoices, and ensuring accurate expense coding.
2. Experience in procurement procedures and policies for preparing purchase orders, tracking inventory, reviewing statements of work, and summarizing bid proposals.
3. Experience in complex domestic and foreign travel, by preparing travel authorizations and vouchers, requesting travel cards, and monitoring of expenses and cash advances.
4. Experience in office environments responding to inquiries, correspondence, and maintaining a filing system.

Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."

What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume and cover letter 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 [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. 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: https://www.si.edu/oeesd.