Museum Specialist (Art).

Smithsonian Institution; New York (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

The Smithsonian Institution seeks a Museum Specialist to manage European and American decorative arts collections, ensuring proper storage, handling, documentation, tracking, and preservation of objects across facilities.

You will support researchers and visiting scholars, handle loans and acquisitions records, and maintain databases as part of a team focused on research excellence and operational reliability.

Qualifications

• Selective Placement Factor: ability to read Italian, German, and/or French.
• Experience: 1 year specialized in a museum or similar institution using collections management software to track and locate objects.
• Resume must be no more than two pages and clearly map to responsibilities and specialized experience.

Responsibilities

• Perform collections management duties, including intake, processing, outgoing packages, and reporting concerns to supervisor.
• Assist visiting scholars with access, handling, and use of library resources; respond to inquiries about collections and practices.
• Prepare correspondence and create records for loans, acquisitions, and disposals; resolve minor issues with lenders or donors.
• Maintain departmental databases on packages, supplies, equipment, literature, space, etc., and assist in moving collections between facilities.

Skills

Read foreign languages

Tools

Collections management software

Job description

Duties

The Museum Specialist manages European and American decorative arts collections, ensuring the proper storage, handling, documentation, tracking, and preservation of collection objects.

In This Position, You Will

• Perform collections management duties, including the intake and processing of collection items, preparation of outgoing packages, receipt and unpacking of incoming shipments, and reporting of any concerns or irregularities to the supervisor.
• Assist visiting scholars with collection access, proper handling of collection materials, and use of library resources. Respond to inquiries from researchers and the general public regarding collection holdings, curatorial practices, and archival materials.
• Prepare correspondence and create records for loans, acquisitions, and disposals of collection items as directed. May resolve minor issues with lenders, borrowers, or donors to the collection.
• Maintain various departmental databases on packages, supplies, equipment, literature, space, etc. relevant to collections management. Assist in the logistics of moving parts of collections in and out of the museum campus, offsite storage facility, and other associated collections facilities.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Investigation
• May need to complete a Probationary Period
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.

Conditions of Employment

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

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

Qualifications

Selective Placement Factor: This position has a Selective Placement Factor, which is a skill, knowledge, ability, or other characteristic essential for the job's satisfactory performance. The Selective Placement Factor represents the minimum requirements for this position and is a prerequisite for appointment. Applicants who do not meet the Selective Placement Factor are ineligible for further consideration.

Selective Placement Factor: You must demonstrate the ability to read Italian, German, and/or French to support collection research, cataloging activities, exhibition development, and related duties.

Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 level in the Federal Service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as handling objects in a museum or similar cultural institution and using collections management software to enhance metadata and/or object location moves.

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.

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.

Or Education

1 full academic year of related graduate level education

or

superior academic achievement

Or a Combination

Education and experience may be combined to meet the basic qualifications. For a full explanation of this option please see the

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

• Flexible Spending Accounts -
• Health Insurance -
• Leave -
• Life Insurance -
• Long Term Care Insurance -
• Retirement Program -