Museum Specialist (Collection Processing Unit) - IS-1016-07

Smithsonian Institution; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Smithsonian Institution in Chantilly, VA is seeking a Museum Specialist (Collection Processing Unit) to support packing, handling, storage, and transport of National Collection artifacts. The role leads project teams of museum technicians to ensure proper stewardship and preservation in line with museum standards.

Eligibility requires either specialized experience or graduate-level education related to the field, with additional requirements such as a Class A CDL within nine months and

Qualifications

• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Class A Commercial Driver's License within nine (9) months of hire.
• Must successfully pass and comply with all required drug testing procedures.
• To qualify for the IS-07 based on experience, applicants must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the IS/GS-05 grade level. Qualifying experience must include:
• Experience handling large (such as 20’ x 10’ in size) delicate and valuable artifacts, including proper techniques for packing, unpacking, and physically moving objects.
• Experience cataloging, documentation, and inventory management.
• Experience planning and executing artifact transportation locally.
• To qualify for the IS-07 based on education alone, applicants must possess at least one full academic year of graduate-level education from an accredited college or university in a field directly related to the position, or meet the requirements for Superior Academic Achievement (SAA).
• Superior Academic Achievement may be demonstrated through one of the following:
• Class Standing: Ranking in the upper one-third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision (such as the College of Liberal Arts or School of Business Administration), based on completed coursework.
• Grade-Point Average (GPA): A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale ("B" average or better), as reflected on official transcripts, based on all completed coursework, four years of education, or coursework completed during the final two years of the curriculum; or
• A GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale ("B+" average) in the major field of study, or in the courses required for the major completed during the final two years of the curriculum.
• Honor Society Membership: Election to a national scholastic honor society recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies.

Responsibilities

• Perform tasks of a technical nature in support of collections management. Works with a crew of museum technicians and specialists that are responsible for the packing, handling, moving, transporting, storing, and monitoring of artifacts, often serving as team leader for such projects.
• Routinely uses The Museum System to create artifact records, add information to records, and coordinate with Curatorial Departments to keep records up to date.
• Disassemble, assemble, load, unload, secure, crate, or cradle artifacts, designing cradles, dollies, and supports for safe handling, movement, and storage.
• Operate trucks, tractor-trailers, hoists, forklifts and similar equipment during artifact handling operations.

Job description

Museum Specialist (Collection Processing Unit) - IS-1016-07

Application Deadline: 25 August 2026

Department: National Air and Space Museum

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Chantilly, VA

Reporting To: Supervisory Museum Specialist

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

Description

OPEN DATE: August 12, 2026

CLOSING DATE: August 25, 2026

POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite

SCHEDULE: Full Time

DUTY LOCATION: Chantilly, VA

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.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Class A Commercial Driver's License within nine (9) months of hire.
• Must successfully pass and comply with all required drug testing procedures.

OVERVIEW

This position is located in the Collections Processing Unit (CPU), National Air and Space Museum (NASM) on the National Mall (NMB), and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (UHC) in Chantilly, VA and the Paul E. Garber Restoration Facility in Suitland, MD which is responsible for properly protecting the National Collections of Aeronautics and Space Artifacts in perpetuity, guaranteeing intellectual as well as physical control over those collections.

The purpose of this position is to support the handling, packing, storage, transportation, maintenance, and preservation of artifacts within the National Collection. The incumbent serves as a skilled member of the unit and as a project team lead, coordinating and directing the work of lower-graded museum technicians and specialists engaged in the handling, storage, shipment, maintenance, preservation, and exhibition of National Collection artifacts. The position helps ensure the proper stewardship, care, and accessibility of collection items in accordance with established museum standards and preservation practices.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform tasks of a technical nature in support of collections management. Works with a crew of museum technicians and specialists that are responsible for the packing, handling, moving, transporting, storing, and monitoring of artifacts such as airplanes, helicopters, aircraft engines, missiles, cannons, guns, spacecraft, satellites, spacesuits, uniforms, art, and other related aeronautical and space objects, many times serving as the team leader for such projects.
• Routinely makes use of the museum’s computerized collections information system, The Museum System. This includes creating specific artifact records, adding information to those record, and working with the Curatorial Departments and other units of the Collections Department to keep records up to date.
• Disassemble, assemble, load, unload, secure, crate, or cradle aforementioned types of artifacts. These tasks require the incumbent to design and construction cradles, dollies, and other supports necessary to ensure safe handling, movement, and storage of the artifacts. Performs all types of artifact handling operations, including de/installations, which require the operation of trucks, tractor-trailers, hoists, forklifts and similar equipment.
• Articulate and communicate to the team the assignment, project, problem to be solved, actionable events, milestones, and/or issues under review, and deadlines and time frames for completion.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Must be able to obtain and maintain a Class A Commercial Driver's License within nine (9) months of hire.

Must successfully pass and comply with all required drug testing procedures.

To qualify for the IS-07 based on experience, applicants must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the IS/GS-05 grade level. Qualifying experience must include:

• Experience handling large (such as 20’ x 10’ in size) delicate and valuable artifacts, including proper techniques for packing, unpacking, and physically moving objects.
• Experience cataloging, documentation, and inventory management.
• Experience planning and executing artifact transportation locally.

To qualify for the IS-07 based on education alone, applicants must possess at least one full academic year of graduate-level education from an accredited college or university in a field directly related to the position, or meet the requirements for Superior Academic Achievement (SAA).

Superior Academic Achievement may be demonstrated through one of the following:

1. Class Standing: Ranking in the upper one-third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision (such as the College of Liberal Arts or School of Business Administration), based on completed coursework.
2. Grade-Point Average (GPA):
   • A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale ("B" average or better), as reflected on official transcripts, based on all completed coursework, four years of education, or coursework completed during the final two years of the curriculum; or
   • A GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale ("B+" average or better) in the major field of study, or in the courses required for the major completed during the final two years of the curriculum.
3. Honor Society Membership: Election to a national scholastic honor society recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies.

Applicants may also qualify through a combination of specialized experience and graduate-level education that together meet the qualification requirements. All qualifying education and experience must be fully documented in the applicant's resume and supported by transcripts submitted with the application.

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 [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