Museum Specialist (Collection Processing Unit) - IS-1016-09

Smithsonian Institution; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 71,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum seeks a Museum Specialist (Collection Processing Unit) to support care, handling, packing, storage, and preservation of artifacts at NASM facilities including Chantilly, VA.

The incumbent serves as a skilled technical team member and project lead, coordinating and directing museum technicians and specialists involved in handling, transport, and exhibition of National Collection artifacts.

Qualifications

• At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to IS/GS-07.
• Must obtain and maintain a Class A Commercial Driver's License within nine months.
• Experience handling artifacts and coordinating transportation/packing for large objects.

Responsibilities

• Lead a crew of museum technicians and specialists in packing, handling, moving, transporting, storing, and monitoring artifacts.
• Use The Museum System to create and update artifact records and coordinate with Curatorial Depts.
• Design and construct cradles, dollies, and supports to ensure safe handling and storage of artifacts.
• Communicate assignments, milestones, and deadlines to the team.

Skills

Artifact handling

Project coordination

Team leadership

Education

Master's degree or two years graduate study related to the position

Tools

The Museum System (TMS)

Crating systems

Job description

Museum Specialist (Collection Processing Unit) - IS-1016-09

Application Deadline: 25 August 2026

Department: National Air and Space Museum

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Chantilly, VA

Reporting To: Supervisory Museum Specialist

Compensation: $70,623 - $80,041 / 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 care, handling, packing, storage, shipment, maintenance, and preservation of artifacts within the National Collection. The incumbent serves as both a skilled technical member of the unit and a project team lead, coordinating and directing the work of lower-graded museum technicians and specialists involved in the handling, storage, transportation, maintenance, preservation, and exhibition of National Collection artifacts. The position ensures that all collection management activities are carried out in accordance with established museum standards, preservation requirements, and organizational priorities.

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-09 based on experience, applicants must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the IS/GS-07 grade level. Qualifying experience must include:

• Experience handling artifacts, large (such as 20' x 10' in size) including techniques for packing, unpacking, and physically moving objects in regards to understanding appropriate environmental conditions, security protocols, and preventive conservation measures to ensure the safety and preservation of the artifacts during handling and transportation.
• Experience in planning and executing artifact transportation, both locally and internationally in regards to packing materials and methods, customs regulations, insurance requirements, and logistics coordination.
• Experience using specialized handling equipment, such as crating systems, lifters, or climate-controlled containers is required.

To qualify for the IS-09 based on education alone, applicants must possess two full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree, or a master's or equivalent graduate degree, from an accredited college or university in a field directly related to the position. 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."

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