Museum Specialist - (Collections Processing Unit), IS-1016-09

Smithsonian Institution; Suitland (MD); On-site; USD 71,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum seeks a Museum Specialist to support handling, packing, storage, shipping, and preservation of iconic artifacts. The role includes leading teams, coordinating with curators, and ensuring safe movement of objects across NASM sites in DC, Chantilly, and Suitland.

The position is a Trust Fund, Indefinite appointment, Full Time, requiring travel as needed and a commitment to high museum standards. NASM-HR handles applications.

Qualifications

• Experience handling artifacts and moving objects with care and preventive conservation in mind.
• Ability to plan and execute artifact transportation locally and internationally.
• Experience using crating systems or climate-controlled containers for fragile objects.

Responsibilities

• Support handling, packing, storage, shipping, maintenance, and preservation of artifacts.
• Lead a team of museum technicians on projects involving movement and exhibition.
• Coordinate with Collections and Curatorial to keep artifact records up to date.
• Assist in exhibit case installations and related tasks as required.

Skills

Artifact handling

Transportation planning

Handling equipment

Education

Master's degree or higher

Tools

Crating systems

Lifters

Climate-controlled containers

Job description

Department: National Air and Space Museum

Location: Washington, DC

Compensation: $70,623 - $80,041 / year

Application Deadline: 28 October 2026

Department: National Air and Space Museum

Location: Washington, DC

Compensation: $70,623 - $80,041 / year

Description

OPEN DATE: October 21, 2026

CLOSING DATE: October 28,2026

POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite

SCHEDULE: Full Time

DUTY LOCATION: Suitland, MD *

The selected applicant must be available to travel between all NASM sites, including locations in Washington, DC, and Chantilly, Virginia, as needed*

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

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.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The purpose of this position is to support the handling, packing, storage, shipping, maintenance, and preservation of artifacts within the National Collections. The position serves as both a skilled 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 collection artifacts.

The Museum Specialist will work independently and as part of a team, the incumbent provides technical expertise and leadership to ensure the safe care, movement, and display of artifacts in accordance with established museum standards and best practices.

Additionally, approximately one day per pay period is dedicated to supporting the Exhibit Productions Department with exhibit case installations, maintenance, and other exhibition-related activities:

• 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, 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.
• Responsible for exhibit lighting to include maintaining and/or replacing lighting components, installing new lighting, and focusing lighting in new exhibits.
• Assists in removal of artifacts and objects from exhibits including large artifacts such as aircraft, spacecraft, and rockets. Assists in breakdown and set up of gallery displays.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to the IS/GS-07 level. Qualifying experience must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of the position and 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.

OR

To qualify for the IS-09 based on education alone, applicants must have successfully completed two full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree, or possess a master's or equivalent graduate degree, directly related to 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".

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