Museum Curator

Full Job Description

This position is located in Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Park, in the Resources Management Division. Open to the first 100 applicants or until 04/02/2026 whichever comes first.

All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration. Requirements Continued...

This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service.

In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized.

In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.

Upon completion of your probationary your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-04/02/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience.

For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 for each federal position listed as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of qualifying experience that you will be granted.

An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience.

For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience.

Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience.

For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

To qualify for the Museum Curator Series 1015 you must meet one of the following Basic Requirements by close of the announcement: 1.

DEGREE: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in a major such as Museum work; or in an applicable subject-matter field.

-OR- 2. COMBINATION of EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE: Courses equivalent to a major in museum work; or in an applicable subject-matter field, plus appropriate experience or additional education. -OR- 3.

EXPERIENCE: Four years of experience that provided knowledge comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of the 4-year course of study in museum work; or in an applicable subject-matter field.

In addition to the Basic Requirements listed above, to qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors).

This experience includes activities such as: Maintaining automated museum collections; implementing preservation techniques of artifacts and specimens from the field; cataloging museum objects; and assisting with the development of documentation for exhibits.

You must include hours per week worked.

-OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's equivalent graduate degree in museum work, or applicable subject-matter field.

You must include transcripts. -OR- COMBINATION of EXPERIENCE and EDUCATION: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above.

To compute this percentage, first divide the total months of qualifying experience by 12.

Then divide the number of completed graduate-level education semester hours of education (that are in excess of 18 semester hours) by 36.

Add the two percentages together; the total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.

NOTE: Only graduate-level education in excess of more than one-year may be used to qualify for this position. You must include a copy of your transcripts.

____________ In addition to the Basic Requirements listed above, to qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors).

This experience includes activities such as: Maintaining automated museum collections; advising on preservation techniques of artifacts and specimens from the field; authenticating museum objects; and developing documentation for exhibits.

You must include hours per week worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D degree or Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree in museum work, or applicable subject-matter field. You must include transcripts.

-OR- COMBINATION of EXPERIENCE and EDUCATION: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above.

To compute this percentage, first divide the total months of qualifying experience by 12.

Then divide the number of completed graduate-level education semester hours of education (that are in excess of 36 semester hours) by 54.

Add the two percentages together; the total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.

NOTE: Only graduate-level education in excess of more than two-years may be used to qualify for this position. You must include a copy of your transcripts.

Volunteer 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. Major Duties:

As a Museum Curator, you will perform the following duties: Monitors and prepares programs for use of the collections, including research, loans, reference services, enforcement of use policy, and evaluation of collection-related research requests.

Recommends, plans for, and executes collections research. Negotiates cooperative and interagency agreements.

Performs various administrative functions (e.g., seeing acquisition of needed objects, location of sources, ordering, etc.).

Catalogs objects, verifying the accuracy of information in collection records and files. Maintains automated collections management data using Service-wide systems.

Develops reports, provides interpretive and reference services. Analyzes inventory and monitoring data, using automated systems.

Advises on preservation techniques and the removal of artifacts and specimens from the field. Conducts research necessary to identify and/or authenticate museum objects.

Assists in the general visitor services program of the unit. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.