Supervisory Museum Specialist (Natural Science)

Full Job Description

The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo.

The National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) is a major bureau of the Smithsonian Institution that is responsible for the acquisition, curation, and preservation of collections of objects and specimens of natural history within the specialization of botany for this position.

More than one selection may be made from this announcement. Experience related to the operation or management of a museum or similar collection of valuable objects.

Examples of qualifying specialized experience include collections management, registration, cataloging, research, preservation, restoration, or conservation of collections of museum material, or other experience related to the position to be filled.

Most positions require a particular subject-matter specialization, e.g., aeronautics, anthropology, art, geology, history, natural science, technology, biology, or zoology.

In addition to the basic qualification requirement above: Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of full-time experience at the GS-12 grade level in the Federal Service or comparable pay band system that is close or similar to the operation or management of a museum or similar collection of valuable objects.

For this position specialized experience is defined as experience in plant systematics and herbarium collections in a museum, university or public science center including management and supervision of planning, collections care and preservation, enhancing access, oversight of collection digitization projects and external transactions, and working with scholars and participation in outreach activities.

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. Major Duties:

The Supervisory Museum Specialist (Natural Science) will manage and direct the United States National Herbarium collections, ensures they are properly acquired, documented, prepared, and stored, and that adequate access is provided to all collections by both staff and visitors to the herbarium.

In this position, you will: Supervise the work of Collections Management staff, and recruit oversee contractors, volunteers and interns on collections improvement projects.

Manage and direct the United States National Herbarium collections, ensuring they are properly acquired, documented, prepared, and stored.

Coordinate all transactions including all acquisitions, loans, exchanges, transfers, and disposals.

Serve on the Department, Museum, and outside committees as required, provide lectures to outside groups on collections management and stewardship, and provide tours of the collections for donors, VIPs and others.

Participate with scientific staff in planning the Department's exhibit/outreach program by providing specimens, maps, or scientific information.