This position is located at the National Museum of African American History & Culture (NMAAHC). The NMAAHC is a national museum for the study and exhibition of African American history and culture. It acquires, maintains and preserves objects which document social, cultural, political, military, technological and scientific developments in the U.S. related to the African American experience.
As Supervisory Museum Curator (Media/Visual Arts) works with the Director, Deputy Director, Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs, Supervisory Museum Curator of Arts, and other museum curators to acquire and process collection items for the Center for the Earl W. and Amanda Stafford Center for African American Media Arts (CAAMA), including:
- assisting curators and other museum departments/offices within the Museum with advice about sources for pertinent material, including auctions, private collections, public and educational programs and potential donors. Develops research agenda, considering mission and objectives related to film, video, photography, digital media.
- overseeing long-term development and maintenance of the collection of African American film, video, photography and digital media. Identifies and participates in long-term cultivation of donors and encourages the donation of appropriate objects or of funds for acquisition.
- initiating developing, and conducting research projects in the area of American and African American film, video, photograph and digital media.
- initiating and/or overseeing exhibition projects designed to maintain and promote scholarship proposing treatment of American and African American film, video, photography and digital media themes, writing the script and selecting objects.
- serving as an expect and advisor to colleagues, educational, institutions, research functions and other government agencies. and supervising staff.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- Pass Pre-employment Background Investigation
- May need to complete a Probationary Period
- Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer
- Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
- May be required to serve an 18-month probationary period for supervisors.
You must be fully vaccinated for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) with a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized or FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine.
OR
Have an approved Reasonable Accommodation granting an exemption from vaccine requirements. Please see additional information regarding reasonable accommodations below.
The Smithsonian Institution has a mandate requiring all employees (federal and trust), affiliated staff (including volunteers, interns, and fellows), and the contractors who work with us to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee’s duty location or work arrangement (e.g., onsite, telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination by November 22, 2021 or before appointment or onboarding with the Smithsonian Institution, if after November 22. The Smithsonian Institution will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required exemption from this requirement. This requirement applies to employees, affiliated staff, contractors who are working on-site, and those teleworking in whole or in part. Limited exemptions to the Smithsonian Institution’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate will be considered on a case-by-case basis for selected candidates who inform the Smithsonian that they cannot be vaccinated because of a disability, including certain medical conditions the Center for Disease Control (CDC) considers contraindications to the vaccine, or because of a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance. Additional information and instructions regarding Smithsonian’s COVID-19 mandate will be provided at the time of selection.
Qualifications
Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 level in the Federal Service or comparable pay band system. For this position specialized experience is defined as managing film, video, photography, and digital media in museum collections, exhibitions, preservation, publications, and research; consulting and advising on film, video, photography, and digital media content; monitoring acquisition processes.
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.
Education
Basic Requirements:
Degree: museum work; or in an applicable subject-matter field.
or
Combination of education and experience — courses equivalent to a major, as shown in 1 above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
or
Four years of experience that provided knowledge comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of the 4-year course of study as shown in 1 above.
How to Apply
Click on the “Apply Online” button on the upper right side of the page.
Please Note:
- You must apply for this position online through the ‘Apply Online’ button and submit required supplemental documents (if they are relevant to you).
- You may submit required documents by uploading them online during the application process; OR You may manually fax required documents. Faxes are received by an automated system, not a physical fax machine.
- Documents that are faxed as part of the application process must be sent with the system generated cover sheet by the closing date. Documents faxed without the system generated coversheet are not retrievable and cannot be considered as part of the application package.
- The complete application package, including any required documents, is due in the Smithsonian Office of Human Resources on the closing date of the announcement by 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
- If you are unable to apply online, paper applications may be accepted with prior approval of the Contact Person listed below.
Agency contact information
Yvonne Humphries
Phone
202-633-7448
TDD
202-633-6409
Fax
202-633-6401
Email
humphriesy@si.edu
Address
SMITHSONIAN
Office of Human Resources
POB 37012, 600 Maryland Avenue, MRC 517
Suite 5060
Washington, District of Columbia 20013-7012
United States
