Visitor Services Assistant (IS- 0303-07)

OPENING DATE: December 23, 2025
CLOSING DATE: January 23, 2026
SERIES/GRADE: IS- 0303-07
TYPE OF POSITION: Trust Indefinite (Non-Federal)
DIVISION: Optical and Infrared Astronomy, FLWO
LOCATION: Amado, AZ
AREA OF CONSIDERATION: This position is open to all eligible candidates.

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, Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).

Conditions of Employment

INTRODUCTION
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) is at the forefront, internationally, of the scientific exploration of the universe. SAO combines its resources with those of the Harvard College Observatory to form the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA). The CfA is the best-known astrophysics center in the world. Its programs range from ground-based astronomy and astrophysics research to space-based research, the engineering and development of major scientific instrumentation for space launch and use in large ground-based facilities, and research designed to improve science education. The research objectives of SAO are carried out primarily with the support of Government and Smithsonian Institution funds, with additional philanthropic support. Government funds are in the form of Federal appropriations or the form of contracts and grants from other agencies. In contrast, Institution funds are available to SAO through grants from the Institution's Restricted Funds, Special Purpose Funds, Bureau Activities, Business Activities, and non-Federal contracts and grants.

SUMMARY
This is the position of FLWO Science Center Assistant at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory (FLWO) Science Center of the Optical and Infrared Astronomy Division, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. The FLWO Science Center is located at Mt. Hopkins in Amado, Arizona, and recently reopened to the public in October 2024. The purpose of this position is to provide resolute, consistent support to the Science Center and the FLWO Public Affairs Officer/Science Center Manager, enabling the Science Center to function reliably and eventually expand operations. This is a full-time position. The schedule for this position is Tuesday through Saturday, with the occasional holiday work.

Assist in coordinating outreach activities, such as community meetings, informational sessions, or public events. Respond to routine inquiries from the public (received in person, phone, or email), providing accurate information about programs, services, or upcoming events. Maintain contact lists of volunteers, community partners, and participants to support ongoing engagement efforts. Collect and record feedback from outreach activities to help evaluate effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.

Serves as a point of contact for visitors, providing information on programs, facilities, and services.

Prepare data for reporting and presentations as requested by the FLWO Public Affairs Officer. Coordinate organization for outreach events, including scheduling and arranging necessary supplies. Ensure compliance with agency policies and procedures when conducting outreach activities.

Provides day‑to‑day operational support for the Science Center, ensuring smooth delivery of services to the public, tour groups, and special event participants. Coordinates scheduling and organization for guided tours, including reservations, group assignments, and preparation of informational materials. Responds to inquiries from visitors, offering accurate information about programs, facilities, and tour operations.

Monitors Science Center facilities and tour routes to identify and report maintenance or safety concerns, ensuring compliance with established standards. Collects and compiles visitor feedback, attendance data, and operational statistics to support program evaluation and reporting. Provides administrative support including recordkeeping, correspondence, and coordination with internal staff and external partners to facilitate visitor services. Contributes to special projects and events by assisting with organization and on‑site support, ensuring positive visits.

Assists with scheduling and training volunteers, assisting with volunteer field trips and providing input to volunteer enrichment, engagement, and recruitment. Serve as back-up tour guide when volunteers are unavailable.

Assist FLWO Public Affairs Officer in running retail operations, including independently opening and closing the retail storefront, handling both cash and credit transactions at the register, and interfacing with the public.

Basic Requirements:
One year of full-time experience at the grade 5 level that is close or similar to the work of this position.

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.

Or
Education:
1 full year of graduate level education in a related field or Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.). SAA is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership.

Or
A combination of education and experience may be used to meet the basic qualifications.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required:

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 hr@cfa.harvard.edu. 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. We believe that a workforce comprising a variety of educational, cultural, and experiential backgrounds support and enhance our daily work life and contribute to the richness of our exhibitions and programs. See Smithsonian EEO program information: https://www.si.edu/oeesd.

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory is an equal opportunity employer. Please visit the SAO website at http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory is joined by Harvard College Observatory to form the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian. The Center is a collaboration between Harvard and Smithsonian designed to ask — and ultimately answer — humanity’s greatest unresolved questions about the nature of the universe. Founded in 1973, the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian is an ongoing collaboration designed to foster innovation and propel discovery. Our mission is to advance knowledge of the Universe through research in astronomy and astrophysics and in related areas of fundamental physics and geophysics.

At the CfA, scientists in a broad range of disciplines study the universe at every scale, from every wavelength, and using telescopes and instruments that span and orbit the globe, all with a single purpose: making groundbreaking discoveries that advance human knowledge.