Supervisory Exhibits Specialist

The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo.  This position is located in the Office of Design & Production, Office of Exhibitions & Collections, National Portrait Gallery (NPG), Under Secretary for Museums & Culture at the Smithsonian Institution (SI).

Qualifications:

You must meet these Basic Education Requirements:

Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study - illustrative design, commercial art, fine arts, industrial design, architecture, drafting, interior design, or other fields related to the position.

Advanced training in a vocational school, technical institute, or art institute above the high school level in one of the fields listed above is creditable as general experience on a month-for-month basis.               

OR

Experience in the actual type of work for which application is made. Unpaid experience is creditable, provided the work done was of a quality level and demonstrated the ability required for the position. This includes work in the appropriate field, e.g., design, modelmaking, art, taxidermy, or restoration.

In addition to meeting the Basic Qualifications applicant must also meet Specialized Experience OR Education or Combination listed below.

Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal Service.  For this position, specialized experience is defined as experience supervising staff engaged in exhibition design, setting project goals and priorities, overseeing schedules, and defining project scope and strategic approaches to effectively manage personnel and financial resources.  

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.

Responsibilities:

Supervisory Exhibits Specialist serving as the senior authority on exhibition planning and supervises staff and contractors engaged in exhibit development and ensures that all visual elements, across both public and non-public areas, align with NPG policies, gallery standards, and operational requirements.

In this position, you will:

• Plan, organize, and set short-term work priorities for staff and evaluates performance and identifies career development and training opportunities. 
• Lead all aspect of exhibition project management from concept development through installation. Establish project goals, production schedule, and project scope. 
• Review and assess scope of work and technical specifications to communicate with design and fabrication contractors. 
• Monitor the activity of contractors to ensure that project goals are achieved within budgetary limits and timelines. 

Salary : $121,785