Museum Specialist

About the role

The Smithsonian Institution is a diverse museum and research complex dedicated to the increase and diffusion of knowledge. The Collections Processing Unit (CPU) located on the Paul E. Garber Facility (PEGF) in Suitland, MD, National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall (NMB), and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (UHC) in Chantilly, VA, is part of the NASM Collections Management Department (CMD).

Responsibilities

• Perform tasks of a technical nature in support of collections management.
• Work with a crew of museum technicians and specialists that are responsible for the packing, handling, moving, transporting, storing, and monitoring of artifacts such as airplanes, helicopters, aircraft engines, missiles, cannons, guns, spacecraft, satellites, spacesuits, uniforms, art, and other related aeronautical and space objects, many times serving as the team leader for such projects.
• Make use of the museum’s computerized Collections Information System. This includes creating specific artifact databases, adding information to those databases, and assisting the curatorial departments with other areas of the database.
• Prepare for storage, shipping, transportation or exhibition, the incumbent must disassemble, assemble, load, unload, secure, crate, or cradle aforementioned types of artifacts. These tasks require the incumbent to construct cradles, dollies, and other supports necessary to ensure safe handling, movement, and storage of the artifacts.
• Oversee and perform all types of artifact handling operations, including de/installations, which require the operation of trucks, hoists, forklifts, tractor trailers, and similar equipment.
• Articulate and communicate to the team the assignment, project, problem to be solved, actionable events, milestones, and/or issues under review, and deadlines and time frames for completion.

Requirements

• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
• Must have a valid Class A Commercial driver’s license.

Qualifications

• To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet either the education or experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.

Benefits

• The Smithsonian offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, vacation and sick leave, holidays, health/life insurance, accident insurance, and excellent retirement program options.

Pay

• Congressional pay increases will be applied to the starting salary for this position effective on the day of appointment.

Schedule

• Full-time schedule.