Assistant Director, Talent Strategy and Employee Services, IS-0301-13

Application Deadline: 21 October 2026

Department: Office of Advancement

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Washington, DC

Reporting To: Director, Advancement Operations and Talent Management

Compensation: $121,785 - $158,322 / year

Description

OPEN DATE: September 22,2026
CLOSING DATE: October 21, 2026
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC *This position is designated as fully onsite, with regular attendance in the office required five days per week. *

Position sensitivity and risk:
Low Risk Non-Sensitive

Open to all qualified applicants

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, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).

Conditions of Employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
• Complete a Probationary Period.
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
• The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
• Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

OVERVIEW

The Office of Advancement (OA) oversees and guides the fundraising efforts of the entire Smithsonian and is home to the central development organization for the Institution. In addition to raising significant support for a variety of Smithsonian initiatives, the OA provides support services to advancement offices across the Institution. The office engages with staff throughout the Smithsonian in accomplishing their goals.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Assistant Director, Talent Strategy and Employee Services serves as the lead human resources advisor for the Smithsonian's Office of Advancement (OA), overseeing and coordinating all human resources activities that support the office's workforce needs and organizational objectives. The selected candidate collaborates with advancement teams across the Institution to develop and implement effective recruitment, talent acquisition, and hiring strategies for advancement-focused positions.

In addition, the position partners closely with the Director of Professional Development within the Office of Advancement to design, implement, and evaluate workforce development initiatives, employee programs, and human resources policies that support employee engagement, professional growth, and organizational effectiveness.

This position will supervise a Human Resources Specialist and reports directly to the Director, Advancement Operations and Talent Management. As a member of the Advancement Administration team, the role plays a key role in aligning human resources strategies and operations with the Office of Advancement's mission, priorities, and workforce planning objectives.

• Leads all human resources activity for the Office of Advancement.
• Advises OA staff and management on Smithsonian HR policy and practices.
• Oversees the annual performance plan and appraisal process for OA.
• Partners with the Smithsonian Office of Human Resources to interpret and craft HR policy; to support actions with the Office of Labor and Employee Relations at SI.
• Engages closely with advancement leads and unit directors across the Institution to plan and execute recruitment and hiring strategies for a range of advancement positions.
• Organizes and manages interview panels for job recruitments
• Provides HR and hiring guidance to advancement staff, management and senior leadership at the Institution.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to carry out each essential duty satisfactorily. The qualifications listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the role.

• Extensive human resources experience (six or more years) in a large, complex organization with diverse workforce needs and business functions.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully initiate new programs and initiatives within a complex organization.
• Solid experience in building working relationships across an organization, from entry level staff to senior management.
• Proven ability to successfully apply creative problem solving to various situations.
• Experience crafting and presenting accurate, insightful reports to management.
• Ability to successfully apply organizational policy in a complex environment.

Applicants who wish to qualify based on 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 your application being rejected and may also result in termination after employment begins.

Application Instructions

Interested candidates should submit their resumes and a cover letter by October 21st. The resume must include the start and end dates (month and year) for each position, as well as the average number of hours worked per week.

Relocation expenses are not paid.

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. Qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager and invited for an interview. If you are chosen for an interview you will need to provide multiple references, including title and contact information, who are familiar with your work and professional skills and abilities.