Director of Exhibits and Engagement, IS-1001-12

Director of Exhibits and Engagement, IS-1001-12

Application Deadline: 23 October 2026

Department: National Postal Museum

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Washington, DC

Reporting To: Deputy Director

Compensation: $102,415 - $133,142 / year

Description

OPEN DATE: October 10, 2026

CLOSING DATE: October 23, 2026 (This job will close when the first 150 applications are received which may be sooner than the closing date).

POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Permanent

SCHEDULE: Full Time

DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC

Position sensitivity and risk: Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

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 Smithsonian Institution's National Postal Museum (NPM) brings the story of communication and the postal system to life across 23,000 square feet of dynamic exhibition space, complemented by a research library, Postal Store and Philatelic Center, and museum shop. Home to nearly 6 million objects-ranging from miniature stamps to full-scale vehicles-the museum offers a fascinating look at how mail has connected people and shaped the world.

Welcoming more than 400,000 visitors each year, NPM is the Smithsonian's most-visited museum off the National Mall. Through innovative exhibitions, cutting-edge research, and engaging educational and public programs, the museum transforms the history of mail and philately into an accessible, relevant, and inspiring experience for diverse audiences.

The Director of Exhibits and Engagement will be responsible for updating and maintaining existing public spaces and ensuring the museum remains a welcoming and accessible space.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manages the physical creation of new exhibit spaces, general interior and public areas, public business activity areas, exhibit, and quasi-public areas such as conference rooms, classrooms, corridors and the PSB's Historic Lobby and the Postmaster's Suite.
• Serves as primary advisor for Exhibits and Space related projects to Smithsonian Offices.
• Designs museum projects such as exhibitions, public programming or education spaces, wayfinding, graphic campaigns, public space improvements, project feasibility or planning studies from concept
  through fabrication and on-going maintenance.
• Ensures all spatial and visual elements are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and meet the museum's identity and branding standards.
• Oversees internal coordination of placement of exhibits, long term museum space master schedule, and maintaining and updating the gallery and public engagement spaces already in service at the National Postal Museum.
• Coordinates communication between project teams and technical experts in exhibition fabrication and maintenance, exhibit lighting, audio/visual technology, media and software development, accessibility, facility maintenance, and operations.
• Responsible for current exhibits and for researching and instituting spaces for NPM's next generation of museum galleries and spaces.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Education and Experience: To qualify for this position, applicants must possess a bachelor's degree (B.A.) from an accredited four-year college or university and/or 5-7 years of related experience (described below); or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience required for this position is as follows:

• Ability to supervise staff in a museum, cultural or historical organization.
• Knowledge to develop cost estimates, budgets and spending plans for general space planning and design in a museum, cultural or historical organization.
• Knowledge of project management principles to design exhibitions, public programming or education spaces, wayfinding, graphic campaigns, public space improvements, project feasibility or planning studies from concept through fabrication and on-going maintenance in a museum, cultural or
  historical organization.
• Knowledge of exhibition fabrication and maintenance processes and requirements to lead project teams in completing exhibitions in a museum, cultural or historical organization.
• Knowledge to develop accessible experiences for the broad audiences in a museum, cultural or historical organization.

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 [redacted]. 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.