Education Program Specialist, IS-1720-09

Application Deadline: 23 June 2026

Department: National Museum of Natural History

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Washington, DC

Compensation: $70,623 - $91,815 / year

Description

OPEN DATE: June 08, 2026

CLOSING DATE: June 23, 2026 or when this job will close once 200 applications are received, which may be sooner than the closing date).

POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite

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.
• This position requires extended periods of standing and walking in sometimes crowded and noisy environments.
• This position requires a Tuesday thru Saturday or Sunday thru Thursday work schedule.
• Occasional evening work required.
• Travel - 25% or Less

OVERVIEW

The National Museum of Natural History is seeking an experienced candidate to fill the Education Program Specialist position.

We are seeking three science educators, one for each of the following halls: (1) David H. Koch Hall of Fossils - Deep Time; (2) Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals; and (3) Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals. The purpose of these three positions is to (1) collaborate with EOVE staff and the science departments to develop, coordinate, promote, manage, implement, and evaluate educational programs and content for NMNH audiences that support student and public understanding of topics presented in exhibitions, online and in learning venues, and (2) provide learning experiences to onsite and online visitors, both adults and youth in coordination with the overall strategy of the NMNH Education, Outreach and Visitor Experience Office. An important aspect of the position is to assure high standards of scientific accuracy, relevance, and presence of current topics and research in programs and publications offered by the Office of Education, Outreach and Visitor Experience. To be effective in this role will require that the incumbent be actively engaged in both the scientific and education communities.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develops and delivers inquiry-centered, hands-on science learning experiences for audiences at the museum, including visitors, volunteers, adults, and youth that meet their specific needs for growth and development in science content, skills, and career opportunities.
• Responsible for maintaining a portfolio of programs that adapt and use current and relevant museum and informal education practices.
• With assistance, writes volunteer training materials, facilitation guides, data collection materials, digital and print resources, reports and summaries, and promotion and communication materials.
• Collaborates with staff from science, and other museum departments to translate current research into activities and materials for diverse audiences in informal settings.
• Establishes and maintains supportive relationships with organizations that serve the museum's audiences to ensure quality and fit of all education activities and programs to national and regional curricula and standard of learning.
• Works closely with the Office of Education, Outreach and Visitor Experience to standardize and implement program protocols and logistics.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Education and Experience:

This position has a positive education requirement.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet one of the following Basic Requirements:

• Degree: that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours in a field related to the work of the position to be filled, of which at least 9 semester hours must have been in education courses; OR
• Combination of education and experience - possess at least 24 semester hours in a field related to the work of the position to be filled, of which at least 9 semester hours must have been in education courses, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The experience must reflect the level and kind described in the bullet below; OR
• Four years of experience that demonstrated a thorough understanding of the principles and practices underlying the work of this series. This experience must have been of such character and diversity to demonstrate that the applicant possesses an understanding of the field comparable to that normally acquired through successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university; OR
• At least 1 full academic year of professional teaching experience. This experience is defined as full and primary responsibility, under general supervision, for instruction of assigned students in an accredited school or institution. This includes responsibility for preparing and presenting lessons and for evaluating students' progress, including a determination of the students' success or failure according to established criteria. Serving in an assistant capacity to a professor without the authority to determine the students' success or failure to meet course requirements does not meet this criterion.

In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also meet the requirements below:

Applicants must possess 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree related to the position; and/or one year specialized experience equivalent to the next lower level; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Specialized experience required for this position is as follows:

• Demonstrated experience in the (a) development, delivery, and evaluation of age-appropriate education activities, programs, and products for museum audiences; (b) scheduling and instruction of museum programs, (c) coordination and training of staff, interns, and volunteers.
• Knowledge of natural history science in the areas of paleobiology, geology, mammalogy, ecology, and/or other closely related science gained through professional experience or relevant education that is sufficient to design, develop, write, edit, and deliver programs and/or activities and written materials for multiple audiences.
• Knowledge of inquiry-centered science teaching and learning methods, gained through professional experience or relevant education.
• Knowledge of informal education practices for museum audiences and the perspectives of visitors, teachers, youth, families, and communities, sufficient to coordinate resources to meet the logistical and programmatic needs of audiences.
• Demonstrated experience communicating, engaging, and working with the public, educators, and science staff.

Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."

To Apply:

Application should include a cover letter and resume with 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.

Unofficial school transcripts (undergraduate and graduate) must be submitted with your application package by the closing date of the announcement. If selected for the position, you must provide official transcripts before appointment.

Applicants who wish to qualify based on education completed outside the United States must have their education 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.

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 will not be paid.