Explainers Program Assistant, IS-1016-05

Application Deadline: 25 June 2026

Department: National Air and Space Museum

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Chantilly, VA

Reporting To: Supervisory Education Specialist

Compensation: $46,610 - $252,824 / year

Description

OPEN DATE: June 11, 2026

CLOSING DATE: June 25, 2026 *This announcement will close once 200 applications have been received, which may occur prior to the listed closing date. *

POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Temp Not to Exceed 2 years

SCHEDULE: Full Time

DUTY LOCATION: Chantilly, VA (Udvar Hazy Center)

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

This position exists in the Explainers program within the Education Department of the National Air and Space Museum (NASM) for the purpose of furthering the program's mission in the area of public education and outreach to diverse local and national audiences. Incumbent is part of a team of Education staff, Explainers, Volunteers and Docents who work with museum visitors at both the Chantilly, VA Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center and the National Mall Building in Washington, DC and as well as participants in NASM's virtual learning programs.

The Smithsonian Institution, Undersecretary of Science and Research, National Air and Space Museum (NASM), collects, preserves, studies, and exhibits artifacts, archival materials and works of art related to the history, culture and science of aviation and spaceflight and the study of the universe. Its research and outreach activities serve all audiences, within and beyond its walls.

The Museum commemorate the past and is committed to educating and inspiring people to foster appreciation for the importance of flight to humanity. NASM is administered as one Museum with multiple locations: The National Mall building, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia and the Garber Facility in Suitland Maryland. NASM provides access to the nation's aviation and space flight history to an average of 7-9 million on-site visitors from around the world each year, making it one of the most visited museums in the world. In addition, NASM draws tens of millions of virtual visitors to its website and broadcast, digital applications, and webcast educational programming.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Incumbent works cooperatively with the Explainers Program and Education staff & volunteers to ensure a positive visitor experience by greeting visitors; engaging visitors through conversation, inquiry and experimentation; helping to present facilitated experiences and offering assistance and encouragement at self-directed activities. They ensure that each visitor has a safe experience, follows safety rules, and uses materials and supplies appropriately.

• Incumbent works cooperatively with the Explainers Program and Education staff & volunteers to open, operate, and close Explainers programming, according to operating procedures. Incumbent performs routine maintenance of materials and interactives, including inspecting for damaged or missing materials, replenishing supplies, keeping equipment cleaned and organized, and reporting problems or deficiencies to the Explainers Program staff.

• Incumbent assists in the evaluation of programs by collaborating with Explainers Program and Education staff to develop, produce and implement effective informal and formal evaluation techniques for activities and programs, and making recommendations to staff.

Attention to Detail- 25%

Performs routine maintenance of materials and interactives, including inspecting for damaged or missing materials, replenishing supplies, keeping equipment cleaned and organized, and reporting problems or deficiencies to the Explainers Program staff.

Facilitates drop-in education programming and supports and trains the Explainers & volunteers to open, operate, and close Explainers programming, according to operating procedures.

Receives instruction and training in particular topics and presentation styles to deliver various educational resources.

Customer Service - 25%

Provides customer services ensuring that each visitor has a safe experience, follows safety rules, and uses materials and supplies appropriately.

Responds to incidents impacting visitors due to their presence throughout the institution providing support and guidance within the scope of their official job function.

Interpersonal Skills - 25%

Supports, the Explainers Program and Education staff & volunteers to ensure a positive visitor experience by greeting visitors; engaging visitors through conversation, inquiry and experimentation; helping to present facilitated experiences and offering assistance and encouragement at self-directed activities.

Works with a variety of personalities, learning styles, and age groups for extended time during the day, sufficient to communicate, establish rapport, and comfortably address visitors of all ages and abilities to teach in an informal setting. Engages and interacts with multiple visitors (up to 30 persons) about select topics within the institution in an informal setting.

Oral Communication - 25%

Develops a practical understanding of NASM visitor spaces and exhibits and interacts with various groups of individuals to provide to provide informal STEM education relating to the museum's exhibits & collection.

Provides presentations regarding institutional exhibits and displays to detail their historical significance and importance within the museum's collection.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Education (if positive education is required) 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 1-3 years of related experience (described below); or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Skill in working with a variety of personalities, learning styles, and age groups for extended time during the day.
• Skill in oral communication sufficient to establish rapport, comfortably address visitors of all ages and abilities, and to teach in an informal setting.
• Ability to talk with general audiences (up to 30 persons) about select topics in air and space history and science in an informal setting.
• Ability to receive instruction and training in particular topics and presentation styles.
• Ability to provide first-level response to unsafe situations/incidents.

Assignment

Technical duties performed by the incumbent include supporting the management, preparation, and dissemination of informational resources directly related to institutional collections. Work efforts include presenting collections items; providing guidance to public regarding its functionality; and overseeing interactions with collection items used by museum attendees. General guidance is provided to the incumbent by institutional personnel to enhance their understanding of collections functionality and historical significance. The incumbent is provided academic materials, research, and other resources to assist their understanding of collections and exhibits.

Responsibility

The incumbent reports to Managers and Employees within the Explainers Program. Work responsibilities include leading visitor activities, supporting program operations, and developing their awareness and understanding of NASM informational materials. Tasks are repetitive and performed independently using established procedures published by the Explainers Program's mission, goals, educational philosophy, and standards of conduct. Incumbent works according to policies of the Smithsonian Institution, previous training, and accepted practices in the field. The supervisor or other Explainers staff are available for advice in unusual circumstances.

Requirements

The incumbent researches and analyzes items held in the collection and must be able to understand scientific principles, engineering specifications, mechanical components, and other relatable information, sufficient enough to support facilitated discussions with individuals seeking insight and understanding of collection items.

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.