Supervisory Collections Manager

Smithsonian Institution

$75K — $95K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of experience in collections management, preferably related to Native American artifacts.
  • Demonstrated expertise in museum storage, care, and disaster management protocols.
  • Experience working collaboratively with Native and indigenous communities on collection stewardship.
  • Strong leadership ability, including managing teams and setting performance standards.
  • Understanding of Smithsonian-wide and professional ethics in museum operations.

Responsibilities

  • Ensure safe and proper care, storage, and handling of collections at multiple museum facilities.
  • Collaborate with and guide departments to maintain physical security for the collection.
  • Facilitate access to collections for various stakeholders, including leading specialized tours.
  • Represent the museum to Native clients and external partners with cultural sensitivity and collaboration.
  • Direct management of collections staff, establishing work priorities and goals to meet museum objectives.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive vacation and sick leave policies.
  • Health and life insurance options.
  • Access to an excellent retirement program.
  • Flexible spending accounts available.
  • Long-term care insurance options.
Full Job Description
Summary

This position is located in the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI). The Collections Care and Stewardship Program (CCSP), the CCSP is accountable for the museum's permanent object collection thereby maintaining oversight of all aspects of storage, care, use, protection and disaster management.

More than one selection may be made from this announcement.

Duties

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The Supervisory Collections Manager, is responsible for maintaining a strong focus on responsible and ethical stewardship of NMAI's collections in collaboration and partnership with Native and indigenous people while also considering the Smithsonian's mandate for the diffusion of knowledge, widely accepted standards of museum practice and the professional ethics of staff members who carry out the NMAI's mission.

In this position, you will:

  • Be responsible for the overall safe and proper care, storage, handling, moving, packing and integrated pest management of NMAI's collections at its three facilities.
  • Collaborate across NMAI departments and SI Units to ensure the physical security of the collections.
  • Oversee access to and the use of the collections by a wide variety of audiences internal and external to the Smithsonian and NMAI, guide specialized tours, including those for important guests and stakeholders such as tribal leaders, Smithsonian and NMAI leadership or government dignitaries.
  • Represent the NMAI and its programs to Native constituencies, stakeholders and external partners with expertise, skill and also demonstrate collaborative teamwork across the museum to effectively implement strategic goals and priorities.
  • Provide overall direction and management to collections management staff to include the establishment of work priorities, goals, assignment and schedules to meet NMAI's goals.
  • Be responsible for a full range of supervisory and managerial authorities related to assignment of work, setting performance standards for work, coordination with other programs, management advisory services and technical work direction.


Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Pass Pre-employment Background Investigation
  • May need to complete a Probationary Period
  • Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer
  • Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.


Conditions of Employment

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions on OPM website.

Qualifications

Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal Service. For this position, specialized experience is defined asexperience serving as a senior specialist in the oversight and management of a sizable Native American collections in a museum, cultural or historic organization.

Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages and should clearly demonstrate how your experience aligns with the responsibilities and specialized experience required for this position. Do not copy language directly from the vacancy announcement, as you will be deemed ineligible for consideration. Instead, provide detailed, descriptive information about your actual experience.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Part-time and/or unpaid experience related to this position will be considered to determine the total number of years and months of experience. Be sure to note the number of paid or unpaid hours worked each week.

Education

Education cannot be substituted at this level.

Additional information

This position is not included in the bargaining unit.

Recruitment Incentive: Recruitment incentive(s) may be authorized for this position. However, approval for incentives are contingent upon various availability. If authorized, certain incentives will require the incumbent to sign a service agreement to remain in the Federal government for a certain time period.

Note: This statement does not imply nor guarantee an incentive will be offered and paid.

Selections may be made for vacancies across the Smithsonian Institution (SI). By applying to this position, you agree to allow your application and other personal information to be shared with one or more SI hiring officials for employment consideration for same/similar positions within the location(s) identified in this announcement.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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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.

Please see Benefits at https://www.si.edu/OHR/benefits for a complete description.

Flexible Spending Accounts - https://www.fsafeds.com/

Health Insurance - http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/index.asp

Leave - http://www.opm.gov/oca/leave/index.asp

Life Insurance - http://www.opm.gov/insure/life/index.asp

Long Term Care Insurance - http://www.ltcfeds.com

Retirement Program - https://www.opm.gov/retirement-services/

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