This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/751385700. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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Summary
The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. This position is located in the Design Studio, Office of Building Renovation & Exhibition Service, National Museum of American History (NMAH), Under Secretary for Museums & Culture, Smithsonian Institution (SI). The Design Studio performs various design services within NMAH, relating to such things as exhibitions, programs, public spaces, and graphics.
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Overview
- Reviewing applications
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Open & closing dates
09/26/2023 to 10/24/2023
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Salary
$78,592 - $145,617 per year
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Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 13
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Location
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Remote job
No
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Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
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Travel Required
Occasional travel - Up to 5% travel may be required.
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Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
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Appointment type
Permanent - Federal
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Work schedule
Full-time - Full-Time, Permanent
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Service
Competitive
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Promotion potential
13 - The full performance level of this position is GS-13.
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Job family (Series)
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Supervisory status
No
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Security clearance
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Drug test
No
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Position sensitivity and risk
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Trust determination process
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Announcement number
23R-RS-309593-DEU-NMAH
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Control number
751385700
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This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
This position is open to all U.S. Citizens or U.S. Nationals.
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Duties
The purpose of this Visual Information Specialist position is to provide in-house design services for exhibitions, programs, public spaces, and graphics, as well as to manage the design process for major exhibitions, programming spaces, and public space renovations.
In this position, you will:
- Lead project teams through the design and fabrication processes transforming intellectual content into three-dimensional built environments, printed graphics and assets, virtual environments, and multi-media delivery systems within the built environment; be responsible for conceptualizing, ideating, planning, visualizing, developing, documenting, detailing, and coordinating the design of all aspects of assigned projects, including interpretation of and compliance with criteria, regulations, policies, procedures, standards, and best practices.
- Create assets including comprehensive phase-end deliverables, detail packages for in-house or contracted exhibit/graphic fabrication, interim design presentations for teams, museum leadership and other stakeholders, as well as renderings, visualizations, or other products for the purposes of fundraising, publicity, and other external communications.
- Coordinate 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.
- Work with curators, collection managers, conservation specialists, mount makers and other specialists to balance a project’s interpretive and experience goals with artifact conservation, preservation, and security requirements.
- Coordinate between Project Directors, curators, exhibit developers, educators, other team members or museum staff contributing to script writing/review, editors, and translators on the creation and implementation of a project’s interpretive strategy and graphics including final typesetting, creation of graphic production files and proof review.
- Approve and execute recommendations for the solicitation, selection, and award of basic contracts in support of specific programs and may serve as the contracting officer’s technical representative (COTR), developing appropriate and comprehensive scopes of work, assembling procurement documents, monitoring progress of contracts, certifying deliverables and approving payment.
NOTE: The duties described are at the full performance level of the GS-13; the duties at the GS-11 & GS-12 are developmental leading to the GS-13.
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Requirements
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:
- Incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR) Level II certification.
More than one selection may be made from this announcement.
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.
Applicants who meet or exceed minimum qualifications will be assigned to one of three category groups based on job-related criteria:
- Best Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and excels in most of the job related competencies above.
- Better Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and satisfies most of the job related competencies above.
- Good Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements, but does not satisfy most of the job related competencies above to a substantive degree.
This category rating process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three", but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Category) provided no preference eligible in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied. Preference eligibles who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher. Applicants who have not submitted a resume in the USAJOBS system and/or have not answered all of the vacancy questions will not be considered for this position.
Qualifications
To qualify at the GS-11:
Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal Service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as 1) Assisting in the transformation of content into designs that are relevant, accessible, and engaging; 2) Contributing design skills and technical knowledge to conceptualize, communicate, and document designs for museum exhibition or similar projects; 3) Participating in the collaboration within a creative studio environment and on multiple project teams; and 4) Assisting with multiple projects in various phases of design simultaneously.
Or Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M., if related.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are qualifying by education and/or you have education completed in a foreign college/university described above, it is your responsibility to provide transcripts and proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study. For instructions on where to fax these documents, see the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
Or a Combination: Education and experience may be combined to meet the basic qualifications; For a full explanation of this option please see the Qualification Standards.
Note: Only graduate education in excess of two years is qualifying for combination.
To qualify at the GS-12:
Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal Service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as 1) Transforming content into museum exhibitions that are relevant, accessible, and engaging; 2) Applying design skills and technical knowledge to conceptualize, communicate, and document designs for museum exhibition or similar projects; 3) Collaborating in a creative studio environment and on multiple project teams; and 4) Working on multiple projects in various phases of design simultaneously.
To qualify at the GS-13:
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 as 1) Overseeing the transformation of content into museum exhibitions that are relevant, accessible, and engaging; 2) Using expert design skills and technical knowledge to conceptualize, communicate, and document designs for museum exhibition or similar projects; 3) Leading the collaboration in a creative studio environment and on multiple project teams; and 4) Leading multiple projects in various phases of design simultaneously.
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.
IF AN APPLICANT IS FOUND TO BE BEST-QUALIFIED, THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A WORK SAMPLE (PORTFOLIO). DETAILS WILL BE FORWARDED TO THOSE BEST-QUALIFIED CANDIDATES.
Education
Refer to the above for education requirement. Education cannot be substituted for experience at the GS-12 & GS-13 grade levels.
Additional information
This position is included in the bargaining unit.
Current or Former Political Appointees: Beginning January 1, 2010, agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level under the provisions of title 5, United States Code. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Office of Human Resources. Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:
- Position title;
- Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee);
- Agency; and,
- Beginning and ending dates of appointment.
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.
Additional Note: Federal employees with permanent status or individuals eligible for special appointing authorities may also apply to 23R-RS-309593-MPA-NMAH.
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.
Benefits
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/
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Applicants for this position may be evaluated in multiple stages. The first stage is an evaluation of your responses to the online multiple-choice questions that assess your experience, education, and/or training for the job related competencies below:
All grade levels:
- Comprehensive, Expert, or Mastery Knowledge (depending on the grade level) in the design and development of museum exhibitions and programming spaces from concept through installation and maintenance sufficient to analyze risk, monitor progress, troubleshoot problems, and craft appropriate solutions to achieve project goals -- including schedule, scope, and budget.
- Comprehensive, Expert, or Mastery Knowledge (depending on the grade level) of exhibition design concepts, tools, and processes (both two- and three- dimensional drawing) including the use of software such as VectorWorks, Adobe Creative Design Suite, and similar to ideate, visualize, document and detail-built environments and exhibitions as well as environmental and interpretive graphics.
- Comprehensive, Expert, or Mastery Knowledge (depending on the grade level) of exhibition and graphic fabrication materials and techniques and architectural materials and techniques related to the design and construction of museums, exhibitions, and programming spaces.
GS-11 only:
- Knowledge of graphic design best practices including typography, typesetting, branding and graphic identity creation and management, bilingual graphic design, image manipulation and environmental graphic design.
GS-11 & GS-12:
- Knowledge of the use of color and light, exhibit lighting design and the materials and methods used to display/protect museum artifacts.
- Experience working with/for contract design firms and reading architectural drawings, shop drawings, and other contracted design deliverables.
GS-12 & GS-13:
- Comprehensive knowledge of graphic design best practices including typography, typesetting, branding and graphic identity creation and management, bilingual graphic design, image manipulation and environmental graphic design.
GS-13 only:
- Skill in the use of color and light, exhibit lighting design and the materials and methods used to display/protect museum artifacts.
- Extensive experience working with/for contract design firms and reading architectural drawings, shop drawings, and other contracted design deliverables.
Important Note:
Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire or other assessment tool for consistency. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your resume, you will be assigned a rating commensurate to your described experience. Your resume should provide sufficient information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed.
You may preview questions for this vacancy.
Benefits
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/
Required Documents
As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
Your application package should include the following documents:
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Resume - Your resume can be uploaded and attached to your application or created using the USA Jobs on-line resume builder. Ensure your resume contains the job title (including the occupational series and grade if it is Federal), job-related qualifications, starting and ending dates (month and year), hours worked per week, and salary for each employment period. It is your responsibility to ensure all information is submitted. Failure to include this information may result in disqualification for the position.
For assistance with creating a resume, please click here. - Proof of Veteran's Preference - DD214 (Member 4 Copy), if you are a veteran. Additionally, applicants claiming 10-point preference must complete Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, as well as additional documentation required by the SF-15, such as a VA letter.
- Unofficial school transcripts, if the position has an education requirement or if you are using education to qualify. If selected for the position, you must provide an official transcript before appointment.
- Proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study, if applicable.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
Click on the "Apply Online" button on the upper right side of the page. Please Note:
- You must apply for this position online through the 'Apply Online' button and submit required supplemental documents (if they are relevant to you).
- You may submit required documents by uploading them online during the application process.
- The complete application package, including any required documents, is due in the Smithsonian Office of Human Resources on the closing date of the announcement by 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
- If you are unable to apply online, paper applications may be accepted with prior approval of the Contact Person listed below.
Agency contact information
Ryan Stanger
- Address
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SMITHSONIAN
Office of Human Resources
Washington, District of Columbia 20013-7012
United States
Next steps
At the end of the application process you will be able to create and save a PDF file that contains your responses to the assessment questions. You may save this file as initial receipt of your application. After the job announcement closes, you will receive an email from the Smithsonian with confirmation of receipt. The Smithsonian receives many applications for each job. Each application is reviewed carefully which may take a few weeks. We will send you an e-mail to update you as we go through phases of the application review process. You may also check your application status by logging into www.usajobs.gov and selecting the tab "My USAJOBS;" e-mailing vacancy.info@si.edu; or by contacting the Office of Human Resources Representative listed.
Additional Information:
- Tips on applying for Smithsonian jobs are available at https://www.si.edu/OHR/howtoapply.
- The Smithsonian does not pay relocation expenses but recruitment incentives may be authorized.
- The Smithsonian embraces diversity and equal employment opportunity (www.si.edu/oeema).
Fair and Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
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Required Documents
Your application package should include the following documents:
-
Resume - Your resume can be uploaded and attached to your application or created using the USA Jobs on-line resume builder. Ensure your resume contains the job title (including the occupational series and grade if it is Federal), job-related qualifications, starting and ending dates (month and year), hours worked per week, and salary for each employment period. It is your responsibility to ensure all information is submitted. Failure to include this information may result in disqualification for the position.
For assistance with creating a resume, please click here. - Proof of Veteran's Preference - DD214 (Member 4 Copy), if you are a veteran. Additionally, applicants claiming 10-point preference must complete Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, as well as additional documentation required by the SF-15, such as a VA letter.
- Unofficial school transcripts, if the position has an education requirement or if you are using education to qualify. If selected for the position, you must provide an official transcript before appointment.
- Proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study, if applicable.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Help
Learn more about this agency
How to Apply
Click on the "Apply Online" button on the upper right side of the page. Please Note:
- You must apply for this position online through the 'Apply Online' button and submit required supplemental documents (if they are relevant to you).
- You may submit required documents by uploading them online during the application process.
- The complete application package, including any required documents, is due in the Smithsonian Office of Human Resources on the closing date of the announcement by 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
- If you are unable to apply online, paper applications may be accepted with prior approval of the Contact Person listed below.
Agency contact information
Ryan Stanger
- Address
-
SMITHSONIAN
Office of Human Resources
Washington, District of Columbia 20013-7012
United States
Next steps
At the end of the application process you will be able to create and save a PDF file that contains your responses to the assessment questions. You may save this file as initial receipt of your application. After the job announcement closes, you will receive an email from the Smithsonian with confirmation of receipt. The Smithsonian receives many applications for each job. Each application is reviewed carefully which may take a few weeks. We will send you an e-mail to update you as we go through phases of the application review process. You may also check your application status by logging into www.usajobs.gov and selecting the tab "My USAJOBS;" e-mailing vacancy.info@si.edu; or by contacting the Office of Human Resources Representative listed.
Additional Information:
- Tips on applying for Smithsonian jobs are available at https://www.si.edu/OHR/howtoapply.
- The Smithsonian does not pay relocation expenses but recruitment incentives may be authorized.
- The Smithsonian embraces diversity and equal employment opportunity (www.si.edu/oeema).
Fair & Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Beginning of a dialog window for the agency announcing this job. It begins with a heading 2 called "Learn more about Field Operating Offices of the Office of the Secretary of the Army". Escape will cancel and close the window.
Learn more about
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution values and seeks a diverse workforce. Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."
Agency contact information
Ryan Stanger
- Address
-
SMITHSONIAN
Office of Human Resources
Washington, District of Columbia 20013-7012
United States