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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 National Air & Space Museum/Collections Processing Unit (CPU). The Collections Processing Unit (CPU), is located in the Paul E. Garber Facility (PEGF) in Suitland, MD, and is responsible for properly protecting and guaranteeing intellectual physical control of the National Collections of Aeronautics and Space Artifacts.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
08/16/2024 to 08/27/2024
This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$68,405 to - $88,926 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 09
Location
Suitland, MD
Few vacancies
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - Occasional travel required to Smithsonian facilities in Washington, DC and Chantilly, VA
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Term - Federal
Work schedule
Full-time - Full-Time, Term NTE
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
09
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
24R-ID-311251-DEU-NASM
Control number
805029800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This position is open to all U.S. Citizens or U.S. Nationals. Note: Federal employees with permanent status or individuals eligible for special appointing authorities may also apply to Job Announcement #24R-ID-311251-MPA-NASM More than one selection may be made from this announcement.

Duties

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The Museum Specialist assists in the collections care and management of handling, storage, shipping, maintenance, preservation and exhibition of artifacts from the National Collections. The Museum Specialist also maintains records of artifacts by regular entry of information in computerized collections information databases.

In this position, you will:

  • Perform tasks of a technical nature in support of collections management. Works with a crew of museum technicians and specialists that are responsible for the packing, handling, moving, transporting, storing, and monitoring of artifacts such as airplanes, helicopters, aircraft engines, missiles, cannons, guns, spacecraft, satellites, spacesuits, uniforms, art, and other related aeronautical and space objects, many times serving as the team leader for such projects.
  • Design, construct and/or leads others in the design and construction of containers, cradles, dollies, and other supports necessary to ensure safe handling, movement, relocation, and storage of artifacts. He/she oversees and performs all types of artifact handling operations, including de/installations, which require the operation of trucks, hoists, forklifts and similar equipment.
  • Routinely make use of the museum’s computerized Collections Information System.  This includes creating specific artifact databases, adding information to those databases, and assisting the curatorial departments with other areas of the database.
  • Plan the sequence of work for project team members as well as his/her own work, coordinating needs for special support as required. Distributes and balances workflow among team members in accordance with established work flow or job specialization, ensuring timely accomplishment of assigned workload.

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
  • Must be able to lift 50 pounds

Conditions of Employment

Candidate must possess and maintain a valid drivers license.

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

Basic Qualifications:

GS-09 Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal Service.  For this position, specialized experience is defined as:

  • Experience and knowledge in handling artifacts, including proper techniques for packing, unpacking, and physically moving objects. This includes understanding appropriate environmental conditions, security protocols, and preventive conservation measures to ensure the safety and preservation of the artifacts during handling and transportation.
  • Experience in planning and executing artifact transportation, both locally and internationally. This includes knowledge of packing materials and methods, customs regulations, insurance requirements, and logistics coordination.
  • Experience using specialized handling equipment, such as crating systems, lifters, or climate-controlled containers is required.

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.

Or Education:

  • Two full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education 

Or 

  • Master's or equivalent graduate degree related to the position

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. 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.

Education

Education can be substituted in lieu of specialized experience at the GS-9 grade level.

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.

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.

ATTENTION: Due to the large number of qualified applicants for positions of this type, this job announcement will close at 11:59 pm Eastern Time on either: (A) The closing date listed above or (B) The date that 100 applications are received; whichever occurs first. If the announcement closes on the date that 100 applications are received, all applications submitted by 11:59pm that day will be given consideration, including those in excess of 100. We encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible to ensure their applications are submitted before the announcement closes. We will not consider applications which are late due to the announcement closing once the above number of applications is reached.

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:

  • Knowledge of collections management practices to include the handling, storage, movement, shipping, preservation, and inventory management of artifacts of varying sizes and compositions such as large aeronautical and space objects or small avionics components or flight materials.
  • Skill in the operation of, ability to train and oversee others in the safe and effective operation of powered material handling equipment, such as forklifts, aerial work platforms, scissor lifts; as well as hand and power tools.
  • Skill in the use of computer software used for word processing and database management in order to complete requisite administrative forms and collections inventory management tasks.
  • Ability to analyze, organize and assign work for a small teams to ensure efficient completion of projects within available schedule and resources.

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.

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.


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