Supervisory Collections Manager
What you'd do
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 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.
Major duties
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.
What you need to qualify
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 experience 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.
Before you apply
Federal applications are different: your resume should be 3–5 pages and mirror the language of this announcement. Read our federal resume guide first — it's the #1 reason qualified people get screened out.
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