Museum Specialist (Art) (Manager of Interpretation)
What you'd do
The National Gallery of Art welcomes all people to explore art, creativity, and our shared humanity. Millions of people come through our doors each year, with even more online, making us one of the most visited art museums in the world. Our renowned collection includes over 160,000 works of art, from the ancient world to today. Admission to the West and East Buildings, Sculpture Garden, special exhibitions, and public programs is always free.
Major duties
The Manager of Interpretation at the National Gallery of Art supervises a team of interpretation specialists and guides the planning and creation of audience-centered interpretation for temporary exhibitions and permanent collection installations. Reporting to the Head of Interpretation, the incumbent helps carry out institutional and departmental strategic objectives that enhance the public's experience of the National Gallery and create conditions for creativity and connection. Duties of this position include, but are not limited to: Directly supervise a team of interpretation specialists responsible for developing interpretive plans and content for special exhibitions and the permanent collection. Perform a full range of supervisory responsibilities, including, but not limited to, establishing annual work and performance plans, and evaluating employee performance. Oversee the development and implementation of gallery interpretation, with an emphasis on the museum's special exhibition program. Monitor projects for adherence to established schedules, budgets, interpretive deliverables, internal procedures, and institutional guidelines. Advance the audience-centered goals of the museum by ensuring that interpretive content and experiences are approachable and engaging for all audiences. Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and experimentation that yields interpretive experiences in a broad range of media and formats (text, analog, digital). Lead interpretive planning for assigned projects, working with cross-departmental project teams to develop interpretive messaging, visitor outcomes, innovative content delivery strategies. Write and edit interpretive content aimed at enhancing visitor engagement and supporting audience needs. Collaborate with the Interpretive Programs team to conceive and deliver live, facilitated programs for general museum visitors. Identify opportunities to engage internal and external stakeholders and community members around interpretive planning and content development to tell more inclusive stories that reflect the lived experiences of all audiences. Apply expert art historical knowledge across a wide range of periods and cultures, along with working knowledge of the techniques of artists in various media.
What you need to qualify
Individual Occupational Requirement: For positions at GS-5 and above): Experience related to the operation or management of a museum or similar collection of valuable objects. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include collections management, registration, cataloging, research, preservation, restoration, or conservation of collections of museum material, or other experience related to the position to be filled. Most positions require a particular subject-matter specialization, e.g., aeronautics, anthropology, art, geology, history, natural science, technology, biology, or zoology. Specialized Experience Statement: Candidates must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent in responsibility to the GS-12 level in the Federal service or private sector: Leading interpretive planning for exhibitions and permanent collection installations, and developing interpretive content for multigenerational audiences, including gallery texts, digital experiences, analog interactives, and live programs. OPM Qualifications Standard: Individual Occupational Requirements: Museum Specialist and Technician Series 1016 Other Relevant Eligibility Criteria: None You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement. 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.
Before you apply
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