Supervisory Museum Program Specialist – Youth and Teachers

OPEN DATE: March 18, 2024
CLOSING DATE: April 1, 2024
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Open to all qualified applicants

What are Trust Fund Positions?

Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program and may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).

Conditions of Employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated as low risk.
• Complete a Probationary Period
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
• The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States.  Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.

OVERVIEW

This position is located within the Education Department in the Education and Visitor Experience

Directorate, National Air and Space Museum (NASM), Smithsonian Institution (SI) and reports to a Deputy Director position, who reports to an Associate Director position. The mission of NASM is to commemorate, educate and inspire.  Learning at the National Air and Space Museum sparks curiosity and empowers learners to imagine the possibilities of our future.  The museum collects, preserves and displays aeronautical and spaceflight artifacts of historical significance.

The purpose of this position is to oversee education programming and the staff developing and managing programs targeted at K-12 students and teachers. This work engages students and educators in STEAM curriculum at both the National Mall building in Washington, DC and Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA, as well as online. The employee is responsible for planning and organizing the work with staff, coordinating with Education leadership, and ensuring all components of the programs are successful as defined by each program’s objectives and goals.

Position requires ability to experiment with new learning techniques and technologies, and to seize new opportunities for enhancing learning. It requires advanced knowledge of instructional design, educational technology, training design and development, adult learning and education in museums or other non-formal settings. Requires skill in working with school structures, curriculum, teaching standards and classroom principles. Requires the ability to apply educational principles, practices and methods to develop and implement museum education programs for culturally diverse audiences.

The employee is responsible for planning and organizing the work, directing and coordinating with staff and management, and conducting all phases of projects, and frequently involves the definitive interpretation of regulations, laws, and study procedures, and the initial application of new methods.  Completed projects, evaluations, reports, or recommendations are reviewed by the supervisor for compatibility with organizational goals, guidelines, effectiveness in achieving intended objectives.

Guidelines consist of Federal administration policies, laws, and regulation, as well as the overall policies and procedures of NASM and the Smithsonian Institution for conducting interactive programming. The educational principles and practices that apply to the development of the educational museum programs for diverse audiences, as well as national education standards, also serve as guidelines. Guidelines do not go into detail as to the methods used to accomplish the work; therefore, the employee must use judgment and initiative to refine or develop more specific guidelines such as implementing policy and/or regulations, methods, techniques, and procedures for the measurement and improvement of effectiveness and efficiency of NASM virtual and hybrid programs.

The incumbent’s work involves gathering information, identifying and analyzing issues, and developing recommendations to resolve substantive problems of effectiveness and efficiency of NASM programs. Assignments require the incumbent to apply qualitative and quantitative analytical techniques that frequently require modification to fit a wider range of variables, and issues that are not always resolved by direct analysis. Incumbent manages both staff and volunteers and addresses management and staffing issues, providing guidance to a diverse staff of educators, program managers, museum specialists, part time intermittent staff, and interns in different aspects of the Museum.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Education Program Operations