Duties

The Museum Curator directs the curation of film, video, digital media components and photography for the Center for the Earl W. and Amanda Stafford Center for African American Media Arts (CAAMA).

In this position, you will:

• Undertake major research projects in the field of 19 th , 20 th and 21 st century photography, film, video, and digital media. Initiate, develop, and conduct research regarding American and African American film, video, photography, and digital media.
• Research which typically results in publications and exhibitions that make authoritative and original contribution to knowledge.
  
• Oversee the development and maintenance of a collection of African American film, video, digital media and photography. Work to extend national and international significance of the collection. Monitor acquisitions processes.
• Initiate and oversee exhibition projects designed to maintain and promote scholarship proposing treatment of American and African American film, video and digital media themes, write the script and select objects. Develop major exhibitions.
• Serve as an expert consultant and advisor to colleagues, writers, educational institutions, research foundations, and other government agencies.
• Supervise staff in support of the Center for African American Media Arts (CAAMA).

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Investigation
• Complete a Probationary Period
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer
• May be required to serve an 18-month probationary period for supervisors.

Conditions of Employment

COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS:

For the latest information on the COVID-19 vaccination requirements and its impact on your application, click on Smithsonian Institution's Frequently Asked Questions .

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

Qualifications

Basic Education Requirement:

Degree: museum work; or in an applicable subject-matter field.
or

Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major, as shown in 1 above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
or

Four years of experience that provided knowledge comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of the 4-year course of study as shown in 1 above.

In addition to the Basic Education Requirement above:

You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the grade 13 level in the Federal Service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience managing film, video, photography, and digital media in museum collections, exhibitions, preservation, publications, and research; consulting and advising on film, video, photography, and digital media content; monitoring acquisition processes.

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.

Education

This position has a positive education requirement. Unofficial transcripts are required.

Additional information

This position is not 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.

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 150 applications are received; whichever occurs first. If the announcement closes on the date that 150 applications are received, all applications submitted by 11:59pm that day will be given consideration, including those in excess of 150. 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.