Duties

Summary

The position is located in the Division of Political & Military History, Office of Curatorial Affairs, National Museum of American History. The incumbent carries out the research, collections management, exhibitions development and education mission of the museum, with a focus on Latinx political history, social justice and civil rights and labor movements throughout American history and produces research products (books, articles, new media, exhibitions, etc).

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Responsibilities

Researches American History as it relates to Latinx political history, social justice movements, general civil rights history, or the history of labor movements throughout American History, and produces research products (books, articles, new media, exhibitions, etc.).

Surveys, builds upon, and reinterprets existing Political History collections to provide broader coverage of the American Latinx experience, social justice movements, civil rights, and/or labor movements.

Develops museum exhibitions and helps establish new exhibition initiatives throughout the museum and the Smithsonian.

Helps develop museum programs including a series with the Program Director of Latino History and Culture, on topics such as the Latinx civil rights struggles, labor history, and immigration policy.

Collaborates with other units across the Smithsonian, including the Smithsonian Latino Center, as well as with appropriate national scholarly and cultural institutions.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Travel may be required by this position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
15

Requirements

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.

KEY REQUIREMENTS:

In addition to the resume builder resume, you must also submit a CV (Curriculum Vitae) and a Cover Letter.

Qualification requirements must be met within 30 days of the job announcement closing date.

For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions viewable on the web at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.

Qualifications

Experience:

You qualify for this position if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal Service or comparable pay band system.

In addition to the Basic Requirements listed above, you may qualify for this position if you possess the Selective Factor and Specialized Experience below:

Selective Factor : Scholarly knowledge of American political history with emphasis on the Latinx experience through social justice movements, American civil rights or labor movements.

In addition to meeting the Selective Factor above, applicants must possess one year of specialized experience which is listed below:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT:

For this position specialized experience is defined as experience as a scholar of Latinx American political history, social justice movements, general civil rights history, and/or the history of labor movements, in the context of the American experience. This experience is demonstrated through products of research such as publications, lectures, oral histories, collection development, exhibitions, and public programming.

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

All applicants must meet these Basic Requirements: (You must submit unofficial school transcripts as proof of educational credentials):

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

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

3. 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 above.


Additional information

Flexible Spending Accounts -
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Health Insurance -
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Leave -
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Life Insurance -
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Long Term Care Insurance -
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Retirement Program -
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How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your resume will be used to evaluate your experience, education, and/or training that address the competencies below:

Knowledge of American Latinx Political History and Culture in order to research and write about objects and collections.

Knowledge regarding collecting objects in American Latinx experience, social justice movements, civil rights, and/or labor movements, place the object histories in context and conduct research.

Ability to develop physical and virtual exhibitions, and exchange ideas and information with other scholars.

Knowledge of the role of museums in developing, interpreting and diffusing history to integrate his or her areas of curatorial responsibility into museum priorities and to participate in larger community discussions and debates.

Ability to communicate in writing to scholarly audiences.

Ability to develop collaborations (with people and organizations) resulting in tangible products reflecting Latinx political history, social justice movements, general civil rights history, and/or the history of labor movements.

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: The review of your resume will determine your final rating and should provide sufficient information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

Your application package should include the following documents:

• Detailed resume created in the USAJOBS Resume Builder.
• Proof of Veteran's Preference - DD214 (Member 4 Copy), if you are a veteran. Additionally, applicants claiming 10-point preference must complete Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, as well as additional documentation required by the SF-15, such as a VA letter.
• Unofficial school transcripts, if the position has an education requirement or if you are using education to qualify. If selected for the position, you must provide an official transcript before appointment.
• Proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study, if applicable.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.