Duties

Summary

The Smithsonian Institution is a diverse museum and research complex dedicated to the increase and diffusion of knowledge. The National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) works to support the continuance of culture, traditional values and transitions in contemporary Native life. The incumbent of this position provides major editorial and administrative assistance to the Publications Manager.

This position is OUTSIDE the bargaining unit.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

• Incumbent works with designers and editors to establish schedules and budgets, guiding the production of publications through: establishment of a production schedule and budget; management of the bidding process to select printers and other vendors; coordination of delivery and distribution of printed materials.
• Incumbent provides content and copy editing and proof-reading for all manuscripts, from books, exhibition scripts, catalogues to ephemera-e.g., invitations, brochures, and calendars.
• Assists the Publications Manager in preparing and monitoring the department budget for both federal and trust funds.
• Incumbent works with Publications Manager in establishing and monitoring contracts with editors, writers, photographers, publishing houses and others, ensuring that contracts follow Smithsonian and federal policies and guidelines.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Travel may be required for this position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
12 - There is no obligation to provide future promotions if you are selected. Promotions are dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, meet all the performance requirements, and supervisor's recommendation to the next grade.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Qualification requirements, including one year time-in-grade at the next lower grade level for promotion candidates, 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

Specialized Experience: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the occupation. Applicants who have the 1 year of appropriate specialized experience, are not required to have general experience, education above the high school level, or any additional specialized experience to meet the minimum qualification requirements.

For this position, applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-09, in the Federal Service or equivalent.

For this position, specialized experience is defined as: demonstrated knowledge of Native American history and culture, as well as issues and perspectives of contemporary Native American communities; the ability to monitor and manage scheduling, budgets and contracts of a publishing and editorial department for both print and electronic; proven experience in editorial work (writing, editing, and proofreading); and the ability to monitor museum content for conformity to museum content development and education standards.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid work on the same basis as for paid experience. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. To receive credit for such experience you must indicate clearly the nature of the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the average number of hours per week spent in such employment on your online resume.

Note: Your specialized experience must have been in a position(s) equivalent to duties for the occupation at the next lower grade level for the position being filled as defined by applicable Federal standards.

Education

There is no basic education requirements for this position. Education can be used as a substitution for specialized experience for this position. To use education as a substitution applicant must have: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related

Additional information

Flexible Spending Accounts - http://www.fsafeds.com/fsafeds/index.asp
Health Insurance - http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/index.asp
Leave - http://www.opm.gov/oca/leave/index.asp
Life Insurance - http://www.opm.gov/insure/life/index.asp
Long Term Care Insurance - http://www.ltcfeds.com
Retirement Program - http://www.opm.gov/retire/index.asp

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:

• Incumbent possesses knowledge of the principles of graphic design and print production practices. S/he has the ability to manage several projects under pressure of deadlines and budgetary constraints and has the ability to interact effectively with outside authors, vendors and publishers, and well as members of the Native American community and staff.
  
• Incumbent must have expertise in print editing and must be able to demonstrate a high degree of cultural sensitivity in dealing with issues and matters of significance in the Native world. Particular knowledge of publishing and a working familiarity with the Chicago Manual of Style and other recognized style books is required. Incumbent must be knowledgeable in the principles of editing and writing such that s/he is able to assist authors with works in progress and ensure that all publications: are in accord with the museum's standards of scholarly and literary merit.
  
• Incumbent has knowledge and skill sufficient to assist and advise the Publications Manager in formulating the department budget, to organize and categorize all funds into the appropriate formats, and to monitor the expenditure of the funds thereof.
  
• This position requires knowledge of procurement and accounting practices, as well as experience in writing and coordinating contracts, from small purchase orders to complex co-publishing agreements. This position requires knowledge and skill sufficient to assist and advise the Publications Manager in negotiating contracts and partnerships with outside vendors and co-publishers.
  

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
Other

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)

Trust determination process
Credentialing , Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

Your application package should include the following documents:

• Resume - Your resume can be uploaded and attached to your application or created using the USA Jobs on-line resume builder. If you want to receive full credit for relevant experience your resume MUST contain the job title (including the occupational series and grade if it is Federal), duties, starting and ending dates (month and year), hours worked per week, and salary. USAJOBS has guidance on how to ensure that you submit a complete resume: If you have not written a Federal resume before, you may watch this Resume Writing Tutorial video on the USAJOBS YouTube channel , or read through a helpful Resume Writing FAQ article on the USAJOBS Help Site to learn what details you should, and should not, include in your resume. If any of the above information is not included in your resume we may not be able to fully credit you for your experience.
• 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.
• Proof of Veteran's Preference - DD214 (Member 4 Copy) if you are requesting a special appointment authority, such as VRA or VEOA
• Proof of severe disability if you are requesting special placement consideration
• Proof of eligibility for a military spouse appointment, such as a permanent change station military order
• Proof of eligibility for any other special appointing authority not specifically mentioned here.

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.