Job Description

Museum Curator

The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. This position is in the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a national museum for the study and exhibition of African American history and culture.

Opening and closing dates: 07/03/2025 to 07/17/2025

Salary: $101,401 - $131,826 per year

Location: Washington, DC - FEW vacancies

This position is permanent and federal, full-time.

The Museum Curator will:

• initiate, develop, and personally participate in research programs that characteristically involve a systematic research approach to a problem area of considerable scope.
• prepare for publication scholarly reports of a descriptive and theoretical nature based on own field of work, on study of collection in this and other institutions, and on the existing scholarly publications.
• define and implement plan for development of a pre-eminent collection in language and literature, civic and fraternal organizations, education, or curatorial culture (including dress, dolls, textiles, fashion) in African American material culture, keeping in mind the continuous expansion of the NMAAHC. Verify, validate, and assure proper identification, documentation, authentication, and storage of collection.
• plan the museum's exhibitions . Develop special exhibitions as well, for and about language and literature, civic and fraternal organizations, education, or curatorial culture (including dress, dolls, textiles, fashion) in African American material culture and is technically responsible for such plans with limitation imposed by budget, time schedules, and policy.
• serve as expert and consultant on professional matters in field to other government agencies, colleagues, writers, educational institutions, research foundations, and the public.

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 OPM Website.

Basic Qualification:

1. Degree: museum work; or in an applicable subject-matter field.
2. Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major, as shown in 1 above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
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 in A above.

In addition to the basic qualification requirement above:

Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience conducting scholarly research and producing publications related to language and literature, civic and fraternal organizations, education, or curatorial culture (including dress, dolls, textiles, fashion); participating in public service efforts; developing a collection of artifacts; serving as a consultant on professional matters; and answering public inquiries.

The Smithsonian offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, vacation and sick leave, holidays, health/life insurance, accident insurance, and excellent retirement program options.

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

1. Skill in conducting research for and about African Americans' language and literature, civic and fraternal organizations, education, and curatorial culture (including dress, dolls, textiles, fashion).
2. Ability to communicate in writing.
3. Ability to organize, develop, maintain, and refine collections of artifacts illustrating and documenting language and literature, civic and fraternal organizations, education, and curatorial culture (including dress, dolls, textiles, fashion) by and about African Americans.
4. Skill in planning and implementing museum exhibitions related to language and literature, civic and fraternal organizations, education, and curatorial culture (including dress, dolls, textiles, fashion).
5. Ability to communicate orally.

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