Duties
The Education Program Specialist is responsible for recruiting/placement, managing, training, and coordination of volunteer docents and interpretive guides to facilitate superior visitor experiences of the permanent collection and exhibitions both in person and online.
In This Position, You Will
- be responsible for the maintenance and updating of the museum’s Docent Volunteer Program.
- be responsible to Smithsonian Institution in establishing and implementing NMAAHC-specific volunteer policies.
- be responsible for managing an annual budget to ensure financial resources are efficiently allocated to support volunteer initiatives and program development.
- oversee the development of the museum’s public tour offerings, which demands a deep understanding of museum education, African American History, and the teaching of history to adults.
- facilitate staff's volunteer needs and train staff on volunteer procedures.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- Requires career/career-conditional status or eligibility.
- Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
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. See the 'Required Documents' section for additional information.
For information on qualification requirements, see
Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions viewable on
Qualifications
Education Required:
- Degree: that included or was supplemented by major study in education or in a subject-matter field appropriate to the position. or
- Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major in education, or in a subject-matter field appropriate to the position, plus appropriate experience or additional course work that provided knowledge comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of the 4-year course of study described above.
In Addition To The Basic Qualification Requirement Above
You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal Service.
For this position, specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience recruiting, managing, training and coordinating volunteers and docent tour guides, designing, implementing and evaluating educational programs.
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.
Or Education: 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree
or master's or equivalent graduate degree
Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are qualifying by education and/or you have education completed in a foreign college/university described above, it is your responsibility to provide transcripts and proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study. For instructions on where to fax these documents, see the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
Or a Combination: Education and experience may be combined to meet the basic qualifications; For a full explanation of this option please see the
In an effort to streamline our hiring process,
SI employees whose current position of record is in the same job series 1701 and who are in a Federal Competitive as this advertised position, are not required to submit a transcript with your application package. However, if selected, you will be required to provide a copy of your transcript before your start date in the position.
Time-in-Grade Requirements: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under a non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying).
Education
Education Required
- Degree: that included or was supplemented by major study in education or in a subject-matter field appropriate to the position. or
- Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major in education, or in a subject-matter field appropriate to the position, plus appropriate experience or additional course work that provided knowledge comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of the 4-year course of study described above.
This position has a positive education requirement. Unofficial transcripts are required.
Additional information
- This position is included in the bargaining unit.
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.
Selections may be made for vacancies across the Smithsonian Institution (SI). By applying to this position, you agree to allow your application and other personal information to be shared with one or more SI hiring officials for employment consideration for same/similar positions within the location(s) identified in this announcement.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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.
Please see Benefits at
Flexible Spending Accounts -
Health Insurance -
Leave -
Life Insurance -
Long Term Care Insurance -
Retirement Program -
