Visual Information Specialist (Graphic Design)/IS-1084-12

Application Deadline: 17 September 2025

Department: Office of Advancement

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Washington, DC

Reporting To: Director of Advancement Communications

Compensation: $101,401 - $131,826 / year

Description

OPEN DATE: August 27, 2025               CLOSING DATE: September 17, 2025            POSITION TYPE: Trust FundAPPOINTMENT TYPE: Permanent    SCHEDULE: Full TimeDUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC 

Position sensitivity and risk: 
Non-Critical Sensitive/Moderate Risk

Open to all qualified applicants
What are Trust Fund Positions?Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).  Conditions of Employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
• Complete a Probationary Period.
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
• The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States.  Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
• Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 

OVERVIEW

Come join a dedicated and creative team at an exceptional time for the Smithsonian, an institution with a bold vision for the future: to build a better tomorrow for all. Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III and the institution’s leadership have launched a campaign to support this vision. The Smithsonian Campaign for Our Shared Future will secure funds for all Smithsonian museums and centers as the institution reimagines its mission to find solutions for collective challenges in a rapidly changing world. The campaign will provide a foundation for critical research to ensure people and nature thrive together, build unparalleled education programs with families and partners, collect the world’s most precious objects, document the present while reflecting on the past, and reimagine the visitor experience both in-person and online. We are bringing the Smithsonian off the National Mall and across the country through dynamic programming and affiliate partnerships, creating access for all.  The Office of Advancement oversees and guides the fundraising efforts of the entire Smithsonian and is home to the central development organization for the Institution. In addition to raising significant support for a variety of Smithsonian initiatives, the Office of Advancement provides support services to advancement offices across the Institution. The office engages with staff throughout the Smithsonian in accomplishing their goals.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The graphic designer is a key member of the fast-paced, creative and collaborative Advancement Communications and Marketing team, reporting to the director and partnering with team members. He/she uses creative skills to design and produce a wide variety of compelling fundraising communications and marketing materials in all media that support high-capacity giving. Executing graphic designs from concept to product, the graphic designer affects the successful achievement of fundraising priorities of Smithsonian museums, research centers and pan-institutional initiatives, partnering with leadership and advancement colleagues across the institution.  The designer takes initiative and translates complex ideas into visually pleasing, innovative designs within budget. She/he is responsible for the overall look, blending copy, typography and design into a cohesive whole that elevates fundraising messages and storytelling. He/she works with clients to determine the best product to engage a national audience. These include the Office of Advancement’s newsletter IMPACT (publis