Assistant Director for Advancement (IS-1001-15)

Application Deadline: 19 January 2026

Department: Office of the Under Secretary for Education

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Washington, DC

Reporting To: Under Secretary for Education

Compensation: $167,603 - $195,200 / year

Description

OPEN DATE: January 13, 2026                CLOSING DATE: January 19, 2026              POSITION TYPE: Trust FundAPPOINTMENT TYPE: Permanent  SCHEDULE: Full Time DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC 

Position sensitivity and risk: Non-Sensitive/Moderate Risk
Open to Current SI Employees Only

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 the Under Secretary for Education is charged with developing a comprehensive strategy for the Institution’s educational mission that builds external partnership and solidifies and extends the Smithsonian’s position as one of the world’s leading education providers. SI educators enlighten, inspire, and engage people of all ages with programs characterized by excellence, breadth, and diversity. Through our 23 museums, outreach programs, libraries, 14 research centers, national zoo, web sites, magazines and TV channel, the Smithsonian provides a multitude of formal and informal educational experiences that reach learners of all ages. Each Smithsonian unit has its own education program and to reach our goals the Smithsonian family will need support to engage in more pan-institutional collaborations across units to ensure greater reach, relevance, and profound impact. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Office of the Under Secretary of Education (OUSE) seeks an experienced individual to serve as Assistant Director of Advancement. The incumbent will execute a fundraising program focused on high capacity (six to seven figures) giving to support the OUSE and pan-institutional educational programming and outreach, including priority projects at units reporting into OUSE—SITES | Smithsonian Affiliates and the Smithsonian Science Education Center. The incumbent will build and manage a new portfolio of prosp