Photographer IS-1060-11

Application Deadline: 26 August 2025

Department: National Museum of the American Latino

Employment Type: Fixed Term - Full Time

Location: Washington, DC

Compensation: $84,601 - $109,975 / year

Description

OPEN DATE: August 11, 2025          CLOSING DATE: August 26, 2025               POSITION TYPE: Trust FundAPPOINTMENT TYPE:   Term, Not to exceed 3 yearsSCHEDULE: Full Time DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC 

Position sensitivity and risk: Add the Security Level for this position: refer to the PD for reference

Select One of the following:

• 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

This position is located organizationally in Content and Interpretation, National Museum of the American Latino (NMAL), Under Secretary for Museums and Culture, Smithsonian Institution (SI). SI is a diverse museum and research complex dedicated to the increase and diffusion of knowledge. NMAL connects with audiences both online and in-person as a national museum dedicated to enriching the appreciation of America’s Latino heritage, sharing the experiences and perspectives of Latinos across history and deepen our shared understanding of what it means to be American. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino (NMAL) seeks an enthusiastic and experienced photographer to provide photography and digital capture services, photo studio management and digital asset management services for the Museum’s collection.  This position will:  

• Produces high quality visual documentation of collections, ensuring safe and secure collections handling.  
• Manages the lifecycle of digital assets, including preparing files for ingest into the SI Digital Asset Management System (DAMS), adding appropriate metadata, and where appropriate enabling linking to the collections information system(s) of record. 
• Supports the Museum’s collection and research projects through the creation of a digital record of the people and places of Latino influence.
• Creates photographs, audio/video recordings and other digital records that render the character and feel of local communities
• Manages daily operations of the photography studio, including contributing to development of plans and budgets. 

 Additional position factors:·        Travel may be required. ·        Work during the evenings and weekends may be necessary.·        Requires ability to stand for long periods of time. ·        Requires ability to lift objects up to 50 pounds, unassisted. ·        Requires dexterity to manipulate delicate, intricate equipment and objects. ·        Requires accurate vision sufficient to focus the camera and assess and correct sharpness and color.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Experience: To qualify for this position, applicants must possess 3-5 years of related experience (described below).

Experience required for this position is as follows:

·        Comprehensive knowledge of photographic a