Museum Specialist (General) IS-1016-11

Application Deadline: 27 February 2026

Department: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Washington, DC

Reporting To: Supervisory Museum Curator

Compensation: $85,447 - $111,087 / year

Description

OPEN DATE:  February 6, 2026                  CLOSING DATE: February 27, 2026    (This job will close once 150 applications are received which may be sooner than the closing date)     POSITION TYPE: Trust FundAPPOINTMENT TYPE:    IndefiniteSCHEDULE: Full Time DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC 

Position sensitivity and risk:  Non-sensitive (NS)/Low 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

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.  The position serves as museum specialist in the Earl W. and Amanda Stafford Center for African American Media Arts (CAAMA).

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Museum Specialist will assist the Supervisory Museum Curator of Photography and Film and Director of CAAMA with key aspects of exhibition planning as well as with maintaining, acquiring, documenting and managing one of the largest collection of objects, more than 25,000 photographs, as well as time-based media such as film, video, and audio.  In this position you will:

• conduct research on topics, themes and objects within the Smithsonian, outside museums, private collections, universities, libraries and other cultural educational organizations associated with African American history, art, culture especially related to photography and tine-based media (e.g., film, video and audio).
• use the museum's collections information system (TMS) to search, identify, and obtain curatorial and/or collections management information on objects.
• collaborate with collections management and curatorial staff in the long-term development of the NMAAHC's collection and participate in efforts to expand the collection.
• support the collection acquisitions and loan processes by preparing justifications, researching potential acquisitions, communicating with vendors, assisting with processing acquisitions paperwork, and monitoring all phases of payment processing.
• respond to inquiries regarding collections from the public, interfacing with potential donors, galleries, and dealers.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Experience:  Experience related to the operation or management of a museum or similar collection of valuable objects. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include collections management, registration, cataloging, research, preservation, restoration, or conservation of collections of museum material, or other experience related to the position to be filled.  
The ideal candidate should have demo