Head of Invention Education, IS-1701-12

Application Deadline: 31 March 2025

Department: National Museum of American History

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Washington, DC

Reporting To: Director, Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention & Innovation

Compensation: $101,401 - $133,826 / year

Description

OPEN DATE:  March 24, 2025CLOSING DATE:  March 31, 2025POSITION TYPE: Trust FundAPPOINTMENT TYPE:  IndefiniteSCHEDULE:  Full Time DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC 

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

Open to SI Only

**This position is being recruited at the grade 12 with promotion potential up to grade 13. The incumbent may be non-competitively promoted to the next grade level upon satisfactory completion of qualifications/performance and at the management’s discretion. Meeting these requirements does not entitle the incumbent to advancement.

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 in the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, Division of Public History, National Museum of American History (NMAH), Undersecretary for Museums and Culture, Smithsonian Institution (SI). The Lemelson Center’s mission is to promote public understanding of the history and role of invention and innovation in society. The position develops the Lemelson Center’s education philosophy and directs the Center’s educational outreach programs. Responsibilities include developing and producing Lemelson Center educational programs, serving as the lead education representative for Lemelson Center and other NMAH exhibition projects, developing interactive exhibit components and educational products, managing budgets, and supervising personnel associated with those activities. The position directs the operation of Spark!Lab, the Lemelson Center’s hands-on invention learning space aimed at families with children at NMAH, as well as the Spark!Lab Network, a consortium of Spark!Lab installations at external museums, libraries, and cultural institutions across the US and select foreign countries. This position has promotion potential to the IS-1701-13 grade level. This position requires occasional work on evenings, weekends, or holidays in accordance with Smithsonian Institution policy. This position also requires national and international travel.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develops hands-on and digital educational activities, exhibit components, and instructional materials on historical and contemporary topics related to invention and the creative process designed to reach diverse audiences which may include both informal and formal settings.
• Recommends a conceptual framework for exhibit components, hands-on activities, public programs, and instructional materials that reflect the needs of the visitor.
• Manages research for front-end and formative evaluation which informs the design of exhibition elements, hands-on and digital activities, and educational programming. Conducts summative evaluations to measure the efficacy of