Exhibit Specialist, Fabrication - Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute(Washington, DC)

Jan 16

Summary

The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. This position is located in Smithsonian Institution Exhibits (SIE), Smithsonian Institution in Landover, Maryland. The incumbent will perform a full range of production and related tasks in the preparation and installation of museum exhibitions of a complex nature, each with unique challenges including specialized techniques and unique materials.

Salary

$84,601 - $109,975 per year

To view this job and apply, click here.

Duties

The Exhibits Specialist (Fabrication) is responsible for the creation, fabrication, and installation of three-dimensional exhibit components such as dioramas, models, mounts, 3D Prints and milled components replicating various artifacts and objects using a diversity of materials and a significant use of CAD/CAM technology in the production of parts and components.

In this position, you will:

Work from conceptual ideas, scale layouts, detailed design drawings, or files, the incumbent prepares and produces finished exhibit components.
Utilize a wide variety of materials such as plastics, epoxies, adhesives, plaster, clay, wood, wood, composites, laminates, metals. Using knowledge of materials and their applications, the incumbent determines the most appropriate technique and approach for each assignment, selecting the most appropriate materials while using a high degree of technical and artistic skill to accomplish the task.
Work with project managers, designers, curators, and other diverse museum professionals, the specialist accepts responsibility for his/her part in the production of a given project, and at many times, works in a team setting.
Research and identify proper materials; assisting in the estimating of the project; providing feedback on designs and/or drawings submitted; specifying and/or ordering supplies; directing the work of others or acting as point person during the course of a specific project; and representing the department as needed.
Detail the components or submitted digital files using a variety of computer 3D scanning/manipulation software or CAD/CAM software.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Pass Pre-employment Background Investigation
May need to complete a Probationary Period
Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer
Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.

Conditions of Employment

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions on OPM website.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Must be able to lift 50 lbs. Must be able to work within confined spaces. Must participate in the SI hearing and respiratory monitoring programs. Must be able to lift, bend, stoop and stretch for extended periods of time. Must be able to operate all hand and power tools and all graphic production equipment. Must be able to climb ladders and scaffolds and balance to work in a variety of positions from ladders and scaffolds. Must work near eye irritants and hazardous substances. Must be able to wear personal protective equipment (PPE).

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications: This position has individual occupation requirements of: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- illustrative design, commercial art, fine arts, industrial design, architecture, drafting, interior design, or other fields related to the position.

Advanced training in a vocational school, technical institute, or art institute above the high school level in one of the fields listed above is creditable as general experience on a month-for-month basis. A copy of your (unofficial) transcripts is required at the time of application if you are meeting the basic qualifications by education.

Experience in the actual type of work for which application is made. Unpaid experience is creditable, provided the work done was of a quality level and demonstrated the ability required for the position. This includes work in the appropriate field, e.g., design, modelmaking, art, taxidermy, or restoration.

In addition to the basic requirements above:

Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal Service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as executing complex museum exhibit projects through pre-production, fabrication, and installation phases; mentoring, overseeing, and integrating CAD/CAM software and techniques into the fabrication process workflow.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Part-time and/or unpaid experience related to this position will be considered to determine the total number of years and months of experience. Be sure to note the number of paid or unpaid hours worked each week.

Or Education:

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related such as illustrative design, commercial art, fine arts, industrial design, architecture, drafting, interior design, or other fields related to the position.

Or a Combination: Education and experience may be combined to meet the basic qualifications. For a full explanation of this option please see the Qualification Standards.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are qualifying by education and/or you have education completed in a foreign college/university described above, it is your responsibility to provide transcripts and proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study. For instructions on where to fax these documents, see the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Education

Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- illustrative design, commercial art, fine arts, industrial design, architecture, drafting, interior design, or other fields related to the position.

Additional information

This position is included in the bargaining unit.

Current or Former Political Appointees: Beginning January 1, 2010, agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level under the provisions of title 5, United States Code. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Office of Human Resources. Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:

Position title;
Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee);
Agency; and,
Beginning and ending dates of appointment.

Recruitment Incentive: Recruitment incentive(s) may be authorized for this position. However, approval for incentives are contingent upon various availability. If authorized, certain incentives will require the incumbent to sign a service agreement to remain in the Federal government for a certain time period.

Note: This statement does not imply nor guarantee an incentive will be offered and paid.

Selections may be made for vacancies across the Smithsonian Institution (SI). By applying to this position, you agree to allow your application and other personal information to be shared with one or more SI hiring officials for employment consideration for same/similar positions within the location(s) identified in this announcement.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applicants for this position may be evaluated in multiple stages. The first stage is an evaluation of your responses to the online multiple-choice questions that assess your experience, education, and/or training for the job-related competencies below:

Ability to prepare and produce finished exhibit components from conceptual ideas, scale layouts, detailed design drawings, or files.
Knowledge of and skill in applying appropriate metal, metal alloy, Plexiglas plastic, wood or exotic raw materials sufficient to achieve required result and objective.
Knowledge of and skill in design, visual arts, materials, methods and tools to construct unique one-of-a-kind devices, displays or exhibits sufficient to work as a team member in the creation and production of a broad range of exhibit elements.
Ability to interpret design and shop detail drawing packages, scopes of work and technical specifications for exhibits and manage stock materials and purchasing schedule for project materials.
Knowledge and skill in a variety of computer applications, printers, graphic software programs, layout (such as CAD, Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and onyx etc.,).

Applicants who meet or exceed minimum qualifications will be assigned to one of three category groups based on job-related criteria:

Best Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and excels in most of the job-related competencies above.
Better Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and satisfies most of the job-related competencies above.
Good Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements but does not satisfy most of the job-related competencies above to a substantive degree.

This category rating process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Category) provided no preference eligible in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied. Preference eligibles who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher. Applicants who have not submitted a resume in the USAjobs system and/or have not answered all of the vacancy questions will not be considered for this position.

Important Note:

Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire or other assessment tool for consistency. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your resume, you will be assigned a rating commensurate to your described experience. Your resume should provide sufficient information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed.

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