Senior Program Specialist - Smithsonian (Washington, DC)
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 and 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 as low risk.
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 Smithsonian Institution, Undersecretary of Science and Research, National Air & Space Museum, Bezos Learning Center. The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum (NASM) is one of over 20 units that comprise the Smithsonian Institution - including museums, libraries, research centers, publications, web presence and the national zoo - and is dedicated to the increase and diffusion of knowledge to enlighten, inspire, and engage individuals of all ages. The Bezos Learning Center leverages the rich collections, research, and education assets of both NASM and Smithsonian overall to develop meaningful and relevant onsite and digital experiences that engage local, national, and global audiences.
The incumbent serves as a Senior Program Specialist, responsible for overseeing two staff members.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Supervision
Plans, organizes, directs, supervises, and manages the personnel management activities of an education team. Oversees and coordinates complex, long-term projects. Plans and carries out the full range of supervisory and managerial authorities related to assignment of work, coordination with other programs, management advisory services, technical work direction, evaluation of subordinates, selections for vacant positions, resolving complaints, proposing disciplinary actions, determining, or approving training needs, approving expenditure of funds, recommending awards and bonuses and determining means to improve productivity.
Exercises delegated managerial authority to set annual and multi-year plans and schedules for projects accomplished in-house and by contract. Determines goals and objectives for the team, where emphasis should be placed and how best to use resources including realignments to address shortfalls or to satisfy priority needs. Ensures the design, implementation, and achievement of performance metrics.
Education and Training
Devises and researches the applicability of new learning techniques and technologies to advance the dissemination of institutional resources both in physical or digital environments.
Applies insight and understanding into instructional design methods, educational technology training, design and development, and various learning styles to facilitate education within the institution in non-formal settings.
Technical understanding in academic learning environments, structures, curriculum, and teaching standards used to provide instruction for various learning styles and age groups.
Incorporates museum educational programs, resources, and materials with established educational principles, practices, and methods sufficient to measure and assess the proficiency in which student retain the information.
Technical Competence
Proposes innovative strategies for developing and adapting educational programs to further the mission of the department, which lead to adapting legacy educational materials with new and modern approaches to learning.
Works in concert with researchers, evaluators, and various museum personnel to ensure that educational content aligns with institutional offerings and that subject matter discussed accurately conveys themes, facts, characteristics, and technical information conveyed in exhibits and artifacts within the institutions collection.
Develops formal documents that schedule material to be evaluated for consistency with established educational practices; submits drafts of new learning materials replacing outdated educational resources; and devises qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate the efficacy of learning products.
Research and Innovation
Catalogues and prioritizes content development with designated exhibits and installations; identifies metrics that evidences popular institutional offerings; sources applicable technological interfaces providing similar content but different learning experience and develops proposals for acquisition and implementation.
Monitors and ensures evaluation is conducted on organizational activities – out of school programs for youth, and the associated rotating display of student work - to ensure the achievement of desired results.
Researches and suggests new and innovative technologies that amplify the BLCs ability to meaningfully engage audiences. Once approved, implement technology appropriately.
Accesses the digital infrastructure of the BLC to broaden audience reach and impact through virtual programs and products that engage learners who are not visiting the Museum’s physical location in DC.
Project Management
Coordinates projects that lead to the development of youth-focused programs alongside institutional researchers and evaluators to determine presentation content, structure, and topics. Participates in the review of program-related deliverables like signage, publications, programs, and materials to ensure that information is appropriate and accurate.
Leverages the rich collections, research, and education assets of both NASM and Smithsonian overall to develop meaningful and relevant onsite and digital experiences that engage youth – locally and nationally, and eventually worldwide.
Contributes to the research, development, and testing in the use of new and unprecedented learning interfaces that are both digital and physical; meeting with vendors and suppliers; and supporting discussions whether to acquire the resource and technology.
Leads the planning, management and execution of educational programming that will showcase and make accessible NASM content (60%) and often support pan-institutional collaboration (40%). Provides reporting concerning project status, detailing successes, failures, or approvals required, tracks progress in relation to agreed timeframes, and notifies leadership of project lag and source.
Performs other duties as necessary.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Education and Experience: To qualify for this position, applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from an accredited four-year college or university and/or 3-5 years of related experience (described below); or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience required for this position is as follows:
Knowledge of program and project management concepts, sufficient to support the development of tasks, objectives, and timeframes required to accomplish organizational goals and initiatives.
Knowledge in techniques and requirements to develop educational materials and learning plans for beginner and intermediate learning groups.
Practical, knowledge incorporating educational materials and learning concepts into museum digital and physical resources, and throughout the institutional environment.
Skill, researching and applying various learning styles into refreshes or modernization of museum exhibits and installations to enhance retention of information.
Skill, working in a team-based environment to coordinate formal discussions on adopting new digital and physical interfaces to convey information.
Ability, to develop technical documents that track, report, and visualize the completion of work and achievement of objectives underlying a project.
Ability, to identify vendors, suppliers, and consultants that can partner with the institution to adapt, modify, and create new exhibits and installations for defined subject matters.
Applicants, who wish to qualify based on education completed outside the United States, must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.
Any false statement in your application may result in your application being rejected and may also result in termination after employment begins.
The Smithsonian Institution values and seeks a diverse workforce. Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."
Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.
What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.
Relocation expenses are not paid.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact NASM-HR@si.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.
The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that a workforce comprising a variety of educational, cultural, and experiential backgrounds support and enhance our daily work life and contribute to the richness of our exhibitions and programs. See Smithsonian EEO program information: www.si.edu/oeema.
About Smithsonian Institution
Founded in 1846, the Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum and research complex of 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoological Park and nine research facilities. There are 6,000 Smithsonian employees, including approximately 500 scientists. The total number of objects, works of art and specimens at the Smithsonian is estimated at nearly 137 million.
