Education Program Administrator (Fellows) (IS-1701-11)

Application Deadline: 31 December 2024

Department: National Museum of Natural History

Location: Washington, DC

Compensation: $82,764 - $107,590 / year

Description

OPEN DATE: December 10, 2024
CLOSING DATE: December 31, 2024
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite
PROMOTION POTENTIAL: IS-1701-12
SCHEDULE: 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

Come join a dedicated and creative team at an exceptional time for the Smithsonian, an institution with a bold vision for the future: to build a better tomorrow for all. The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoological Park. The National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) is part of the Smithsonian's unique complex and is one of the most visited museums in the United States. Its mission is to promote understanding of the natural world and our place in it. NMNH has a collection of 148 million specimens and artifacts. Each one reflects a moment in space and time and in these moments, we find Earth's story.

The National Museum of Natural History is seeking an experienced candidate to fill the Education Program Administrator (Fellows) position responsible for coordinating, managing, and executing all aspects of NMNH's Fellowship Program to include recruitment of fellows and host sites, implementation of professional development programs for cohorts; onboarding fellows; developing program guidelines for the fellowship program; managing program budget and coordinating with the grant committee.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Education Program Administrator (Fellows) will perform the following duties:

• Work with Smithsonian units and external partners (colleges and universities, art and design programs, professional networks, etc.) to advertise and promote fellowship opportunities to a variety of potential host institutions and prospective fellows. This includes responding to inquiries, developing, distributing, and updating informational materials, and conducting possible site visits.


• Develop and monitor contracts with host institutions.


• Develop and implement curriculum for content-rich seminars/professional development programs for each cohort of fellows. This may include coordination with partner sites and managing logistics for on-site and virtual programming.


• Coordinate with Museum leaders, NMNH staff and external partners to select fellows and develop guidelines for the program, to include program goals, application and selection process, program structure, metrics for measuring outcomes of the program, and mechanisms for reporting results.


• Serve as the main point-of-contact for incoming fellows, from the application process through the end of the fellowship. Provide oversight to ensure the fellowship experience meets proposed guidelines. May assist with other needs, such as housing options.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Education: To qualify for this position, applicants must possess a degree from an accredited college or university that included or was supplemented by major study in education or in a subject-matter field appropriate to the position.

In addition to meeting the education requirements above, applicants must also meet the qualification requirements below:

Experience:
Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 level in the Federal Service. For this position specialized experience is defined as experience designing, implementing, or managing professional development programming for undergraduate students, graduate fellows, post-doctoral fellows, or other adult learners.

OR

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Three full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, if related to the position.

OR

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of education and experience as described above.


Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Knowledge of the methods, goals, and practices of fellowships and internships.


• Skill in administering the recruitment, selection, placement, and reporting aspects of a fellowship program.


• Knowledge of current best practices for professional development of fellows as it pertains to museum science.


• Ability to use program management techniques, including planning, directing, and administering for relevant programs.


• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across programs and partnerships.


• Skill in researching, identifying, and managing collaborative partnerships with outside organizations.
  
  

The Smithsonian Institution values and seeks a diverse workforce. Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."

To Apply:
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.

Unofficial school transcripts (undergraduate and graduate) must be submitted with your application package by the closing date of the announcement. If selected for the position, you must provide official transcripts before appointment.

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.

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 and Relocation incentives will not be 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 [email protected]. 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: https://www.si.edu/oeesd.


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.