Program Assistant (Innovation) (IS-1702-07)

Application Deadline: 16 November 2024

Department: Smithsonian Science Education Center

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Washington, DC

Reporting To: Assistant Division Director of Professional Services

Compensation: $55,924 - $59,653 / year

Description

OPEN DATE: October 21, 2024

CLOSING DATE: November 16, 2024 (This job will close once 100 applications are received which may be sooner than the closing date.)

POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Temporary Not to Exceed One (1) Year (with an option to renew annually)

SCHEDULE: Full Time

DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC (remote candidates will be considered)

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 Science Education Center (SSEC) is an organization of the Smithsonian Institution dedicated to transforming K-12 Education Through Science in collaboration with communities across the globe. To achieve its mission, SSEC has four goals: (1) promote authentic, inquiry-based, integrated K-12 science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) teaching and learning; (2) ensure diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI) in K-12 STEM education; (3) advance STEM education for sustainable development (STEM4SD); and (4) translate the research and collections of the Smithsonian into meaningful tools and convenings for K-12 teachers and students. SSEC achieves its goals by: (a) building awareness for science education among school leaders; (b) promoting Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform (LASER); (c) supporting the professional growth of K-12 teachers and school leaders; (d) developing exemplary K-12 curriculum materials and digital resources (including the comprehensive research-based science curriculum programs: Smithsonian Science for the Classroom; Science and Technology Concepts for Middle School; and Smithsonian Science for Global Goals); and (d) engaging in research. At the heart of SSEC’s work is the idea that all youth—regardless of gender, sexual orientation, geography, race, native language, ability, or socio-economic status—should be given the opportunities to learn about the socio-scientific issues that challenge us. The Smithsonian, through the Smithsonian Science Education Center, plays an active role in sparking students' and teachers' interest in STEM to ensure scientific literacy and a sustainable planet. or additional information about the SSEC visit www.ssec.si.edu.

The official position title is Educational Technician with a working title of Program Assistant. The incumbent will report to the Assistant Division Director of Professional Services and assist the Professional Services Division with general administrative support including preparing travel documents, assisting with on-site and virtual events, and education materials development. Remote candidates will be considered.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Gathers educational research and resources for educational programming. In coordination with team members, develops and prepares summaries on updated and informational resources related to educational leadership and professional development programming.
• Supports pre-event and post-event logistics, working with internal and external parties, for in-person and virtual programming that can include the following: conducting on-site setup/breakdown of audiovisual equipment and laptops, loading presentations and videos, securing venues, catering, managing web conferencing platforms, and providing logistical information and ongoing program communication to participants.
• Assists in the development of participant materials for professional development workshops and supports the development of event agendas and slide decks.
• Maintains a record of program evaluations and participant data and updates event data and records using spreadsheet software and automated systems.
  
  

Provides a variety of administrative support services to the Professional Services Division. This support includes the following:

• Maintains and updates budget expenses on spreadsheets, reviewing, reconciling, and filing travel expenses, travel authorizations, vouchers, and receipts; and administering records management.
• Supports vendors enrolling in Vendor Maintenance and the System for Award Management.
• Prepares contract paperwork by compiling relevant documents and Statements of Work for review and higher approval.
• Arranges and tracks participant travel and organizational data using travel software, enterprise resources software, and/or word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software (e.g. Concur and PeopleSoft systems, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Works with SSEC staff to support the development of proposals and reports for grants and gifts to support the work of the Professional Services Division and SSEC by providing relevant evaluation summary data and demographics.
• Develops and maintains positive working relationships with the SSEC staff, contractors, Smithsonian personnel, and customers consisting of corporate and foundation representatives, school district employees, and vendors.
• Prepares routine correspondence and emails, responds to general phone and email inquiries, and schedules meetings.
• Communicates directly with internal and external parties regarding travel arrangements, itineraries, program agendas, etc.
• Drafts language for SSEC newsletters, reports, social media and other digital communications and outreach projects.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
  
  

The successful candidate will be expected to travel to venues nationwide and internationally and provide on-site assistance at SSEC events with audiences that include leaders in education, district science specialists and classroom teachers.

Qualification Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a natural science or science education preferred but not required.
• Preference for fluency in Chinese or Cantonese.
• Knowledge of education content development concepts and practices, and basic knowledge of teaching, training, research, and related instructional methods to provide support to professional education staff.
• Knowledge of event program logistics coordination for in-person and virtual functions.
• Ability to perform a wide range of administrative duties, including office filing; logistics and coordination; travel research and receipt management; time and attendance procedures; budget tracking; procurement and contracts preparation; routine documentation, and filing.
• Ability to plan and organize work and work with a team, often under the challenges of multiple projects and short deadlines.
• Ability to interact and negotiate diplomatically, effectively, collaboratively, and on a sustained basis with Smithsonian Institution staff members, donors, sponsors, registrants and SSEC Advisory Board members.
• Ability to communicate both orally and in writing in a wide range of formats and consistent with formal English grammar principles, sufficient to compose correspondence, draft education materials, and relay information on educational topics to subject matter experts and laypersons.
  
  

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 rejection of your application 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 [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.