Conservator

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 the National Air and Space Museum at the Udvar-Hazy Center. The Conservation Unit is responsible for providing treatment, conservation assessments, environmental monitoring, staff training, and technical advice on collections care issues in support of the Strategic Plan and Performance Measures of the Smithsonian Institution. Responsibilities This position is responsible for properly protecting the National collection of aeronautics and space artifacts in perpetuity and guaranteeing intellectual as well as physical control over those collections. In this position, you will: Provide technical expertise and understanding in all efforts to apply established conservation principles to objects, this includes condition reporting, treatment, and environmental monitoring to artifacts and items held under the institution’s collections. Ensure collection items are treated or maintained in accordance with established procedures; and provide technical advice concerning the most appropriate interaction (i.e. handling, environment, protective clothing) with collections artifacts to museum employees. Perform conservation treatment through the use of various tools; recommend fabrication treatments; and participate or lead object handling and movement, photography, and related tasks during various phases of the collections management process. Provide the Chief Conservator, NASM curators and Collections Management with information, reports and presentations on project status, collection needs and budget requirements. Requirements Conditions of Employment Requires career/career-conditional status or eligibility. Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service. Work involves lifting, stooping, climbing and standing Work involves using chemicals and solvents in a laboratory setting Conditions of Employment Qualification requirements, including one year time-in-grade at the next lower grade level for promotion candidates, must be met within 30 days of the job announcement closing date. See the Required Documents section for additional information. For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions viewable on OPM Website. Qualifications Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal Service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as experience to include the supervision of interns, fellows and contractors; and performing collections care tasks to include the following: artifact condition examination, conservation treatment, preventative conservation, use of a collections information system data base, and preparation of object condition reports. 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. 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 There is no education requirement for this 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.