Exhibits Specialist (Exhibition Designer)

Exhibits Specialist (Exhibition Designer)

Department: Other Agencies and Independent Organizations

Location(s): Washington, District of Columbia

Salary Range: $85447 - $111087 Per Year

Job 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 Exhibits, Design, and Special Projects department, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (HMSG), Office of the Under Secretary of Museum and Culture (OUSMC), Smithsonian Institution (SI).

Major Duties:

• This position serves as an Exhibition Designer in the Exhibits, Design, and Special Projects department at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (HMSG). The department is responsible for planning, designing, and coordinating interior and exterior installations, producing and maintaining exhibitions, and other public and private spaces of HMSG. In this position, you will: Use creativity, innovation, and knowledge of presenting two- and three-dimensional works of art and site-specific interior and exterior artworks, utilizing a working knowledge of art historical considerations and conservation best practices to devise the best presentation of exhibition themes to realize curatorial intent and artist vision. Coordinate with curators, registrars, conservators, and exhibit fabrication and installation teams, to establish and adhere to production schedules, and ensure aesthetically and technically correct installations. Serve as COTR, monitoring the execution of multiple concurrent projects, assuring that commitments, obligations, and deliverables meet the requirements of the museum and agreements with outside stakeholders.

Qualifications: Basic Qualifications: 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. 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. OR Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): 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 qualification requirement 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 experience developing or designing museum or gallery exhibitions including coordinating construction, preparation, and installation of exhibits; designing building space and exhibit furnishings as well as wall displays; and using CAD software to prepare floor plans, elevations, cross-sections, and scale details. Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages and should clearly demonstrate how your experience aligns with the responsibilities and specialized experience required for this position. Do not copy language directly from the vacancy announcement, as you will be deemed ineligible for consideration. Instead, provide detailed, descriptive information about your actual experience. 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 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.

How to Apply: Click on the "Apply Online" button on the upper right side of the page. Please Note: You must apply for this position online through the 'Apply Online' button and submit required supplemental documents (if they are relevant to you). Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages. You may submit required documents by uploading them online during the application process. The complete application package, including any required documents, is due in the Smithsonian Office of Human Resources on the closing date of the announcement by 11:59 PM Eastern Time. If you are unable to apply online, paper applications may be accepted with prior approval of the Contact Person listed below.

Application Deadline: 2026-02-02