Training Specialist (IS-1712-09)

DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC

Position sensitivity and risk: Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Open to all qualified applicants

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).

This position is located in the Education Department, Office of External Affairs, National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), Smithsonian Institution (SI). The NMAAHC is the national museum for the study and exposition of African American history and culture. Its primary purposes are to acquire, maintain and preserve objects which document social, cultural, political, military, technological and scientific developments associated with African Americans in the United States; to conduct scholarly research designed to make significant contributions to the body of knowledge in the field of African American history; to publish findings for both scholarly and general audiences; and to interpret historical developments through public exhibits and programs.

The Training Specialist assists in planning, coordinating, implementing, and evaluating education and training programs throughout NMAAHC.

In this position you will:

• Support the planning, developing, and implementing of Audience Engagement programming.
• Ensure that the programs are directly connected to the museum’s exhibitions and collections and contain a wide range of content to actively engage new and diverse audiences.
• Actively collaborate with contractors, staff, advisors, and community partners in the development of new educational workshops, programs, and resource creation.
• Work with the Audience Engagement team and members of the OCA staff to ensure the accuracy of educational programs and to provide the broadest range of programs to enhance the meaning of the collection and special exhibitions.
• Participate in implementing program evaluation methods and tools to accurately measure the effectiveness of training activities and learning events. Participates in the development of pre-course and post-course survey questions.
• Assist in planning programs, identify and obtain program presenters, plan and track the budget, secure program space, make publicity arrangements, and coordinate registration.
• Assist with developing project work plans including, but not limited to budgets, serving as COTR, spending plans, and schedules.
• Prepare reports on program participation, support ongoing program evaluation and apply findings to program improvement.
• Develop collaborations with other Smithsonian museums and outside organizations to further the goals and objectives of the Audience Engagement educational mission.
• Assist in developing the website and different electronic outreach environments, interpretive signage, and brochures.
• Coordinate and participate in workshops, seminars, lectures, and other meetings devoted to exploring or encouraging the practice of museum education and teaching through traditional and nontraditional means, including SI-wide education-related meetings.

This position has basic Individual Occupational Requirements. Unofficial transcripts are required at the time of application.

Education: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- education or a subject area related to the position.
Or
Specialized Experience: Experience that demonstrated a practical knowledge of the subject area of the position and of the methods and techniques of instruction (e.g., work in the occupation or subject matter field that required training or instructing others on a regular basis).

Experience: In addition to the requirements above, applicants will qualify with at least one year of experience as follows:

1. Proven experience with program development for special audiences by utilizing learning theory in a museum or similar cultural environment.
2. Knowledge of public museums, collections, studies or exhibits sufficient to present a wide variety of programming/instruction.
3. Skill with implementing program evaluation methods and tools to accurately measure the effectiveness of training activities (e.g., developing pre-course and post-course survey questions).

Applicants may also qualify for this position if they have two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master’s or equivalent degree if related to the position. Transcripts must be included at the time of application.

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.

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.

The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact thomasdo@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 To review The Smithsonian's EEO program information, please click the following: https://www.si.edu/oeo