Federal

Supervisory Museum Curator (Art)

Smithsonian Institution ยท Other Agencies and Independent Organizations
๐Ÿ“ Washington, District of Columbia GS-14 $143,913 - $187,093/yr
Posted: Feb 13, 2026 Deadline: Mar 16, 2026 (Closes in 29 days days left)

About This Position

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 Curatorial department of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (HMSG). The Hirshhorn is a leading voice for contemporary art and culture and provides a national platform for the art and artists of our time.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications: Degree: museum work; or in an applicable subject-matter field. OR Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. OR Four years of experience that provided knowledge comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of the 4-year course of study as shown in A above. 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-13 level in the Federal Service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as experience managing the curatorial functions of a modern and contemporary art museum or similar cultural organization including research, exhibitions, and collections development; proposing acquisitions for permanent collections; and conducting scholarly research and producing publications and/or exhibitions related to modern and contemporary art. 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.

Major Duties

The Supervisory Museum Curator (Art) participates in the administration of the Museum's curatorial programs and staff relating to painting, sculpture, graphic arts, and photography, as well as performance, digital media, video, and technology. In this position, you will: Supervise departmental staff, interns, and fellows by assigning projects, providing guidance and counseling, completing performance plans and evaluations, and recommending appropriate personnel actions. Initiate, develop, and manage major research projects of significant scope in collaboration with HMSG professionals, colleagues at other museums, artists' foundations, and external scholars. Work with the Director and relevant staff to recommend objects for acquisition through purchase or gift and participate in the review of collection objects for potential deaccession. Plan and develop concepts for large-scale, complex exhibitions involving loans from museums and private collections, as well as smaller, focused exhibitions, and serve as coordinator for traveling exhibitions.

Conditions of Employment

Conditions of Employment Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions on OPM website.

Education

This position has basic education requirements.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Applicants for this position may be evaluated in multiple stages. The first stage is an evaluation of your responses to the online multiple-choice questions that assess your experience, education, and/or training for the job related competencies below: Skill in managing and motivating staff, setting goals, and communicating them to others. Demonstrate the ability to distinguish between highly specialized scholarly topics and subjects of broader public interest, and to communicate effectively to both audiences. Expert knowledge of modern art (ca. 1830โ€“1960), combined with substantial in-depth expertise and experience. Demonstrated experience organizing exhibitions of significant scope and collaborating effectively with museum professionals. Ability to determine and manage exhibition budgets. Applicants who meet or exceed minimum qualifications will be assigned to one of three category groups based on job-related criteria: Best Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and excels in most of the job related competencies above. Better Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and satisfies most of the job related competencies above. Good Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements, but does not satisfy most of the job related competencies above to a substantive degree. This category rating process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three", but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Category) provided no preference eligible in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied. Preference eligibles who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher. Applicants who have not submitted a resume in the USAjobs system and/or have not answered all of the vacancy questions will not be considered for this position. Important Note: Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire or other assessment tool for consistency. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your resume, you will be assigned a rating commensurate to your described experience. Your resume should provide sufficient information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed. You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Additional Information

This position is not included in the bargaining unit. 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.

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.

Required Documents

Your application package should include the following documents: Resume - Your resume can be uploaded and attached to your application or created using the USA Jobs on-line resume builder. Ensure your resume contains the job title (including the occupational series and grade if it is Federal), job-related qualifications, starting and ending dates (month and year), and hours worked per week, for each employment period. It is your responsibility to ensure all information is submitted. Failure to include this information may result in disqualification for the position. For assistance with creating a resume, please click USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job? Proof of Veteran's Preference - DD214 (Member 4 Copy), if you are a veteran. Additionally, applicants claiming 10-point preference must complete Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, as well as additional documentation required by the SF-15, such as a VA letter. Unofficial school transcripts, if the position has an education requirement or if you are using education to qualify. If selected for the position, you must provide an official transcript before appointment. Proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study, if applicable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Supervisory Museum Curator (Art) position at Smithsonian Institution ?
The salary range for this position is $143,913 - $187,093/yr. This is a GS-14 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Supervisory Museum Curator (Art) job located?
This position is located in Washington, District of Columbia. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
Basic Qualifications: Degree: museum work; or in an applicable subject-matter field. OR Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. OR Four years of experience that provided knowledge comparable to that normally acquired through the successful...
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Mar 16, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
No security clearance is required for this position.
What does GS-14 mean?
GS-14 refers to the General Schedule grade level. Higher grades require more experience and offer higher pay. Visit our GS Pay Scale page for full salary tables by grade and locality.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.