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Exhibits Specialist (Cost Estimate)


Job Location:

Washington, DC - USA

Yearly Salary: USD 102415 - 102415
Posted: 6 October 2026 (2 days ago)
Application Deadline: 3 January 2027
Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Summary

The Smithsonian Institution is the worlds largest museum education and research complex with 21 museums and the National Zoo. This position is located in Smithsonian Institution Exhibits (SIE) Office of the Under Secretary for Museums & Culture Smithsonian Institution (SI). SIE is the SI-wide resource for exhibit planning design and production. SIE provides expertise and support to all public-facing exhibit functions within SI museums research centers and offices.


Duties

The Exhibits Specialist (Cost Estimate) provides comprehensive and objectively based information for making decisions on the administrative and programmatic aspects of unit operations.

In this position you will:

  • Develop cost estimates for projects by performing cost/benefit and economic evaluations of current and projected projects by monitoring and analyzing overall capacity commitment and impact on project production and budget.
  • Independently develop descriptive diagnostic and predictive analytic products that provide valid and accurate information that informs decision making by the SIE Exhibits Production Management Team.
  • Prepare and draft summary reports for diverse audiences and at all levels of institutional and unit leadership to support implementation of management operational and production functions communicating findings conclusions and recommendations to SI Management and other decision makers in non-technical accessible language.
  • Conduct complex research and provide analysis to support the SIE management team project managers and staff in the development implementation and optimization of project production performance measurement efforts while interfacing with institutional staff at all levels to ensure efficient and effective execution of project deliverables.
  • Provide expertise in data collection and analysis techniques to best support the business and organizational goals of The Smithsonian and the execution of SIE projects by applying extensive knowledge of software systems for data collection and analysis.

Requirements
Conditions of employment
  • Requires career/career-conditional status or eligibility.
  • Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.

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 seeQualification Standards Handbook forGeneral Schedule Positionsviewable on OPM Website.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

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-11 level in the Federal Service. For this position specialized experience is defined as performing cost management and estimating leading a cross-function team to develop project scope schedules and costs using forecasting scheduling techniques and risk analysis; and using concepts and principles of Museum Exhibit Production and Installation industry and procurement strategies.

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.

In aneffort to streamline our hiring process SI employees whose current position of record is in the same job series (1010) and who are in a (Federal competitive or excepted service appointment)as this advertised position are not required to submit a transcript with your application package. However if selected you will be required to provide a copy of your transcript before your start date in the position.

Time-in-Grade Requirements: Under competitive merit promotion procedures any individual who is currently holding or who has held within the previous 52 weeks a General Schedule position under a non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service must meet time-in-grade requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying).

Education

Please see above in qualification.

Additional information

This position is 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.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.