Recent Graduate – Museum Technician (History), National Archives, Washington, D.C.
Posted November 7, 2015
Agency: National Archives and Records Administration
Hiring Organization: Legislative Archives, Presidential Libraries, & Museum Services – Presidential Materials Division
Job Announcement Number: JD1548935CMD
Washington DC, DC View Map
JOB SUMMARY:
In the Recent Graduates Program, you will serve in a training capacity as a Museum Technician (History) with the Presidential Materials Division performing technical duties involving the handling, tracking, and proper storage of museum artifacts. This position is located at 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC.
Whether you are new to the Federal Government or an experienced professional seeking a career change, you can make history at the National Archives. Our dedicated staff works across a variety of career fields to safeguard the records of the Federal Government – more than 10 billion of them.
Visit our Employee Gallery at www.archives.gov/careers to see the kinds of dynamic projects our staff are undertaking. If you want a career where you can see the difference your work makes, then join the National Archives!
For more information visit: http://archives.gov/
Who May Apply: Recent Graduates
NARA’s Recent Graduates Program: This position is being filled under the Pathways – Recent Graduates Program. The program affords developmental experiences in the Federal government intended to promote possible careers in the civil service for students who have recently graduated from qualifying educational institutions or programs and seek a dynamic, career development program with training and mentorship. To be eligible, applicants must apply within two years of degree or certificate completion (except for veterans precluded from doing so due to their military service obligation, who will have up to six years to apply).
Program Eligibility: To be eligible, applicants must apply within two years of degree or certificate completion, i.e., a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution (except for veterans precluded from doing so due to their military service obligation, who will have up to six years to apply).
Position Duration/Expectation: This position will be temporary not-to-exceed 1 year, unless, the training requirements of the position warrant a longer and more structured training program. Completion of the Recent Graduates Program may lead to a permanent or term (time-limited) employment without a break in service with NARA.
Click here for more information on Pathways program participants.
TRAVEL REQUIRED
- Occasional Travel
- LOCAL TRAVEL ONLY, APPROXIMATELY 5%
RELOCATION AUTHORIZED
- No
KEY REQUIREMENTS
- U.S. Citizenship
- Background Investigation or Security Clearance
- Relocation Expenses Will Not Be Paid
- More than 1 job may be filled if additional vacancies occur within 90 days
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
- Candidate must have a valid drivers’ license
DUTIES:
This is a developmental position. At the full performance level, you may perform all or some of the following duties:
- Assists in the regular transfer of museum artifacts within established guidelines and maintains relevant files for the control of the objects according to acceptable museum practices and in-house directives.
- Conducts research and complies information to respond to written and oral inquiries regarding artifacts on courtesy storage by the White House Gift Office and the Vice President’s Gift Staff. Answers questions about the wide range of holdings, but refers very substantial inquiries to supervisor.
- Maintains records that accurately describe and track all objects coming into the Presidential Materials Division’s custody.
- Evaluates condition of a wide variety of artifacts, and informs supervisor of problems, and makes recommendations on treatments.
- May perform research within holdings to identify items relating to a specific theme or topic for use in a museum exhibit or to locate materials to be loaned to other museums or approved organizations.
- Participates in annual or other prescribed inventory processes as established by the supervisor or central office directives.
- Uses a variety of general and specialized database and word processing software programs to create, find, store and communicate a wide variety of collections data, general information, correspondence, and reports. Responsible for the accuracy of the content, format, grammar and spelling of the final product.
- This job includes limited driving, generally less than one hour per week, of a standard size passenger/cargo van on short trips within the District of Columbia.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
GS-05 – Candidates must have had one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA’s) to perform successfully the duties of the position as described above, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled.
Specialized experience for this grade level include: experience related to the operation or management of a museum or similar collection of valuable objects, as well as, performing technical duties involving the handling, tracking, and proper storage of museum artifacts; maintaining textual and automated records, participating in inventories, evaluating condition of museum artifacts, identifying and participating preservations needs, performing minor conservation treatments, packing artifacts for shipment and providing basic reference service.
Education may be substituted for experience. GS-5: four years of college education leading to a bachelor’s degree with a major study or 24 semester hours of course work in art history, history, museum studies, anthropology, or archaeology.Combination of Experience and Education: a combination of experience and college education to meet the total requirements for this position. (NOTE: You must have a large enough percentage of the required experience and a large enough percentage of the required education, so that when added together, the percentage would equal 100%.)
Please refer to the Office of Personnel Management’s, Operating Manual: Qualifications Standards for General Schedule Positions for further information. http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1000/museum-specialist-and-technician-series-1016/
HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:
Once you complete and submit your application package, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your response(s) to the occupational questionnaire. Your resume must specifically and clearly show your possession of the required specialized experience and your possession of the required competencies. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities related to the position. Qualified candidates will be assigned to one of three quality categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified.
The required competencies for this position are as follows:
- Problem Solving
- Execution and Results
- Utilizes Computer Technology
- Museum Registration
- Applied Archival Preservation Theory
- Perform Reference Services
Competitive Applicants/All U.S. Citizens – Based on the information you provided in your application package, you will be assigned to one of three quality categories – Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Those applicants who are determined to be best qualified will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration. Qualified veterans are placed ahead of non-veterans within each category. Qualified veterans with a service connected disability of 10% of more are place ahead of non-veterans in the best qualified category.
NOTE: If, after reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or responses are not supported by your resume or transcript, your eligibility will be adjusted. Please follow all instructions carefully.
BENEFITS:
The National Archives and Records Administration offers an excellent benefits package, which may include:
- Comprehensive health and life insurance
- Competitive salaries
- Generous retirement programs
- Paid holidays, sick leave, and vacation time
- Flexible work environment and alternate work schedules
- Paid employment related training and education
- Possible student loan repayment
- Payment of licenses, certification, and academic degrees as applicable
- Bonuses, incentives, and awards as appropriate for the job.
The link below provides an overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal Employees:
OTHER INFORMATION:
Qualifications by Closing Date: You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Please note that qualification claims will be subject to verification.
Participant Agreement: All students must complete a written Participant Agreement with National Archives that clearly identifies expectations of the appointment such as duties, work schedule, length of appointment, etc.
Conversion to the competitive service: Subject to any limits on conversion imposed by the Office of Personnel Management, and in accordance with the provisions of the Student Internship program, NARA may noncompetitively convert an eligible student to a term or permanent competitive service position.
Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011: If you are currently serving on active duty a certification from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed. If you supply a certification at this stage, your preference/eligibility will be verified prior to appointment. For more information about Veteran’s Preference, please click this link:http://www.opm.gov/employ/veterans/html/vetguide.asp.
Please upload veteran’s documents under the appropriate category.
Veterans’ Preference: If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans’ preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty or other proof of eligibility (The member 4 copy of your DD-214, or other copies that indicate character of discharge is preferable). If you are claiming 10-point veterans’ preference, you must also submit an SF-15, “Application for 10-Point Veterans’ Preference” plus the proof required by that form. For more information on veterans’ preference see Veteran’s Information Page, USAJOBS – Veterans.
HOW TO APPLY:
To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on Friday, November 13, 2015 to receive consideration.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
- Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.
- It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
- To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
- To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
All applicants are required to submit the following supporting document type(s):
- Resume
- Transcript
Applicants may also submit the following supporting document type(s),which may not be required for all applicants:
- Cover Letter
- DD-214
- Other
- Other Veterans Document
- SF-15
- SF-50
Faxing Applications or Supporting Documents:
You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.
NOTE: If you applied online and your application is complete, do not fax the paper application (1203FX) as this will overwrite your prior online responses and may result in you being found ineligible.
If you completed the occupational questionnaire online and are unable to upload supporting document(s):
- To fax your documents, you must use the following cover page http://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdf and provide the required information. The Vacancy ID is 1548935
- Fax your documents to 1-478-757-3144.
If you cannot complete the Application Package online, you may fax all of your materials. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on Friday, November 13, 2015 to receive consideration. Keep a copy of your fax confirmation in the event verification is needed.
To complete the occupational questionnaire and submit via fax:
- Click the following link to view and print the occupational questionnaire View Occupational Questionnaire
- Print the 1203FX form, follow the instructions and provide your responses to the occupational questionnaire itemshttp://www.opm.gov/forms/pdfimage/opm1203fx.pdf.
- Fax all six pages of the completed 1203FX form along with any supporting documents to 1-478-757-3144. Your 1203FX will serve as a cover page for your fax transmission.
NARA provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Human Capital Specialist listed below for this vacancy.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:
The following documents must be received by the closing date of this announcement:
- Resume – Relevant work experience must include: Job title, duties, hours worked per week, starting and ending dates of employment (month and year), and salary.
- Response(s) to Occupational Questionnaire.
- Copies of your most recent current college transcripts which show your field of study, school name, current GPA or academic standing, past and current course work, degree program, major/concentration, date competed program and/or conferred date. “Unofficial” transcripts are acceptable. (Prior to appointment an official college transcript will be required).
- Veterans Preference documentation (DD-214 – member 4 copy or other copies that indicate character of discharge or equivalent, SF-15 and VA Letter as appropriate).
AGENCY CONTACT INFO:
NARA
Office of Human Capital
Staffing and Classification Br
1 Archives Drive – Room 370
Saint Louis, MO
63138-1002
WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:
Once the online questionnaire is received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. We will review your résumé and transcript(s) to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided and may interview the referred candidates. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability and/or security background investigation. A final job offer for this position is typically made within 40 days after the closing date of the announcement.