Description

OPEN DATE: September 10, 2025

CLOSING DATE: September 24, 2025 (This job will close once 100 applications are received, which may be sooner than the closing date)

POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Temporary, NTE 1 year, may be further extended based on performance and the availability of funds
PROMOTION POTENTIAL: IS-07

SCHEDULE: Full Time

DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC

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

Open to all qualified applicants

What are Trust Fund Positions?

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).

Conditions of Employment

Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
Complete a Probationary Period.
Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

OVERVIEW

Come join a dedicated and creative team at an exceptional time for the Smithsonian, an institution with a bold vision for the future: to build a better tomorrow for all. The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex. The National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) is part of the Smithsonian’s unique complex and is one of the most visited museums in the United States. Its mission is to promote understanding of the natural world and our place in it. NMNH has a collection of 148 million specimens and artifacts. Each one reflects a moment in space and time, and in these moments, we find Earth’s story.

The National Museum of Natural History is seeking an experienced candidate to fill the Program Support Assistant position in support of the NMNH partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture. This position serves as a key liaison between the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), supporting collaborative initiatives, research and collections programs, and public engagement efforts. This role ensures smooth communication, coordination, and administrative support for joint projects, exhibitions, and scientific endeavors.

The missions of USDA and NMNH are both distinct and complementary: both provide information and scientific services to a wide array of researchers, Federal partners, and stakeholders in the public and private sectors.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Liaison Support. Serves as the primary point of contact between NMNH and USDA program staff. Supports engagement with scientists, educators, and the public. Helps coordinate academic appointments, tenants, visitors and volunteers and associated activities related to USDA and joint initiatives. Represents the partnership at internal and external meetings as needed. Facilitates interagency communication, scheduling, and documentation. Assists in the development and management of interagency agreements.
Coordinates with NMNH and USDA staff to ensure agreement compliance. Maintains records, databases, and documentation related to agreements. Coordinates joint meetings, workshops, and events. Prepares time and attendance for staff.
Program Coordination. Supports the planning and execution of collaborative research and collections programs. Monitors project timelines and deliverables. Assists in the development of outreach materials and public programming.
Operational Support. Assists with procurement processes and purchasing activities. Tracks and manages property and equipment.
Office Support. Prepares correspondence, reports, and briefing materials for the partnership manager/supervisor. Maintains calendars and files. Prepares or reviews outgoing correspondence for grammar, format, and correctness. Makes travel arrangements as needed.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Experience: To qualify for this position, applicants must have one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (grade 6 level in the Federal Service).

Experience required for this position is as follows:

Knowledge and ability to think critically and provide extensive administrative or program liaison support.
Strong organizational and written communication skills
Ability to communicate with all levels of managers and employees throughout the organization and partner agencies with the utmost tact and diplomacy.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, with attention to detail, and work with multiple stakeholders.
Familiarity with federal agency operations and/or museum practices and procedures.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other automated platforms and tools.
Familiarity with natural sciences, museum studies, or public administration.
Experience working with or within federal agencies or cultural institutions. Knowledge of USDA or Smithsonian programs is highly desirable.

Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."

To Apply:
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.

Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.

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 NMNHStaffing@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: Individuals with Disabilities | Smithsonian Institution(https://www.si.edu/OEO/IndividualswithDisabilities).

The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that a workforce comprising a variety of educational, cultural, and experiential backgrounds support and enhance our daily work life and contribute to the richness of our exhibitions and programs. See Smithsonian EEO program information: Office of Equal Opportunity | Smithsonian Institution(https://www.si.edu/oeo).

About National Museum of Natural History

The National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) is part of the Smithsonian Institution’s unique complex museums and galleries, the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, and education and research facilities. The NMNH mission is to promote understanding of the natural world and our place in it, thus inspiring curiosity, discovery, and learning about the natural world through its unparalleled research, collection, exhibitions, and education and outreach programs. The museum’s collections tell the history of the planet and are a record of human interaction with the environment and one another. Because of the boundless curiosity of NMNH researchers, the breadth and depth of the collection, and the ability to inspire future generation of scientists, the museum has a vital role to play. In the next decade, the museum will welcome 60 million people through its doors and engage millions more digitally. Through NMNH, people can both discover the world and learn to become better stewards of it.

About the Smithsonian Institution

Founded in 1846, the Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum and research complex of 21 museums and galleries, the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, and 14 education and research facilities. There are more than 6,500 Smithsonian employees, including approximately 500 scientists. The total number of objects, works of art and specimens at the Smithsonian is estimated at more than 157 million.

National Museum of Natural History

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