Exhibition Designer Jobs in Silver Spring, MD (NOW HIRING)

Summary
The National Gallery of Art welcomes all people to explore art, creativity, and our shared humanity. Millions of people come through our doors each year, with even more online, making us one of the most visited art museums in the world. Our renowned collection includes over 160,000 works of art, from the ancient world to today. Admission to the West and East Buildings, Sculpture Garden, special exhibitions, and public programs is always free.
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Duties
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This position is located in the Design Department (PXD) and reports to the Head of the Exhibits Shop. The Design Department is responsible for the visual presentation of works of art in the National Gallery's buildings and grounds, including temporary exhibitions, permanent collection galleries, and special projects. The incumbent's work is visible to the public and directly contributes to the success of exhibitions and the proper display and protection of the Gallery's collections and loans.
Duties for this position include

• Fabricates, assembles, adapts, installs, modifies, maintains, and deinstalls exhibition elements for temporary exhibitions, permanent collection galleries, and special projects.
• Builds and installs exhibition casework, modular wall systems, interpretive elements, panels, platforms, graphics supports, acrylic components, and related exhibition elements.
• Works directly with designers and production staff to develop buildable solutions, refine details, and prepare fabrication-ready documentation.
• Uses practical structural judgment to develop safe, stable armatures, supports, and installation systems for exhibition casework, graphics, and special installations, including work in difficult building conditions and around permanent architectural features.
• Works directly around artworks with close attention to conservation requirements, object safety, and gallery conditions. Installs, adjusts, and removes exhibition elements in situations requiring tight tolerances, careful sequencing, and safe work around art.
• Uses computer software programs, digital models, fabrication files, and computer-aided equipment to produce accurate parts and components for exhibition work in collaboration with or under direction from other Exhibit Specialists and Design staff.
• Ability to apply knowledge directly to CNC, laser cutting, 3D printing, and related digital-fabrication methods as part of normal shop practice, while continuing to develop the knowledge needed to determine when traditional, modular, digital, or hybrid methods are most appropriate for the work.
• Organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resource requirements; determines short- or long-term goals and strategies to achieve them; coordinates with other organizations or parts of the organization to accomplish goals; monitors progress and evaluates outcomes.
• Develops and tests exhibition-specific ideas through mock-ups, samples, prototypes, and iterative shop trials before full production.

Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• You must be a United States Citizen.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• See "Other Information" section regarding Selective Service requirements.
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period

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 viewable on OPM Website. It is your responsibility to ensure that you submit appropriate documentation prior to the closing date. Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant experience as it relates to this job announcement. Be clear and specific when describing your work history since human resources cannot make assumptions regarding your 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). Your resume must include the dates of all qualifying experience (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours worked/volunteered per week.
Qualifications
Education
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 Statement GS-09: Candidates must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent in responsibility to the GS-08 level in the Federal service or private sector, with demonstrated knowledge of exhibition case fabrication, construction around delicate objects, and familiarity with Computer Numerical Control (CNC) router programing and operation in a production shop setting to execute projects from start to finish.
Specialized Experience Statement GS-11: Candidates must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent in responsibility to the GS-10 level in the Federal service or private sector, with experience in fabricating exhibition case components, construction around delicate objects, and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) router programing and operation in a production shop setting to execute projects from start to finish in a museum or cultural institution.
OPM Qualifications Standard:
Individual Occupational Requirements: Exhibits Specialist Series 1010 Associated Group standard: Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Administrative and Management Positions
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.
OPM Qualifications Standard:
Individual Occupational Requirements: Exhibits Specialist Series 1010 Associated Group standard: Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Administrative and Management Positions
Merit promotion applicants must meet the time-in-grade requirement as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
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.
Note: Applicants who are referred to the hiring office for selection consideration may be required to submit writing and/or work samples as part of the interview/selection process. If the hiring office decides to request a writing and/or work sample as part of its selection process, the vacancy contact will reach out to you by email to: (1) inform you of this requirement; and (2) provide further instructions.
Education
This position does not have an education requirement.
Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.
Additional information
The National Gallery of Art fosters a fair workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The EEO policy is found at: https://www.nga.gov/employment-opportunities/equal-employment-opportunity
More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement.
This position is included in the bargaining unit.
Relocation expenses will not be paid.
Some positions may require completion of a probationary period of up to 1 (one) year.
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.
EEO Policy: USAJOBS Help Center - Equal employment opportunity policy
Reasonable Accommodation Policy: https://help.usajobs.gov/reasonable-accommodation
Veterans Information: https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans
Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/
Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, the veteran must be a preference eligible or a veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions.
Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements visit the following websites:

• Persons with Disabilities-Schedule A
• Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans
• Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses
• Other Special Appointment Authorities

Reasonable Accommodation Requests:
To learn more, please consult the following resources:

• Disability Employment - Reasonable Accommodations (OPM)
• How to contact an agency

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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.
Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
The Federal Government offers a comprehensive benefits package.
Flexible Spending Accounts - https://www.fsafeds.com/
Health Insurance - http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/index.asp
Leave - http://www.opm.gov/oca/leave/index.asp
Life Insurance - http://www.opm.gov/insure/life/index.asp
Retirement Program - https://www.opm.gov/retirement-services/
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.