Full Time Exhibition Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Exhibits Specialist (IS-1010-11)
Application Deadline: 10 August 2026
Department: National Museum of Asian Art
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Washington, DC
Reporting To: Production Manager
Compensation: $85,447 - $96,843 / year
Description
OPEN DATE: July 9, 2026
CLOSING DATE: August 10, 2026
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC
Position sensitivity and risk:
Non Sensitive / 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
About the National Museum of Asian ArtThe Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art opened in 1923 as America's first national art museum and the first Asian art museum in the United States. It now stewards on of the world's most important collections of Asian art, with works dating from antiquity to the present. The museum also hosts an unparalleled collection of 19th- and early 20th-century American art.
Through an ambitious program of collecting, conservation, exhibitions, programming and research, both onsite and online, the museum serves as a global and national resource for understanding the arts and cultures of Asia and their interaction with America, past and present. By presenting the arts and cultures of Asia in their extraordinary richness, the museum furthers cross-cultural understanding and aims to exemplify foundational ideals of curiosity, creativity and respect.
Located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the museum is free and open 364 days a year (closed Dec. 25). The Smithsonian is the world's largest museum, education and research complex and welcomes millions of visitors yearly. For more information about the National Museum of Asian Art, visit asia.si.edu.
The OpportunityThis position serves as an exhibits specialist in the production division of NMAA's Exhibitions department. The department is responsible for planning, coordinating, designing, producing, and maintaining long-term and changing exhibitions and interior and exterior art installations. The museum is in the early stages of an exciting four-year project to comprehensively transform its galleries and public spaces, and the person selected for this position will be heavily involved in the fabrication and installation of exhibition furniture, including new casework types, that need to be efficient to access and sustainable, while helping to achieve the museum's goal of providing deeply engaging, impactful exhibitions.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The incumbent, under the supervision of the Production Manager, is in the production division's cabinet shop and is responsible for:
• Fabricating and finishing high-quality museum display furnishings, including but not limited to display cases, display pedestals, platforms, baffle walls and other partitions, wall and sign panels, display racks, special housings for lighting and/or audio-visual equipment, and decorative elements.
• Preparing and refurbishing exhibition spaces, primarily through installation and maintenance of display furnishings.
• Analyzing design specifications and identifying appropriate fabrication methods. Works with exhibition designer and other staff members as necessary to confirm or refine build specifications prior to fabrication.
• Developing production and installation timelines, work schedules, and materials needs for assigned projects in consultation with Production Manager. Ensures that required deliverables are met on schedule.
• Maintaining materials and equipment inventories in collaboration with other members of the production division; ensuring that all machinery and equipment are in proper working condition and promptly identifying needs for replacement/restocking.
• Serving on cross-departmental exhibition project teams as assigned by the Production Manager. Evaluates scope of the project as it pertains to in-house fabrication, reviews and provides feedback on design plans at 35%, 65%, and 95% stages.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants can meet the qualifications requirements through education or experience.
Education: Undergraduate or graduate education with major study in illustrative design, commercial art, fine arts, industrial design, architecture, drafting, interior design, or another field related to the position.
Advanced training above the high school level in a vocational school, technical institute, or art institute in one of the fields listed above may be credited as general experience on a month-for-month basis.
Experience: To qualify for the IS-11 level you must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal service or comparable experience outside the Federal government.
Specialized experience is defined as:
• Experience working from shop drawings; ability to read and interpret exhibition floor plans and renderings, including 3D models.
• Extensive knowledge of the various materials (for example, plywood, Medex, acrylic, and PVC), their properties, and appropriate uses within the context of museum exhibitions.
• Knowledge of cabinetmaking and woodworking. Advanced knowledge of joinery techniques, hardwoods, plywood, and composite boards, and the appropriate processes and techniques for employing them in the fabrication of exhibition components.
• Ability to research and test unfamiliar products and materials and to work with relevant colleagues to assess their viability for use as exhibition components.
• Prior experience using a computer-controlled cutting machine (CNC router) and associated software is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of and experience with the appropriate care, inspection, and operation of tools, equipment, and machinery used in exhibition preparation.
• Familiarity with the standard safety protocols associated with workshop spaces.
• Ability to work independently on tasks when conditions are safe to do so.
• Ability to work in close collaboration with others.
Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.
Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.
Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."
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.
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 nmaa-hr@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.
The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To review The Smithsonian's EEO program information, please click the following: https://www.si.edu/oeo