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Temporary Museum Communications Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Maintain historical documents, records, and museum materials * Assist with supervising interns or temporary staff as needed * Collaborate with communications and marketing teams on engagement ...

Art Preparator I

Norfolk, VA · On-site

$21 - $24.04/hr

... temporary and permanent exhibitions. * Artwork Handling & Transport Efficiency - Safely packing ... museum's collection and collection storage areas. Collaboration & Communication * Effective ...

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Temporary Museum Communications information

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How much do temporary museum communications jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for temporary museum communications in the United States is $29.82, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $22.12 and $34.86 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Temporary Museum Communications professional, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Temporary Museum Communications professional, you need a background in communications, public relations, or marketing, often supported by relevant experience or a related degree. Familiarity with digital marketing tools, social media platforms, and content management systems is typically required. Strong writing, adaptability, and collaboration skills help you craft compelling messages and respond to changing priorities. These competencies ensure effective outreach and engagement with diverse audiences, supporting the museum's goals during temporary or project-based assignments.

What types of projects might a Temporary Museum Communications staff member work on, and how do they typically interact with other museum departments?

As a Temporary Museum Communications staff member, you may work on a variety of projects such as drafting press releases for new exhibits, assisting with social media campaigns, or coordinating media events. The role often requires close collaboration with curators, education teams, and visitor services to ensure messaging is accurate and engaging. You’ll frequently gather details from different departments to create cohesive communication materials and may also support crisis communications or special projects during peak periods. This environment offers valuable experience in cross-functional teamwork and can help you build a strong professional network within the museum sector.

What are Temporary Museum Communications jobs?

Temporary Museum Communications jobs involve supporting a museum's communication efforts on a short-term basis. This can include tasks such as writing press releases, managing social media accounts, coordinating media outreach, and assisting with marketing campaigns. These roles are often filled during busy exhibition periods, for special projects, or to cover staff absences. Temporary staff work closely with the museum's communications or public relations team to help promote events, exhibitions, and the museum's overall mission to the public. The positions require strong communication skills, adaptability, and an understanding of the museum's audience.
What cities are hiring for Temporary Museum Communications jobs? Cities with the most Temporary Museum Communications job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Museum Communications jobs? The most popular types of Museum Communications jobs are:
What states have the most Temporary Museum Communications jobs? States with the most job openings for Temporary Museum Communications jobs include:
Museum Curator IS-1015-11

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Posted 14 days ago


Smithsonian Institution rating

8.6

Company rating: 8.6 out of 10

Based on 23 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

1st of 26 rated museums


Job description

OPEN DATE: May 29, 2026                    
CLOSING DATE: June 29, 2026 (This job will close when the first 500 applications are received which may be sooner than the closing date).  
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Temporary Trust, NTE 4 years
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC 

Position sensitivity and risk:  Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Open to all qualified applicants
This is a career ladder opportunity with promotion potential to grade 12. Promotion to the next higher grade, up to IS-12, may occur at management's discretion upon the supervisor's recommendation, subject to the availability of funds, classification requirements, satisfactory performance, and the employee's qualifications.

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. 

This position is located organizationally in Content and Interpretation, National Museum of the American Latino (NMAL), Under Secretary for Museums and Culture, Smithsonian Institution (SI).
SI is a diverse museum and research complex dedicated to the increase and diffusion of knowledge. NMAL connects with audiences both online and in-person as a national museum dedicated to enriching the appreciation of America's Latino heritage, sharing the experiences and perspectives of Latinos across history and deepen our shared understanding of what it means to be American. 
The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino (NMAL) seeks an enthusiastic, experienced and innovative museum curator who applies an interdisciplinary lens of history, cultural studies and current U.S. and world societies, to further the collection's holdings and foster its stewardship. The employee will deploy historical and contemporary understanding, subject matter and collections expertise and imaginative commitment to collaboration within and beyond the Museum's walls to creatively engage public audiences and stakeholders bridging the power of the past and our contemporary moment.  This position will: 
  • Advances the Museum's strategic and interpretive plans by pursuing work that supports the Museum's mission, interpretive program and philosophy of community-centered engagement.
  • Studies Latino contributions to U.S. history, culture, and science and demonstrates interdisciplinary and creative approaches to the field.
  • Helps to identify possible acquisitions and researches the same. Develops and carries out gallery exhibitions, online digital exhibitions, books, articles, live public programs, podcasts, blogs etc. 
  • Works to extend the ability of the collections to tell inclusive and revealing stories of the past and present; maintain standards of physical care and intellectual control of the collections; extends public access to the wealth of knowledge the collections represent.
  • Uses primary research and scholarship to understand and deploy the Museum's collections. Contributes documentation and historical context essential to collections records and collaborates with collections management staff to help monitor conservation and storage needs and to determine digitization priorities.
  • Contributes generously to advancing the effectiveness of Museum operations
  • Demonstrates ability and willingness to work collaboratively with all museum departments including curatorial, collections, education, digital, exhibit design teams as well as interns and fellows, colleagues and communities. 
ADDITIONAL POSITION FACTORS
  • Ability to communicate in written and spoken English and Spanish is preferred.  
  • Travel may be required. 
  • Work during the evenings and weekends may be necessary.
  • Requires ability to stand for long periods of time. 
  • Requires ability to lift objects up to 50 pounds, unassisted. 
  • Requires dexterity to manipulate delicate, intricate equipment and objects. 
Basic Education Requirement:
A) Degree: museum work; or in an applicable subject-matter field.
OR
B) Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience (described below) or additional education.
OR
C) Four years of experience (described below) that provided knowledge comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of the 4-year course of study as shown in A above.
Experience:
To qualify at the IS-11 level, applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the IS-9 level in the Federal service or comparable experience outside the Federal government. Specialized experience is defined as experience such as:
  • Scholarly knowledge within the context and historiographies of Latino contributions to U.S. art, history, culture and science. This position requires an advanced degree in interdisciplinary studies with multiple areas of subdisciplines such as: History, Foodways, Art (Contemporary and Traditional), or Cultural Studies. 
  •  Knowledge of American Latino history and familiarity with different facets and points of view.
  • Ability to conduct primary and community-based research
  • Experience in developing exhibition scripts, supporting elements and public programming projects 

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 youmansc@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   

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