Museum Curator

Museum Curator (IS-1015-13)

Final date to receive applications: 18 September 2026

Department: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Washington, DC

Compensation: $121,785 - $158,322 / year

OPEN DATE:
September 8th, 2026

CLOSING DATE:
September 18th, 2026 (This job will close once 100 applications are received which may be sooner than the closing date).

POSITION TYPE:
Trust Fund

APPOINTMENT TYPE:
Trust Indefinite

SCHEDULE:
Full Time

DUTY

LOCATION:

Washington, DC

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

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).

• 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.

The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. This position is in the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a national museum for the study and exhibition of African American history and culture.

The Museum Curator is in the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture and is located in the Office of Curatorial Culture.

The Museum Curator provides scholarly research, defines and implements plans for development of a pre-eminent collection in African American history and culture, with specialty in fashion history and traditional textiles.

In this position, you will:

• Independently initiate, develop, and personally participate in research programs that characteristically involve a systematic research approach to a problem area of considerable scope.
• Prepare for the publication of scholarly reports of a descriptive and theoretical nature based on own field of work, study of collections, and scholarly publications.
• Formulation of new principles and development of major adjustments of existing concept;
  Interpret and relate the significance of results to other research findings.
• Define and implement plans for development of a pre-eminent African American fashion and traditional textiles collection.
• Research and documents exhibitions and artifacts and provide technical consultation during exhibit construction.
• Serve as expert and consultant on professional matters to other governmental agencies, colleagues, writers, educational institutions, research foundations and the public.

Applicants must possess the following basic requirements:

Unofficial transcripts are required at the time of application if you're utilizing education to qualify. 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…