Facilitator

Final date to receive applications: 13 March 2026

Department:
National Museum of American History

Location:

Washington, DC

Compensation: $22.33 - $29.03 / hour

OPEN DATE:
February 27, 2026

CLOSING DATE:
March 13, 2026

POSITION TYPE:
Trust Fund

APPOINTMENT TYPE:
Temporary, not to exceed one year

SCHEDULE:

Intermittent

DUTY

LOCATION:

Washington, DC

Non-Sensitive/Low Risk

Open to all qualified applicants

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.

This position is located in the Experience Development Team, Education and Experience, Division of Public History, National Museum of American History (NMAH), Smithsonian Institution (SI). The National Museum of American History empowers people to create a just and compassionate future by exploring, preserving, and sharing the complexity of the nation’s past.

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as an education facilitator in the museum, supporting operations of an interactive exhibit and supporting children and adults in hands‑on activities with inquiry‑based facilitation.

This position requires work on evenings, weekends, and holidays in accordance with Smithsonian Institution policy.

• Supports meaningful engagement with history through hands‑on activities based on inquiry, creatively inspiring visitors to be engaged with history and practice skills such as collaboration, perseverance, and curiosity.
• Ensures a positive visitor experience by greeting visitors and engaging them through conversation, inquiry, and experimentation appropriate to age level and interest.
• Works collaboratively with the Daily Experience Manager, Production Coordinators, and other Facilitators to perform routine maintenance of materials and interactives such as stocking supplies, testing functionality of electronics, keeping equipment clean and organized, and reporting problems or deficiencies to the Program Coordinators.
• Recommends and makes basic changes to activity materials or signage, suggests topics for new activities related to museum priorities, and incorporates volunteer suggestions.
• Develops recommendations to improve visitor experience and learning experiences, such as prototyping new American Experiment content, testing new signage, helping develop classroom versions of some activities, and assessing the efficacy of these efforts.

Experience:

To qualify for this position, applicants must possess 1-3 years of related experience (described below).

Experience required for this position is as follows:

• Skill to facilitate pre-designed learning activities based in conversational interpretation, inquiry-based learning, hands‑on activities, and play.
• Knowledge of group management techniques in order to engage visitors and…