Job Details

Job Description: OPEN DATE: September 4, 2025, CLOSING DATE: September 18, 2025, POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund, APPOINTMENT TYPE: Temporary, NTE 2 years, 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.

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.
• Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

OVERVIEW

This position is located in the Lemelson Center, Division of Public History, Museum of American History (NMAH), Smithsonian Institution (SI). The Lemelson Center's mission is to promote public understanding of the history and role of invention and innovation in society.

The position, in coordination with the Head of Invention Education, helps develop the Lemelson Center's education philosophy and creates the Center's education and public outreach programs and interpretive programming on invention and innovation.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serves as the primary point of contact for current Spark!Lab Network sites and responds diplomatically and efficiently to general and specific questions.
• Develops resources for current Network members, conducts regular check-ins with each site, and works with the sites to develop a community of practice around Spark!Lab.
• Develops and leads training for current Network members both on- and offsite.
• Identifies and develops collaborations with new partner institutions and negotiates agreements to govern the installation of external Spark!Labs at new partner institutions and provides training for their staff.
• Maintains a current list of Spark!Lab activities available to the Network, researching new and replacement activities in coordination with the Spark!Lab Inventor.
• Provides general support for Spark!Lab operations at NMAH and regularly spends time in Spark!Lab working with visitors, other staff, and volunteers.
• Produces, independently and with other Lemelson Center staff, interactive Lemelson Center invention education and professional development programs for educators, school groups and the general public highlighting the role of invention and innovation in American history.
• Disseminates various written materials, lesson plans, training guides, activity plans, etc. for distribution through printed or digital media to a variety of audiences.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Experience: To qualify for this position, applicants must possess 1-3 years of related experience.

• Professional knowledge of learning theory, education practice and audience behavior to guide and inform the Spark!Lab Network and the Lemelson Center.
• Knowledge of basic business and marketing strategies, educational program development and delivery, and relevant functional areas in order to establish, maintain and expand the Spark!Lab Network.
• Knowledge of basic project management concepts and processes to organize, sequence, and prioritize project tasks.
• Skill in managing collaborative undertakings and partnerships among organizations in order to direct the Spark!Lab Network and accomplish Lemelson Center objectives.
• Skill in interpersonal relationships for developing and maintaining effective working relationships with a broad range of people.
• Skills in written and oral communication to correspond with current and potential collaborators and produce reports.
• Skill in managing multiple tasks while meeting deadlines to keep track of simultaneous projects and programs in different stages and with varying deadlines.

The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To review The Smithsonian's EEO program information, please click the following: