Organization
Smithsonian Institution – Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (HMSG)
Location
Washington, DC
Appointment Type
Full-Time | Permanent | Competitive Service
Salary
$143,913 to $187,093 per year (GS-14)
Application Period
February 13, 2026 to March 16, 2026
Travel Requirement
Up to 25 percent
Telework
Not eligible
Security & Risk Level
Non-sensitive (Low Risk)
About the Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, comprising 21 museums and the National Zoo. Within this renowned institution, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden serves as a leading voice for contemporary art and culture. The museum provides a national platform for modern and contemporary art and artists, while fostering critical dialogue and public engagement.
This position is housed within the Curatorial Department of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.
Position Overview
The Supervisory Museum Curator (Art) plays a central leadership role in shaping and advancing the museum’s curatorial vision. The incumbent participates in the administration of curatorial programs and oversees staff responsible for painting, sculpture, graphic arts, photography, performance, digital media, video, and technology.
In addition to scholarly leadership, the role requires strategic oversight of exhibitions, collections development, acquisitions, and collaborative research initiatives.
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Core Areas of Responsibilities
Curatorial Leadership & Staff Supervision
The incumbent supervises departmental staff, interns, and fellows by assigning projects, providing guidance, conducting performance evaluations, and recommending personnel actions. Furthermore, the role requires setting strategic goals and motivating staff to achieve institutional objectives.
Research & Scholarly Development
The Supervisory Museum Curator initiates and manages major research projects. These initiatives are developed in collaboration with internal professionals, external scholars, artists’ foundations, and partner institutions. The role also involves producing scholarly publications and contributing to thought leadership in modern and contemporary art.
Collections Development & Acquisitions
Working closely with the Museum Director and senior staff, the incumbent recommends works for acquisition through purchase or gift. The curator also participates in collection reviews, including deaccessioning considerations, while ensuring alignment with institutional standards and the long-term strategy.
Exhibition Planning & Coordination
The role includes developing and executing large-scale exhibitions that involve loans from museums and private collections. In addition, the incumbent conceptualizes focused exhibitions and may serve as a coordinator for traveling exhibitions. Budget oversight and resource management are integral to this responsibility.
Eligibility & Employment Conditions
Applicants must:
- Pass a pre-employment background investigation
- Maintain a bank account for direct deposit
- Meet qualification requirements by the closing date
- Be registered with the Selective Service, if applicable
This position is open to U.S. Citizens and U.S. Nationals. Federal employees and individuals eligible under special appointing authorities may apply under the corresponding merit promotion announcement.
More than one selection may be made from this announcement.
Required Qualifications
Basic Education Requirement
Applicants must meet one of the following:
- A degree in museum work or an applicable subject matter field
- A combination of education and experience equivalent to a major field of study
- Four years of comparable experience is equivalent to a four-year course of study.
Specialized Experience
Applicants must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience includes:
- Managing curatorial functions within a modern and contemporary art museum or similar cultural institution
- Overseeing research, exhibitions, and collections development
- Proposing acquisitions for permanent collections
- Conducting scholarly research and producing publications or exhibitions related to modern and contemporary art
Experience may include paid and unpaid work, as well as volunteer service through recognized programs.
Desired Expertise & Competencies
Successful candidates will demonstrate:
- Strong leadership and staff management capabilities
- Expert knowledge of modern art (circa 1830–1960)
- The ability to communicate effectively with both scholarly and public audiences
- Proven experience organizing complex exhibitions
- Skill in managing exhibition budgets and institutional resources
Evaluation Process
Applications will undergo a multi-stage review process. Initially, responses to online assessment questions will be evaluated against required competencies.
Qualified applicants will be placed into one of three categories:
- Best Qualified – Exceeds most competency requirements
- Well Qualified – Meets most competency requirements.
- Qualified – Meets minimum qualifications.
Veterans’ preference is applied within category groupings in accordance with federal regulations. Applicants must ensure that their resume aligns clearly with their stated experience, as discrepancies may affect final ratings.
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Additional Information
This position is not included in a bargaining unit.
Recruitment incentives may be authorized based on availability and approval. If offered, certain incentives may require a service agreement.
Selections may be made for similar vacancies across the Smithsonian Institution. By applying, candidates consent to the sharing of application materials with hiring officials for related opportunities.
The Smithsonian seeks individuals committed to public service, the rule of law, and the principles of the United States Constitution.
Application Process
Interested applicants must submit their application through the official Smithsonian or USAJOBS careers portal before 11:59 PM ET on March 16, 2026.
Applicants are required to submit:
- A resume not exceeding two pages
- Responses to the occupational questionnaire
- Any required supporting documentation
The resume must clearly and specifically describe relevant experience rather than repeating language from the vacancy announcement. Applications that are incomplete or inconsistent with submitted materials will not be considered.
Contact Information
For questions related to this announcement, applicants should reference Announcement Number 26R-LJ-313398-DEU-HMSG and Control Number 857596700 when contacting the Smithsonian Institution’s Office of Human Resources.
