The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a national museum for the study and exhibition of African American history and culture. This position is in the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), Office of External Affairs, Office of Special Events.
Basic Qualifications: Experience that equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. In addition to the basic qualification requirement above: Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal Service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience coordinating special events (e.g., luncheons, dinners, ceremonies) for 100 to 2000 people for a museum, educational or cultural institution; initiating, ordering and tracking purchases; monitoring and tracking expenditures; arranging logistics such as space, facilities maintenance, security, audio-visual services; and communicating with the public, donors and event vendors. Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages and should clearly demonstrate how your experience aligns with the responsibilities and specialized experience required for this position. Do not copy language directly from the vacancy announcement, as you will be deemed ineligible for consideration. Instead, provide detailed, descriptive information about your actual experience. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Part-time and/or unpaid experience related to this position will be considered to determine the total number of years and months of experience. Be sure to note the number of paid or unpaid hours worked each week. Or Education: master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are qualifying by education and/or you have education completed in a foreign college/university described above, it is your responsibility to provide transcripts and proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study. For instructions on where to fax these documents, see the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. Or a Combination: Education and experience may be combined to meet the basic qualifications. For a full explanation of this option please see the Qualification Standards. In an effort to streamline our hiring process, SI employees whose current position of record is in the same job series (1001) and who are in a (Federal competitive or excepted service appointment) as this advertised position, are not required to submit a transcript with your application package. However, if selected, you will be required to provide a copy of your transcript before your start date in the position. Time-in-Grade Requirements: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under a non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying).
The Special Events Assistant is responsible for assisting with planning, scheduling, logistical preparation and execution of special events, receptions, exhibition openings, conferences, ceremonies, membership and development activities, and/or visits by high level officials both nationally and internationally. In this position, you will: assist the NMAAHC staff, SI staff, and external requestors with scheduling and designing events and receptions that fulfill the mission, ceremonial, philanthropic, or celebratory purposes of the requestors, within SI and NMAAHC policies for special events. write and disseminate event memoranda to NMAAHC departments, other SI offices. Write email correspondence for internal and external event inquiries, event confirmation documents, and confirmation correspondence for VIP tours. receive telephone calls and visitors interested in an event and determines which call/visitor can be responded to personally and which should be directed elsewhere. serve as a liaison between NMAAHC and Smithsonian offices and outside organizations seeking to use museum facilities for special events.