Museum Lighting Specialist (IS-1001-07) - National Museum of Asian Art
Washington, DC
About the Job
Description
OPEN DATE: October 9, 2024
CLOSING DATE: October 23, 2024 (This job will close once 100 applications are received which may be sooner than the closing date.)
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite
SCHEDULE: Full Time
Open to all qualified applicants
What are Trust Fund Positions?
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).
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. 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.
OVERVIEW
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art is committed to preserving, exhibiting, researching, and interpreting art in ways that deepen the public and scholarly understanding of Asia and the world. Currently responsible for some 46,000 objects, the museum stewards one of the world’s most important collections of Asian art, with works dating from antiquity to the present. The collection includes works from China, Japan, Korea, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the pre-Islamic Near East, and the Islamic world (inclusive of Central Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa). It also stewards an important collection of nineteenth and early-twentieth century American art. Its rich holdings thus bring the arts of Asia into direct dialogue with a focused American collection, providing a compelling platform for creative collaboration and cultural exchange.
Beginning with a 1906 gift that paved the way for the museum’s opening in 1923 as the Freer Gallery of Art—America's first national art museum—the National Museum of Asian Art has long been a national and international resource for visitors, students, and scholars. Located on the National Mall in Washington, DC, its collections, galleries, laboratories, archives, and library form part of the world’s largest museum complex, which attracts tens of millions of visitors annually. The museum is free and open to the public, 364 days a year. Its exhibitions, programs, learning opportunities, and digital initiatives are accessible to local, national, and global audiences. Each year, dozens of students, fellows, interns, scholars, and researchers access the museum’s resources and expertise.
This position serves as the Lighting Assistant located in the Exhibitions Department of the National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA). The department is responsible for planning, coordinating, designing, producing, and maintaining long-term and changing exhibitions and interior and exterior art installations. The incumbent, under the general supervision of the Head of Exhibitions and under the day-to-day guidance of the department’s Exhibition Lighting Specialist, is responsible for assisting in the installation and maintenance of exhibition lighting and related systems throughout the museum.
Beginning with a 1906 gift that paved the way for the museum’s opening in 1923 as the Freer Gallery of Art—America's first national art museum—the National Museum of Asian Art has long been a national and international resource for visitors, students, and scholars. Located on the National Mall in Washington, DC, its collections, galleries, laboratories, archives, and library form part of the world’s largest museum complex, which attracts tens of millions of visitors annually. The museum is free and open to the public, 364 days a year. Its exhibitions, programs, learning opportunities, and digital initiatives are accessible to local, national, and global audiences. Each year, dozens of students, fellows, interns, scholars, and researchers access the museum’s resources and expertise.
This position serves as the Lighting Assistant located in the Exhibitions Department of the National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA). The department is responsible for planning, coordinating, designing, producing, and maintaining long-term and changing exhibitions and interior and exterior art installations. The incumbent, under the general supervision of the Head of Exhibitions and under the day-to-day guidance of the department’s Exhibition Lighting Specialist, is responsible for assisting in the installation and maintenance of exhibition lighting and related systems throughout the museum.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assists the Exhibit Lighting Specialist in the maintenance and operation of the museum lighting systems; including daylight control systems, electrical controls, and lighting timers.
- Prepares, installs, and dismantles track-mounted ceiling and display case light fixtures and accessories under the guidance and design specifications provided by the Exhibit Lighting Specialist.
- Assists with gallery lighting and public space lighting needs during installations, deinstallations, and museum changes.
- Performs daily maintenance of both focusable and fixed lighting systems, including re-lamping, repairing, cleaning, and adjusting as required to maintain existing lighting design.
- Aids in the preparation and installation of temporary light track and special track-mounted and ceiling hardware for various gallery applications.
- Provides basic maintenance and repair of light fixtures and equipment.
- Monitors and organizes inventory of lamps and light fixtures.
- Assists with the preparation, assembly, and installation of security devices used in exhibition galleries, such as motion detectors and display case alarms.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
The successful candidate will possess the following qualifications:
- Working knowledge of the installation and maintenance of exhibition, theatrical, or architectural lighting fixtures.
- Familiarity with different light fixture types.
- Familiarity with different lamp types and beam shaping accessories.
- Experience with LED light fixtures and lamps.
- The ability to work from technical drawings or blueprints.
- Basic knowledge of the fundamentals of lighting.
- Basic understanding of the fundamentals of electrical systems.
- Rudimentary knowledge of materials and techniques used to assemble electric components.
- Ability to work with hand tools and power tools.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Ability to work both collaboratively and independently.
- Ability to problem solve to achieve lighting goals.
- Experience working in a museum, with various types of artworks or objects.
- Working knowledge of exhibition installation procedures.
- Visually sensitive to the aesthetic principles of lighting design.
Physical Requirements:
This position requires the physical ability to perform moderately heavy work, including lifting and carrying heavy objects up to 50 lbs., climbing ladders and scaffoldings, driving mechanical lifts, and working at heights up to 30 feet from the ground.
This position requires the physical ability to perform moderately heavy work, including lifting and carrying heavy objects up to 50 lbs., climbing ladders and scaffoldings, driving mechanical lifts, and working at heights up to 30 feet from the ground.
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 interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.
Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.
The Smithsonian Institution values and seeks a diverse workforce. Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."
Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.
What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.
Relocation expenses are not paid.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact nmaa-hr@si.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact nmaa-hr@si.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.
The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that a workforce comprising a variety of educational, cultural, and experiential backgrounds support and enhance our daily work life and contribute to the richness of our exhibitions and programs. See Smithsonian EEO program information: https://www.si.edu/oeesd.
Source : National Museum of Asian Art