Director of Education - Washington DC, United States - Smithsonian Institution

Description

Director of Education (Education Specialist) (IS

Application Deadline: 30 April 2024

Department: Asian Pacific American Center

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Washington, DC

Reporting To: Director, APAC

Compensation: $117,962 - $153,354 / year

Description

OPEN DATE: March 29, 2024

CLOSING DATE: April 30, 2024

POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite

SCHEDULE: Full Time

DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC
Position sensitivity and risk: Non-sensitive (NS)/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 and 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 as low risk.
• 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

This position is located in the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center (APAC), Smithsonian Institution (SI). Established in 1997 as a mission-critical initiative, APAC's vision is to enrich the appreciation of America's Asian Pacific heritage and empower Asian Pacific American communities in their sense of inclusion within the national culture. There are more than 23 million people of Asian or Pacific Islander descent in the United States. In less than 50 years, nearly one of every ten people in America will trace his or her heritage to Asia and the Pacific. Our understanding of America and America' s standing in the world is richer, more compelling, and more powerful when it includes the Asian Pacific American story. APAC is continuing its mission to amplify Asian Pacific American voices by creating new spaces for storytelling on the National Mall in Washington, DC. These spaces will be accompanied by robust educational programming. Additionally, APAC is expanding its National Education Program (NEP) to meet the Secretary's charge to reach every classroom. The incumbent serves as a member of the unit' s senior leadership team and leads APAC's national education programming.

The incumbent serves an Education Specialist and is responsible for implementing and maintaining APAC's educational and interpretative programs for all audiences, including pre-K to 12, teachers/educators, and general audiences. In this capacity, the incumbent provides expert advice and guidance on the development of programs that engage and educate diverse audiences on site and in the community and implements education and public programs steeped in community engagement.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Education/Public Programs

• Provides advice, coordination and management for educational services, including the development and delivery of engaging and relevant content for audiences of all ages.
• Provides advice and guidance for national education programming that reaches Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) audiences and national education programming that informs general audiences about AANHPI culture, communities, and history.
• Guides the unit's approach to K-12 programs. Explores new opportunities to engage teachers and students outside of classroom hours.
• Participates in the development of immediate, annual, and long-term education program goals, projects, budget, and other resources. Regularly reviews and evaluates overall performance to ensure that education program and projects are complete within scope, schedule, and budget, and quality standards and established deadlines are met. Ensures the most efficient use of personnel and available funds.
• Represents APAC and manages its relationships with public and private organizations. Provides guidance to the Director of External Affairs and Strategic Partnerships to identify and cultivate potential partners and stakeholders and seeks opportunities to build partnerships that further the vision and mission of APAC.
• Provides guidance to the Director of Advancement to identify potential funding sources; directs the preparation of grants, and ensure grants are properly managed.
• Responsible for execution and oversight of educational projects including exhibition-focused programs, digital offerings, and convenings.

Community Outreach Function

• Represents APAC to educational institutions and community organizations. Meets with community organizations to learn their mission, vision, and needs and determine if a partnership with APAC will be mutually beneficial.
• Serves on Smithsonian committees for pan-institutional initiatives and/or committees related to teacher training, student services, and professional development for teachers.
• Ensures programs and educational resources interpret and present history and culture in a manner accessible to a wide range of audiences and consistent with current museum and education theory.

Supervision

• The incumbent is responsible for the overall planning, direction and timely execution of education and general audience public programs; approves annual, multi-year and long-range work plans developed by subordinate staff; and manages the work to meet the overall education goals of the unit. The incumbent participates in the development and implementation of long-range plans. The incumbent provides guidance, direction, counsel, and instruction to subordinate staff and advises the Director on matters related to the unit's NEP. She/he establishes long-range priorities, and reviews work-in-progress and upon completion. Appraises performance of subordinates, recommends and initiates awards, training or disciplinary action, and approves leave.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

To qualify for this position, applicants must have one-year of specialized experience equivalent to a Grade 12 level in the Federal service or comparable pay band system related to the work of this position.

Experience required for this position is as follows:

• Mastery of and experience in managerial systems and processes in developing and leading an education program in a museum or nontraditional educational environment, including resource allocation, strategic planning, benchmarking and implementing best practices.
• Mastery of museum education theories and practices, including teaching techniques, program development, and evaluation; and learning theories to develop strategies to reach diverse audiences through exhibitions and other informal and formal learning opportunities and resources.
• Mastery of the procedures of planning and producing sophisticated educational programs for K through 12, and informal learning in a museum setting, from concept development through presentation, including budgeting, scheduling, and supervising specialists. Extensive knowledge of best practices for approaching DEAI topics in an educational setting.
• Expert knowledge of the development of programs on current and relevant issues that relate to Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
• Knowledge of and experience working with AANHPI communities, organizations, and stakeholders in the United States, specifically on education-related initiatives.
• Knowledge of museum or non-profit organizational practices, with special attention paid to educational theory related to informal learning environments.
• Skill in planning, directing and executing educational programs for visitors of all ages.
• Skill in leading and collaborating with educators, community organizations and individuals, and curators.
• Skill in directing and managing the operations, programs, and staff to develop innovative and dynamic programs that use the museum's resources to serve the needs of the community and create lasting societal impact.
• Skill in developing and creating partnerships with diverse communities, particularly AANHPI communities, that resulted in a program or exhibition.
• Skill in oral and written communication in order to provide guidance and direction, collaborate with individuals at all levels including senior management officials, and prepare and present reports in high- level meetings and conferences.

Applicants, who wish to qualify based on 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 your application being rejected 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.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact . 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: .