Associate Director, IS-0343-13
Application Deadline: 13 October 2026
Department: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Edgewater, MD
Compensation: $121,785 - $158,322 / year
Description
OPEN DATE: October 7, 2026
CLOSING DATE: October 13, 2026
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Edgewater, Maryland
Position sensitivity and risk:
Non-Sensitive, Moderate Risk
Who May Apply:
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.
- Current employees of the Smithsonian Institution are encouraged to apply for this position.
OVERVIEW
The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) invites applications for an Associate Director in the Smithsonian’s Marine Global Earth Observatory (MarineGEO) program. MarineGEO is a global network of partner sites, based at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, Maryland, that coordinates standardized observations and experiments across the network to understand how coastal ecosystems work—and inform actions to keep them working.
MAJOR DUTIES
The Associate Director serves as a key advisor to the MarineGEO Director, assisting and providing recommendations concerning oversight of day-to-day operations of MarineGEO. Coordinates program activities to ensure their implementation according to the Director’s priorities and in compliance with the policies and directives of the Smithsonian Institution, SERC and MarineGeo. Ensures that all matters brought to the Director's attention have been thoroughly researched and analyzed and that alternative courses of action have been explored and identified.
- Advises the Director on sensitive matters pertaining to operations, internal and external personnel, partner relationships, and matters related to management of the MarineGEO team. Resolves conflicts among personnel, programs or partners.
- Assigns and supervise staff, projects and tasks, providing technical work direction, prepares performance plans, and completes performance appraisals within the required Smithsonian policies and time frames.
- Facilitates training and professional development of staff. Approves work schedules, leave, and overtime/compensatory time.
- Resolves conflicts, initiates disciplinary action when required, and nominates staff for awards due to exceptional performance.
- Follows Smithsonian Office of Human Resources policies and practices including maintenance of a safe workplace environment.
- Supports the MarineGEO Director with relationship- and partnership-building and maintenance, including identifying potential new partners, conducting key partner outreach, supporting the onboarding process, and maintaining consistent communication and outreach with all partners.
- Represents MarineGEO Director within established authorities at internal and external meetings, workshops, etc.
- Maintains close contact with members of the MarineGEO team and MarineGEO partners, SERC and other SI leadership and staff, and other key constituencies.
- Supports the development of program goals and objectives in accordance with MarineGEO Director and SI strategic and/or operations plans, and uses assessment, analysis, and evaluation methodologies to support the Director in defining metrics and standards of performance. Uses creative avenues to enhance goal achievement, sharing information with a wide range of critical stakeholders and decision makers at internal and external meetings.
- Tracks progress on key performance indicators in strategic documents, and identifies strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) related to progress on MarineGEO’s Strategic Plan and Science Strategy. Provides advice and guidance to implement programmatic changes or address policy issues that involve areas of uncertainty in approach or methodology by gathering key information essential to the planning process (e.g., internal information, benchmarking information, stakeholder input). Incorporates an awareness of current and future management directives, required functional and technical expertise, resource requirements, and targeted stakeholders into annual plans.
- Supports effective and efficient management of all MarineGEO funds, including tracking key dates and funding cycles and anticipating future needs. Identifies synergies and connections across SI to make strategically based decisions on where and how to distribute funds as applicable. Provides regular updates to the MarineGEO Director and other relevant stakeholders (e.g., MarineGEO Central team, Executive Committee, SERC/SI leadership) on status of all funds. Supports the MarineGEO Director in preparing materials in response to donor, MarineGEO Executive Committee, SERC Leadership, or Under Secretary-level inquiries using appropriate formats for presenting funding information logically, consistently, and accurately. Supports MarineGEO Director on budget management.
- Supports the development of long-term, trust-based relationships with existing and potential donors that support their vision for philanthropic giving.
- Demonstrates commitment to stewardship as per the wishes of the various donors and supports the maintenance of relationships essential to effective acknowledgment, recognition, and stewardship of relevant donors.
- Performs Other Duties as Assigned
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to carry out each essential duty satisfactorily. The qualifications listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the role.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Expert knowledge of the principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources, to coordinate and chair multiple, pan-institutional projects, advisory teams, and/or boards, ensuring resources and goals are consistent with Initiative requirements.
- Knowledge of, and skill to apply concepts, practices, and techniques of stakeholder engagement, to identify, engage, influence, and monitor relationships with individuals and groups connected to a scientific work effort; including those actively involved, those who exert influence over the process and its results, and those who have a vested interest in the outcome.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Knowledge of and skill to apply a full range of administrative laws, policies, regulations, and precedents applicable to the administrative mission and function of MarineGEO, to manage operations that are potentially complex, difficult or controversial.
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.
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.
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact
SERC_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 (
https://www.si.edu/OEO/IndividualswithDisabilities).
The Smithsonian Institution is an
Equal Opportunity Employer. To review The Smithsonian's EEO program information, please click the following:
https://www.si.edu/oeo 
