Education Specialist IS 1701-12
Application Deadline: 30 October 2026
Department: Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Cambridge, MA
Compensation: $101,375 - $131,790 / year
Description
OPENING DATE: 10/26/2026
CLOSING DATE: 10/30/2026
SERIES/GRADE: IS-1701-12
TYPE OF POSITION: Trust Indefinite (Non-Federal)
DIVISION: Atomic & Molecular Physics
LOCATION: Cambridge, MA
AREA OF CONSIDERATION: This position is open to all eligible candidates.
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, Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).
Conditions of Employment
- Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation, as required.
- Complete a Probationary Period if applicable.
- 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
INTRODUCTION
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) is at the forefront, internationally, of the scientific exploration of the universe. SAO combines its resources with those of the Harvard College Observatory to form the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA). The CfA is the best-known astrophysics center in the world. Its programs range from ground-based astronomy and astrophysics research to space-based research, the engineering and development of major scientific instrumentation for space launch and use in large ground-based facilities, and research designed to improve science education. The research objectives of SAO are carried out primarily with the support of Government and Smithsonian Institution funds, with additional philanthropic support. Government funds are in the form of Federal appropriations or the form of contracts and grants from other agencies. In contrast, Institution funds are available to SAO through grants from the Institution's Restricted Funds, Special Purpose Funds, Bureau Activities, Business Activities, and non-Federal contracts and grants.
SUMMARY
The position promotes the education of Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory staff and visitors in one or more specialized topics. The incumbent contributes to and develops academic research, exhibitions, public programs, digital presence, educational programs and publications.
MAJOR DUTIES
- Work with department leadership, other departments and digital learning staff to ensure programs fit the unit’s goals and ties them to annual and seasonal themes.
- Serve on working groups which develop educational activities and strategies, programs, products and web-based programming.
- Ensure that offerings are developed consistent with the strategies, capabilities and processes of the unit’s digital operations, incorporating best practices and developing promising practices and complying with Institutional requirements, policies, and/or directives (e.g., SD 603).
- Oversees internship, fellows and volunteer program activities by actively communicating learning objectives and milestones for the program and fostering learning goals and a safe, positive learning environment.
- Manage grant-funded budgets and a mixture of other federal and private funds.
- Manages grant-funded budgets and a mixture of other federal and private funds.
- Develop portions of funding proposals and donor funding presentations.
- Serve as a contracting officer’s representative (COTR).
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
- Duties listed are at a Full Performance Level IS-12.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Basic Requirements:
- Degree: that included or was supplemented by major study in education or in a subject-matter field appropriate to the position.
or
- Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major in education, or in a subject-matter field appropriate to the position, plus appropriate experience or additional course work that provided knowledge comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of the 4-year course of study described in A above.
Additional Requirements:
Specialized Experience:
Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as experience planning, developing, coordinating, or evaluating educational programs and activities; developing educational strategies, products, or digital/web-based learning initiatives in support of organizational goals; overseeing internship, fellowship, or volunteer learning programs; and managing program resources, such as grant-funded, federal, or private funds.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required:
- Knowledge in gathering information, identifying and analyzing issues and developing recommendations to resolve substantive problems of effectiveness and efficient work operations in a program or program-support setting.
- Ability to conduct information gathering, interpretation of administrative records and reports, correlation of information to corroborate facts and coordination with management representatives.
- Ability to deliver instruction and to assess the impact, effectiveness and efficiency of educational programs and their operations.
- Skill requiring adaptations or extensions of available guides and established procedures or, in some instances, the development of new approaches, methods or techniques.
- Ability to resolve most conflicts or problems that arise, coordinates work with others as necessary and interprets established policy in terms of defined objectives.
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.
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.
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact stephanie.javier@sao.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.
