Public Affairs Specialist, IS-1035-15
Application Deadline: 18 November 2026
Department: Office of Public Affairs
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Washington, DC
Compensation: $169,279 - $191,850 / year
Description
OPEN DATE: November 12, 2026
CLOSING DATE: November 18, 2026
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC
Position sensitivity and risk:
Non-Sensitive and High Risk
Who May Apply:
SI Only
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
This position is located within the Office of Public Affairs (OPA), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Communications and External Affairs, Smithsonian Institution (SI). SI is a diverse museum and research complex dedicated to the increase and diffusion of knowledge. The OPA aims to broaden access to all the Smithsonian has to offer and reach new audiences. The OPA is the daily voice and keeper of the main Smithsonian brand.
The primary purpose of the Head of Media Relations is to serve as SI's senior media relations and communications advisor, providing expert counsel to executive leadership on high-profile and sensitive issues; developing strategic media approaches; managing reputational risk; and coordinating communications efforts across multiple organizational components to advance institutional priorities and enhance public understanding of Smithsonian programs and initiatives
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Media Relations and Executive Communications
- Plans, directs, and evaluates national and international communications campaigns and media strategies supporting Smithsonian programs, research, and initiatives. Establishes and maintains relationships with national and international media, academic institutions, and stakeholder organizations. Serves as a spokesperson and senior communications advisor to Smithsonian leadership, providing guidance on media engagement, crisis communications, and high-profile or sensitive issues. Develops messaging strategies, assesses reputational risks, and recommends communications responses and opportunities to support institutional objectives. Coordinates media activities across Smithsonian museums, research centers, and Institution-wide initiatives to ensure consistent messaging and evaluates campaign effectiveness to improve outreach and engagement.
- Develops and implements strategic media relations plans and messaging strategies supporting Smithsonian priorities, executives, and initiatives. Determines communications approaches for high-profile, sensitive, and controversial issues; assesses reputational risks; and recommends appropriate communications responses for the Institution and senior executives. Coordinates media activities across museums, research centers, and Institution-wide initiatives to ensure consistency of messaging and evaluates the effectiveness of communications campaigns to improve engagement and public awareness.
Public Affairs Advice and Guidance
- Serves as principal advisor to the Director of OPA and the Assistant Secretary for Communications and External Affairs (ASOCEA)on public affairs strategy, media relations, crisis communications, and issues affecting institutional reputation and public understanding. Advises ASOCEA on communications approaches, stakeholder engagement, executive visibility opportunities, and media strategies that advance Smithsonian priorities and leadership and strengthen public awareness of the Institution's mission and impact.
Supervision
- Provides strategic direction for Smithsonian media relations activities and ensures alignment of media engagement efforts with organizational priorities and communications objectives. Performs the full range of supervisory functions for four or fewer staff of communications professionals responsible for media relations, strategic communications, and related communications activities. Establishes priorities, allocates resources, assigns work, and evaluates program effectiveness to ensure timely and effective accomplishment of organizational goals.
- Recruits, selects, trains, develops, mentors, evaluates, and recognizes employees; assigns and reviews work; addresses performance and conduct issues; resolves employee concerns; and recommends personnel actions. Provides technical guidance and direction to staff on complex communications issues and ensures the quality, consistency, and effectiveness of work products.
- Provides leadership in planning, directing, and evaluating media relations and public affairs activities. Develops and implements goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and operating practices supporting the mission of the OPA. Coordinates activities with other OPA teams and Smithsonian organizations to ensure integration of communications priorities, consistency of messaging, and effective support of institutional initiatives.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
POSITION MAY REQUIRE TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF THE LOCAL COMMUTING AREA UP TO 25%
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Education and Experience:
To qualify for this position, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in communications, journalism, public relations, or a related field, and at least 8 years of progressively responsible experience in media relations, public affairs, or strategic communications.
Experience required for this position is as follows:
- Mastery of public affairs, strategic communications, media relations, executive communications, and crisis communications sufficient to lead communications strategies and advise senior leaders on sensitive, high-profile issues.
- Expert knowledge of national and international media and stakeholder engagement sufficient to build key relationships and advance Smithsonian priorities.
- Ability to counsel executives on media engagement, crisis response, congressional interest, reputational risks, and issues receiving significant public attention.
- Skill in planning, coordinating, resourcing, and evaluating communications programs across multiple organizational components.
- Excellent writing, speaking, analysis, and interpersonal skills, including the ability to serve as a spokesperson and explain complex issues to diverse audiences.
- Ability to lead professional staff, set priorities, evaluate performance, and build effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
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.
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.
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact
[OCEA-ADMIN@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. To review The Smithsonian's EEO program information, please click the following:
https://www.si.edu/oeo 
