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Visual Information Specialist, Exhibits (Supervisory 3D Designer) IS-1084-12
Visual Information Specialist, Exhibits (Supervisory 3D Designer) IS-1084-12
OPEN DATE: May 7, 2026
CLOSING DATE: June 8, 2026
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC
Position sensitivity and risk: Non-sensitive / Low risk
Open to all qualified applicants
Open to all qualified applicants
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 opened in 1923 as America’s first national art museum and the first Asian art museum in the United States. It now stewards on of the world’s most important collections of Asian art, with works dating from antiquity to the present. The museum also hosts an unparalleled collection of 19th- and early 20th-century American art.
Through an ambitious program of collecting, conservation, exhibitions, programming and research, both onsite and online, the museum serves as a global and national resource for understanding the arts and cultures of Asia and their interaction with America, past and present. By presenting the arts and cultures of Asia in their extraordinary richness, the museum furthers cross-cultural understanding and aims to exemplify foundational ideals of curiosity, creativity and respect.
Located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the museum is free and open 364 days a year (closed Dec. 25). The Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum, education and research complex and welcomes millions of visitors yearly. For more information about the National Museum of Asian Art, visit asia.si.edu.
The Opportunity
This position serves as the senior (3D) exhibition designer in NMAA’s Exhibitions department. The department is responsible for planning, coordinating, designing, producing, and maintaining long-term and changing exhibitions and interior and exterior art installations. The museum is in the early stages of an exciting four-year project to comprehensively transform its galleries and public spaces, and the person selected for this position will play a key role in helping to achieve our goal of deeply engaging, impactful exhibitions and a dedicated focus on visitor experience.
This position serves as the senior (3D) exhibition designer in NMAA’s Exhibitions department. The department is responsible for planning, coordinating, designing, producing, and maintaining long-term and changing exhibitions and interior and exterior art installations. The museum is in the early stages of an exciting four-year project to comprehensively transform its galleries and public spaces, and the person selected for this position will play a key role in helping to achieve our goal of deeply engaging, impactful exhibitions and a dedicated focus on visitor experience.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The incumbent, under the supervision of the Head of Exhibitions, is responsible for the overall approach to exhibition design for the museum, supervises the exhibition design team, and serves as the project exhibition (3D) designer on assigned projects.
- Supervise a team of exhibition designers, as well as interns, contractors, and temporary staff, as relevant. Ensure uniformity in standards of documentation, accuracy, and compliance with rules, regulations, and standards. Provide leadership and mentoring support to foster a culture of innovation, creativity, and collaboration.
- Serve as 3D designer on exhibition project teams. Work closely with curators and other team members to develop visual identity in support of exhibition themes. Conceive and oversee development of original exhibit designs, including spacial layouts, exhibition furniture, media environments, graphics and object placements.
- Develop appropriate and attractive visual ideas for exhibition presentations in consultation with curators and program officials, translating ideas into viable exhibition layouts and designs. Balance creative excellence with conservation requirements, visitor accessibility, budget constraints, and technical feasibility.
- Prepare construction drawings, fabrication documents, and other technical materials for the construction of exterior and interior exhibition spaces.
- Manage all phases of the design process, including conceptual design, schematic design, design development, and work in collaboration with the Production team during the fabrication stage.
- Contribute to project planning and implementation, including budget estimates, procurement, review and approval of contractor work, and material delivery as appropriate.
- Review design proposals with exhibition registrars, collections managers, conservators and exhibition preparators, ensuring safe and aesthetically and technically correct displays of objects.
- Participate in assembling recommendations for the solicitation, selection, and award of basic contracts in support of specific programs and serve as the contracting officer’s technical representative (COTR), assisting in the development of appropriate and comprehensive scopes of work, assembling procurement documents, monitoring the progress of contracts, certifying deliverables and approving payment.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must have undergraduate or graduate education with a major study in commercial art, fine arts, art history, industrial design, architecture, interior design, photography, visual communication, or other fields related to the position.
In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement above, to qualify for the GS-12 level you must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service or comparable experience outside the Federal government.
Specialized experience is defined as:
In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement above, to qualify for the GS-12 level you must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service or comparable experience outside the Federal government.
Specialized experience is defined as:
- Demonstrated background of having served as sole or lead designer on exhibitions for museums or closely related cultural institutions. Experience with projects involving art objects and knowledge of museum exhibition standards, procedures and terminology is required. Proficiency is required in one or more computer-aided design (CAD) programs, such as AutoCAD, SketchUp Revit, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar.
- Managing the full design process (concept, schematic, design development) while balancing conservation requirements, accessibility, budget, schedule, and technical feasibility.
- Experience managing the preparation of exhibition spaces (planning, constructing, installing, and operating exhibits). Knowledge of fabrication methods, materials, and production techniques.
- Ability to work on various projects simultaneously with minimal supervision.
- Knowledge of and skill to apply visual design principles and visual communications into exhibition plans.
- Experience directing the work of others, whether as a formal supervisor or in a coordinative role (e.g. contractor oversight, assigning/monitoring other team members’ tasks and or/deadlines, etc.).
- Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to present design concepts to diverse audiences, including curators, leadership, and other staff.
- Knowledge and applied use of accessibility standards (e.g. Americans with Disabilities Act).
- Ability to achieve best possible design outcomes compatible with available budget thresholds, staff resources, and timelines.
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 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 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. To review The Smithsonian's EEO program information, please click the following: https://www.si.edu/oeo
About National Museum of Asian Art
Established a century ago, the National Museum of Asian Art was the Smithsonian’s first art museum. Committed to preserving, exhibiting, researching, and interpreting art in ways that deepen our collective understanding of Asia and the world, the museum stewards one of North America’s largest and most comprehensive collections of Asian art.
Its rich holdings bring the arts of Asia into direct dialogue with an important collection of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American works, providing an essential platform for creative collaboration and cultural exchange between the United States, Asia, and the Middle East.
Beginning with a 1906 gift that paved the way for the museum’s opening in 1923, the National Museum of Asian Art is a leading resource for visitors, students, and scholars in the United States and internationally. Its galleries, laboratories, archives, and library are located on the National Mall in Washington, DC, and are part of the world’s largest museum complex, which typically reports more than 27 million visits each year. The museum is free and open to the public 364 days a year, making its exhibitions, programs, learning opportunities, and digital initiatives accessible to global audiences.
When you visit our galleries or delve into the stories of our collections online, we hope you find a portal to different ways of interpreting our world. We invite you to learn and explore in your own way—to look deeply into the past to better understand the present and to break through the artificial barriers that can separate us.
Its rich holdings bring the arts of Asia into direct dialogue with an important collection of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American works, providing an essential platform for creative collaboration and cultural exchange between the United States, Asia, and the Middle East.
Beginning with a 1906 gift that paved the way for the museum’s opening in 1923, the National Museum of Asian Art is a leading resource for visitors, students, and scholars in the United States and internationally. Its galleries, laboratories, archives, and library are located on the National Mall in Washington, DC, and are part of the world’s largest museum complex, which typically reports more than 27 million visits each year. The museum is free and open to the public 364 days a year, making its exhibitions, programs, learning opportunities, and digital initiatives accessible to global audiences.
When you visit our galleries or delve into the stories of our collections online, we hope you find a portal to different ways of interpreting our world. We invite you to learn and explore in your own way—to look deeply into the past to better understand the present and to break through the artificial barriers that can separate us.
Apply Now
Our Hiring Process
Stage 5:
Second Interview
Stage 6:
Tentative Offer Letter
Stage 7:
Hired
Stage 1:
Applied
Stage 2:
Qualifications Review
Stage 3:
Phone Screen
Stage 4:
First Interview
Stage 5:
Second Interview
Stage 6:
Tentative Offer Letter
Stage 7:
Hired
Stage 1:
Applied
Stage 2:
Qualifications Review
Stage 3:
Phone Screen
Stage 4:
First Interview
Stage 5:
Second Interview
Stage 6:
Tentative Offer Letter
Stage 7:
Hired
1
2
3
Apply Now
Application Deadline
June 08, 2026
Department
National Museum of Asian Art
Employment Type
Full Time
Location
Washington, DC
Workplace type
Onsite
Compensation
$102,415 - $119,485 / year
Reporting To
Head of Exhibitions
View all opportunities at National Museum of Asian Art
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