Docent Program Coordinator
Smithsonian Institution
Operations
Washington, DC, USA
USD 69,923-79,246 / year
Posted on Dec 5, 2025
OPEN DATE: December 04, 2025
CLOSING DATE: December 18, 2025 * This announcement may close once 100 applications are received, which may be sooner than the closing date *
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC
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.
- Application Deadline
- December 18, 2025
- Department
- National Air and Space Museum
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Location
- Washington, DC
- Workplace type
- Onsite
- Compensation
- $69,923 - $79,246 / year
- Reporting To
- Director of Visitor Services
OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
The Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum (NASM) seeks one coordinator for the Visitor Services Docent program. The Docent Coordinator works with the Visitor Services team to manage volunteers, to communicate with the public, and to support daily operations and activities at the Museum. The Docent Coordinator works at both the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.
This position is located in the Visitor Services Department, within the Education and Visitor Experience Directorate of the National Air and Space Museum (NASM), Smithsonian Institution (SI). The Docent Coordinator specializes in Docent programming, training and management. This includes but is not limited to volunteer scheduling, tour and program scheduling, creation and distribution of training resources, and working alongside the Museum’s Docent Council. In addition, they provide key support in the day-to-day work of the Visitor Services team. This includes entrance operations, health and safety, customer service, communication with the public, and collaboration with all NASM offices in addition to many SI offices. The incumbent will uphold the Smithsonian, National Air and Space Museum’s philosophy, that the visitors’ “first and last impression” of their experience at the Museum is positive.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Docent Coordinator has the following major responsibilities:
- Manage the Docent program, including the supervision of Docents at both NASM locations.
- Develop and execute new training courses and materials for Docents, utilizing Moodle and other resources, to onboard and train new Docents.
- Lead the scheduling of public programs provided by Docents, including Highlights Tours and Spotlights, via the VSys volunteer database and in close collaboration with Docents.
- Schedule and maintain all statistical data for reserved guided tours and educational programs facilitated by volunteers.
- Support Visitor Services volunteer programs, including briefing volunteers at the Welcome Centers and managing museum floor operations.
- Provide direction and logistical management to a diverse group of people, establishing, implementing, and maintaining policies and procedures that ensure the smooth operation of the Docent program.
- Maintain records of all volunteer activity and provide administrative support to all NASM volunteers.
- Establish essential relationships and coordinate across the museum and greater Smithsonian to meet visitor and museum needs.
- Plan, manage, and implement all elements of Visitor Services operations.
- Provide customer service for Museum visitors, staff, and volunteers.
- Oversee timed-entry operations, providing customer service for the public and support for contract staff team members, at NASM’s Washington, DC location.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Degree: Bachelor's degree that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours in a field related to the work of the position.
OR Combination of Education and Experience: At least 24 semester hours in a field related to the work of the position. The experience must have demonstrated (1) a thorough knowledge of the principles underlying the work of this position, and (2) understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the methods and techniques applied in performing work in this position.
OR Specialized Experience: Three years of specialized experience, which includes volunteer management and training in an informal education setting. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-7 or above).
OR Specialized Experience: Three years of specialized experience, which includes volunteer management and training in an informal education setting. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-7 or above).
Experience required for this position is as follows:
- Skill in providing services and assistance to visitors of a museum, education center, cultural or historical site, recreation site, or similar facility which receives large numbers of public visitors.
- Working knowledge of interpretation best practices at museums or cultural sites.
- Knowledge and ability to manage and maintain large scale museum programming.
- Knowledge of the logistical, legal and ethical issues associated with managing volunteers.
- Ability to communicate verbally, and in writing, in a manner that is clear and easily understood by audiences of all ages, including an ability to meet and communicate with individuals from museums, cultural organizations and businesses. Oral and written skills are leveraged to provide direction to volunteer staff via e-mail, briefings, presentations, and other methods as assigned.
- Knowledge of NASM’s programs and policies, sufficient to develop programs and visitor services that support initiatives of the Museum.
- Knowledge of program goals, priorities, and commitments in the area of public service, sufficient to operate a volunteer program with maximum efficiency and effectiveness.
- Problem solving skills exercising patience and tact, showing empathy but firmness in order to maintain Museum and Institution standards.
- Knowledge and discretion in seeking the involvement of the professional staff of the Museum and in making use of the various Museums or Institutional facilities.
- Working knowledge and skill of information technology in order to use computer applications to prepare communications, presentation materials, and reports.
- Ability to de-escalate conflict with visitors regarding timed-entry requirements at the Museum’s Washington, DC location
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 [INSERT EMAIL ADDRESS FOR UNIT]. 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 provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact [INSERT EMAIL ADDRESS FOR UNIT]. 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
About Smithsonian Institution
Founded in 1846, the Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum and research complex of 21 museums and galleries, the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, and 14 education and research facilities. There are more than 6,500 Smithsonian employees, including approximately 500 scientists. The total number of objects, works of art and specimens at the Smithsonian is estimated at more than 157 million.
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