Educational Technician (Spark!Lab Facilitator) IS-1702-04
Smithsonian Institution
Washington, DC, USA
USD 19.76-25.7 / hour
Posted on Dec 10, 2025
OPEN DATE: December 9, 2025
CLOSING DATE: January 5, 2026
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Temporary, NTE 2 Years
SCHEDULE: Part-Time, 21 hours/week including one weekend day
DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC
**This position is being recruited at the grade 4 with promotion potential up to grade 5. The incumbent may be non-competitively promoted to the next grade level upon satisfactory completion of qualifications/performance and at the management’s discretion. Meeting these requirements does not entitle the incumbent to advancement
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
- January 05, 2026
- Department
- National Museum of American History
- Employment Type
- Part Time
- Location
- Washington, DC
- Workplace type
- Onsite
- Compensation
- $19.76 - $25.70 / hour
- Reporting To
- Museum Education Program Coordinator (Spark!Lab Manager)
OVERVIEW
This position is located in the Lemelson Center, Division of Public History, National Museum of American History (NMAH), Smithsonian Institution (SI). The Lemelson Center’s mission is to promote public understanding of the history and role of invention and innovation in society.
The Lemelson Center’s Spark!Lab, located at NMAH, is a hands-on invention learning space which provides museum visitors, particularly children and their families, the opportunity to engage in the invention process through history, engineering, science, and creative activities.
The primary purpose of this position is to serve as an invention education facilitator in the Lemelson Center’s Spark!Lab, supporting operations of an invention education interactive exhibit and supporting children and adults in hands-on activities with inquiry-based facilitation.
This position has promotion potential to the IS-1702-05 grade level. This position requires work on one weekend day (Saturday or Sunday) per week and may require occasional work on evenings, weekends, or holidays in accordance with Smithsonian Institution policy.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Supports meaningful engagement with the invention process through hands-on activities based in inquiry, creatively inspiring children and families to identify problems, imagine solutions, create prototypes, and test ideas in order to practice skills such as collaboration, perseverance, and curiosity.
- Ensures a positive visitor experience by greeting visitors, engaging visitors through conversation, inquiry and experimentation appropriate to age level and interest.
- Supports the opening, operation, and closing of Spark!Lab and performs routine maintenance such as replenishing supplies, keeping equipment cleaned, and monitoring Spark!Lab for safety and accessibility.
- Recommends and makes basic changes to activity materials or signage, suggests topics for new activities related to museum priorities and incorporates volunteer suggestions.
- Develops recommendations to improve visitor experience and invention education resources, such as developing posters highlighting museum objects or inventors connected to other exhibits.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Experience: To qualify for this position, applicants must possess 1-3 years of related experience (described below).
Experience required for this position is as follows:
- Skill to facilitate pre-designed learning activities based in making and testing, utilizing craft supplies like cardboard, tape, and wire, educational toy and electronics sets, and custom-designed interactives.
- Knowledge of group management techniques in order to engage visitors and work with a variety of learning styles and age groups.
- Ability to communicate orally with general audiences (up to 30 persons) about select topics in invention, history, and science in an informal setting.
- Practical knowledge of instructional support techniques sufficient to create instructional materials, organize learning content, and/or facilitate group activities and hands-on exercises.
- Skill to organize schedules and activities, including keeping sessions on schedule and tracking attendance.
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 NMAHApplications@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 provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact NMAHApplications@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
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.
Our Hiring Process
Stage 1:
Applied
Stage 2:
Qualifications Review
Stage 3:
Phone Screen
Stage 4:
First Interview