Audiovisual Production Specialist (IS-1071-09)
Smithsonian Institution
Washington, DC, USA
USD 69,923-74,584 / year
Posted on Dec 13, 2025
OPEN DATE: December 12, 2025
CLOSING DATE: January 8, 2026
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
- January 08, 2026
- Department
- National Museum of Asian Art
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Location
- Washington, DC
- Workplace type
- Onsite
- Compensation
- $69,923 - $74,584 / year
- Reporting To
- Supervisory Physical Scientist
OVERVIEW
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA) is committed to preserving, exhibiting, researching, and interpreting art in ways that deepen the public and scholarly understandings of Asia and the world. NMAA opened in 1923 as America’s first national art museum and the first Asian art museum in the United States. The museum now stewards one of the world’s most important collections of Asian art, with works dating from antiquity to the present, from China, Japan, Korea, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the pre-Islamic Near East, and the Islamic world (inclusive of Central Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa). The museum also stewards an important collection of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American art.
Today, NMAA is emerging as a leading national and global resource for understanding the arts, cultures, and societies of Asia, especially at their intersection with America. Guided by the belief that the future of art museums lies in collaboration, increased access, and transparency, NMAA is fostering new ways to engage with its audiences while maintaining its commitment to excellence.
NMAA celebrated its centennial in 2023 and is determined to make the museum’s second century as accomplished as its first. The museum is building on its core strengths—the quality and depth of our collections, scholarship, and conservation—while embracing experimentation and new approaches to its work. The museum is transforming digitally, physically, and programmatically to draw in new audiences to celebrate, learn, and connect with Asian and American art and cultures, past and present.
Located on the National Mall in Washington, DC, the museum is free and open 364 days a year. The Smithsonian, which is the world’s largest museum complex, welcomes twenty to thirty million visitors yearly. For more information about the National Museum of Asian Art, please visit asia.si.edu.
NMAA is seeking a Audiovisual Production Specialist (Video Storytelling) to join the Digital Content Team in our Marketing and Communications Department. This role is central to shaping how we tell the museum’s stories through video—bringing our collections, exhibitions, and programming to life for new and existing audiences both online and in the galleries. You’ll be a key member of the wider cross-departmental team involved in video production at the museum, and will act as the primary liaison between the Digital Content and Video & Multimedia Teams to ensure that every video we produce is aligned with our institutional voice, brand identity, standards of quality, and strategic priorities. From concept to final cut, you’ll help craft compelling narratives that resonate with a variety of audiences and elevate the museum’s digital presence across various channels.
NMAA is seeking a Audiovisual Production Specialist (Video Storytelling) to join the Digital Content Team in our Marketing and Communications Department. This role is central to shaping how we tell the museum’s stories through video—bringing our collections, exhibitions, and programming to life for new and existing audiences both online and in the galleries. You’ll be a key member of the wider cross-departmental team involved in video production at the museum, and will act as the primary liaison between the Digital Content and Video & Multimedia Teams to ensure that every video we produce is aligned with our institutional voice, brand identity, standards of quality, and strategic priorities. From concept to final cut, you’ll help craft compelling narratives that resonate with a variety of audiences and elevate the museum’s digital presence across various channels.
The successful candidate will be self-motivated, curious, creative, and collaborative. They will have a portfolio that reflects an ability to produce engaging videos of varying lengths and formats, and that demonstrates a range of skills that can enhance the museum’s video output. They will be confident dealing with complex topics with nuance and sensitivity, and are comfortable working closely with subject matter experts to refine their approach while keeping audience needs and channel-specific conventions top of mind. They will be a team player who excels in a deadline-driven, collaborative team environment and who enjoys the challenge of working on multiple projects simultaneously.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Creative Development & Strategy
· Draft creative briefs and collaborate with the Head of Content and Video Producer on video storyboards and scripts
· Collaborate with colleagues across departments to make the most of high-impact video storytelling opportunities that further the museum’s mission, priorities, and reach
· Work with stakeholders to ensure brand alignment and narrative impact
· Help identify opportunities to leverage and adapt video content across the museum’s owned channels
· Draft creative briefs and collaborate with the Head of Content and Video Producer on video storyboards and scripts
· Collaborate with colleagues across departments to make the most of high-impact video storytelling opportunities that further the museum’s mission, priorities, and reach
· Work with stakeholders to ensure brand alignment and narrative impact
· Help identify opportunities to leverage and adapt video content across the museum’s owned channels
Production & Collaboration
· Compile shot lists for evergreen and time-sensitive footage
· Assist with or oversee, as needed, onsite film shoots with external contractors or members of the media
· Work with the Public Affairs Specialist to provide coaching and direction for on-screen presence as needed
· Act as a technical point of contact on film-related contracts as needed
· Compile shot lists for evergreen and time-sensitive footage
· Assist with or oversee, as needed, onsite film shoots with external contractors or members of the media
· Work with the Public Affairs Specialist to provide coaching and direction for on-screen presence as needed
· Act as a technical point of contact on film-related contracts as needed
Editing & Post-Production
· Edit bespoke clips and short-form content for social media and promotional placements
· Select and edit YouTube thumbnails that spark curiosity and align with the museum’s brand
· Assist in developing and reviewing on-screen text and end cards
· Conduct quality assurance for internally and externally produced video assets
· Assist the Video and Multimedia Team with video editing and post-production as needed
· Elevate the museum’s approach to video content through attention to and awareness of innovative technology and creative interventions, such as animation, 3D renderings, virtual reality, augmented reality, etc.
· Edit bespoke clips and short-form content for social media and promotional placements
· Select and edit YouTube thumbnails that spark curiosity and align with the museum’s brand
· Assist in developing and reviewing on-screen text and end cards
· Conduct quality assurance for internally and externally produced video assets
· Assist the Video and Multimedia Team with video editing and post-production as needed
· Elevate the museum’s approach to video content through attention to and awareness of innovative technology and creative interventions, such as animation, 3D renderings, virtual reality, augmented reality, etc.
Content Management
· Help manage YouTube playlists and front-page content, ensuring representation across the museum’s various priorities and audiences
· Collaborate on titles, descriptions, transcripts, captions, visual descriptions, and other video-related assets as needed
· Ensure consistency of institutional brand, mission, and voice across all video content
· Work with the Head of Content, Video Producer, and the wider cross-departmental video production team to refine video style and production guidelines and standard operating procedures
· Assist with remediation of legacy content for brand alignment and accessibility standards
· Help manage YouTube playlists and front-page content, ensuring representation across the museum’s various priorities and audiences
· Collaborate on titles, descriptions, transcripts, captions, visual descriptions, and other video-related assets as needed
· Ensure consistency of institutional brand, mission, and voice across all video content
· Work with the Head of Content, Video Producer, and the wider cross-departmental video production team to refine video style and production guidelines and standard operating procedures
· Assist with remediation of legacy content for brand alignment and accessibility standards
Administrative
· Manage video production schedules and coordinate promotional timelines with the rest of the Marketing and Communications Department
· Maintain a working knowledge of industry best practices, software skills, and emerging content platforms
· Follow NMAA procedures and complete administrative tasks in a timely and accurate manner
· Communicate clearly, effectively, and regularly with the team and supervisor
· Manage video production schedules and coordinate promotional timelines with the rest of the Marketing and Communications Department
· Maintain a working knowledge of industry best practices, software skills, and emerging content platforms
· Follow NMAA procedures and complete administrative tasks in a timely and accurate manner
· Communicate clearly, effectively, and regularly with the team and supervisor
Other Duties as Assigned
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Education (if positive education is required) and Experience: To qualify for this position, applicants must possess a completed bachelor’s degree (B.A.) in a related area of study from an accredited four-year college or university and/or 3 or more years of related experience (described below); or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:
- 3+ years of experience in video production, digital storytelling, or related fields
- Strong editorial judgment and storytelling instincts
- Adept at screenwriting and storyboarding
- Proficiency in video editing software (e.g., Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro)
- Experience with YouTube content development and social media video formats
- Familiarity with accessibility standards for video (e.g., captions, transcripts, visual descriptions)
- Excellent interpersonal communication and project management skills
- Passion for art, culture, and public engagement
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Preferred:
- Comfort with coaching on-camera talent and working with external production partners
- Conversant with emerging technologies that can augment and complement video content
- Experience working in a museum, cultural institution, or nonprofit setting
- Proficiency with collaborative task management software (e.g. Asana)
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 (https://www.si.edu/OEO/IndividualswithDisabilities).
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 (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 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.
Our Hiring Process
Stage 1:
Applied
Stage 2:
Qualifications Review
Stage 3:
Phone Screen
Stage 4:
First Interview