Program Coordinator (IS-1001-07)
Smithsonian Institution
Operations
Washington, DC, USA
USD 57,736-75,059 / year
Posted on Feb 25, 2026
OPEN DATE: February 25, 2026
CLOSING DATE: March 18, 2026
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Temporary, not to exceed 3 years
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
- March 18, 2026
- Department
- National Museum of American History
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Location
- Washington, DC
- Workplace type
- Onsite
- Compensation
- $57,736 - $75,059 / year
- Reporting To
- Head of Experience Development
OVERVIEW
This position is located in the Experience Development Team, Office of Education and Experience, Division of Public History, National Museum of American History (NMAH), Smithsonian Institution (SI). The National Museum of American History empowers people to create a just and compassionate future by exploring, preserving, and sharing the complexity of the nation’s past.
This position assists in the day-to-day management of the Museum Experience and Docent programs, including providing customer service; coordinating support services; coordinating daily experience staff, docents, facilitators, and volunteers; and disseminating information concerning facilities use. The incumbent serves under the general supervision of the Head of Experience Development. An important aspect of the position is to ensure a high standard of visitor-centric, historically accurate content.
This position requires a regular work schedule that include Saturdays or Sundays (e.g., Tuesday–Saturday or Sunday–Thursday) in accordance with Smithsonian Institution policy.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assists the Docent Program Manager in the implementation of all elements of Museum Experience operations, such as coordinating daily maintenance and upkeep; updating and ordering printed information materials; scheduling and monitoring daily experience activities; and assisting in management of gallery floor programs and tours.
- Implements a staffing plan that covers museum experience operations on a daily, weekly, seasonal, and yearly basis, providing operations seven days a week, 364 days a year.
- Supports and implements accessibility services and programs for visitors.
- Supports Experience Development by scheduling and documenting training sessions for docents and volunteers.
- Fosters solid and collegial working relationships with museum staff and volunteers to provide the best customer service to museum visitors.
- With instruction from the Docent Program Manager, implements plans to increase visitor satisfaction.
- Works directly on the museum floor with the public at interpretive carts and interactive activities.
- Answers questions from the public about their museum visit and helps visitors navigate the museum and plan their visit schedule.
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:
- Knowledge of museum management, operations, policies, procedures, goals, and objectives in order to provide assistance to Museum Experience staff and present orientation and exhibition information.
- Skill in management and administrative concepts, theories, principles, methods, and techniques to organize, administer, and manage operational and staffing requirements for Visitor Experience activities.
- Knowledge of the principles of customer service.
- Ability to remain calm in all types of situations and to effectively and constructively resolve conflicts between visitors and staff.
- Skill in oral, written, and digital communication sufficient to address varied audiences and to serve as an interface between multiple museum constituents and stakeholders (e.g., volunteers and curators; volunteers and the public).
- Ability to provide hands-on supervision to direct and motivate volunteers engaged in visitor experience operations.
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.
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.
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