Supervisory Registrar

Summary
The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. The National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) is a major bureau of the Smithsonian Institution that is responsible for the acquisition, curation, and preservation of collections of objects and specimens of natural history, which tells the history of the planet and a record of human interaction with the environment and one another.

Overview
Posted today · Apply by 06/22/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 22, 2026
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—Ad Hoc Only
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No

Duties
The Supervisory Registrar will participate in planning, coordinating, and managing collection inventory control functions. These include the transaction management and registrarial programs, and the collection auditing functions of the Museum.
In this position, you will:

• Supervise a staff of employees to accomplish the work of the organizational unit.
• Assist with managing the development, implementation, and review of transaction management, and inventory control policies and procedures for all collections-holding.
• Serve as a primary source of information on the Museum’s current policies and procedures related to national and international regulations, treaties and conventions affecting collections.
• Prepare museum-wide reports on collection growth, activity, donations.
• Attend relevant Smithsonian professional meetings and maintains membership and active involvement in professional organizations.

Requirements
Conditions of employment

• Requires career/career-conditional status or eligibility.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
• May be required to serve an 18-month probationary period for supervisors.

Qualifications
Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal Service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as experience documenting collections, loans, acquisitions and disposals for national and international transactions covering biological, geological and cultural disciplines resulting from exhibition and research work with universities, state and federal agencies, private individuals, non-government organizations, tribal organizations, and schools; and experience leading multi-month projects.

Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages and should clearly demonstrate how your experience aligns with the responsibilities and specialized experience required for this position. Do not copy language directly from the vacancy announcement, as you will be deemed ineligible for consideration. Instead, provide detailed, descriptive information about your actual experience.

Benefits
The Smithsonian offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, vacation and sick leave, holidays, health/life insurance, accident insurance, and excellent retirement program options.

How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your application will be evaluated first for the basic qualifications described above. The applications that meet the basic qualifications will be evaluated further against the following criteria:

• Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and practices of museum transaction management, collections inventory control and audit functions.
• Knowledge of legal and ethical issues relating to natural science and/or cultural collections gained through work experience or training involving federal or state regulations, conventions, or treaties
• Knowledge of administrative and supervisory practices.
• Ability to communicate technical information in writing.
• Ability to communicate technical information orally.

Required Documents

• Your DD-214 or Statement of Service shows if you qualify for Veterans' Preference, the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 or the Veterans Opportunity to Work to Hire Heros Act. We prefer the member 4 copy of your DD-214.
• If you are a disabled veteran and want to claim preference, you must submit a letter on VA letterhead with your overall combined service-connected disability rating.
• Your SF-50 shows a federal position you've held, grade level and duty location. Your SF-50 can support position changes, conversions or separation for employment eligibility.

How to Apply
Click on the "Apply Online" button on the upper right side of the page.
Please Note:

• You must apply for this position online through the 'Apply Online' button and submit required supplemental documents (if they are relevant to you).
• Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages.
• You may submit required documents by uploading them online during the application process.
• The complete application package, including any required documents, is due in the Smithsonian Office of Human Resources on the closing date of the announcement by 11:59 PM Eastern Time.

Additional Information:

• Tips on applying for Smithsonian jobs are available at https://www.si.edu/OHR/howtoapply.
• The Smithsonian does not pay relocation expenses.
• The Smithsonian Institution is an equal opportunity employer. Additional information can be found on our website at (www.si.edu/oeesd).

Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.