Application Deadline: 17 January 2025Department: National Museum of Asian ArtLocation: Washington, DCCompensation: $69,923 - $77,525 / yearDescriptionOPEN DATE: January 3, 2025 CLOSING DATE: January 17, 2025 (This job will close once 100 applications are received which may be sooner than the closing date.) POSITION TYPE: Trust FundAPPOINTMENT TYPE: Temporary Not to Exceed 3/31/2026SCHEDULE: IntermittentDUTY LOCATION: Washington, DCNon-sensitive (NS)/Low RiskOpen to all Qualified ApplicantsWhat 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.OVERVIEWThe 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. We now steward 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 artwork.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 we are determined to make our second century as accomplished as our first. We are building on our core strengths—the quality and depth of our collections, scholarship, and conservation—while embracing experimentation and new approaches to our work. We are 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.The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA) is seeking a keen-eyed and thorough editor to join the small but nimble Editorial Team embedded within our Marketing and Communications Department on a part-time, temporary basis. Your role will support ensuring quality, consistency, accuracy, and sensitivity across all printed and digital text produced by the museum, which might include publications (both print and digital), in-gallery text, web copy, blog posts, signage, newsletters, brochures, flyers, advertisements, reports, internal communications, digital media projects, etc. You will also work closely as part of core teams of stakeholders to develop and maintain platform- and project-specific voice and style guidelines.The successful candidate will be self-motivated, detail-oriented, and curious. They will be confident translating complex information (including academic research material) into clear and inviting copy for a variety of audiences, balancing cultural and political sensitivities, conducting independent research as needed, and reconciling the priorities of different stakeholders. 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 RESPONSIBILITIESMajor duties include:Reviewing, proof-reading, and/or substantively editing all written content in support of the museum's various activities and initiatives; conducting subject matter research as needed to ensure error-free content; identifying opportunities to adjust existing content for different platforms, formats, and audiences as needed; developing and maintaining institutional and project-specific style guides; and other duties as assigned.In executing these responsibilities, you can expect to:• Work closely with content strategists, other editors, writers, designers, curators, and other key stakeholders around the museum• Contribute to establishing and maintaining guidelines to promote consistency and coherence across all of our printed and digital content• Identify opportunities for content improvements• Build and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues across the NMAA and at central Smithsonian• Support the NMAA in its strategic vision to be more inclusive and welcoming to wider and more diverse audiences• Stay up to date with industry trends and best practices in editing and museum interpretationQUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTSBasic Qualification: Experience that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.• B.A. (English, art history, or related field a plus)• 2+ years of editing experience, preferably on a variety (in length, format, target audience, etc.) of types of projects• Exceptional English-language writing and editing skills, including a strong grasp of style and grammar• Fluency with the principles of editing and proofreading, including proofreader's marks, commenting, and track changes functions• Familiarity with Chicago Manual of Style standards• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams)• Attention to detail• Strong research skills• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously• Ability to interact with stakeholders tactfully, persuasively, and productively• Ability to respond to constructive criticism and incorporate feedback• Professional demeanor and collegialityPreferred:• Experience editing art historical content, whether through formal education or professional experience• Experience working for a large non-profit organization and/or in the cultural sector• Familiarity with accessibility best practices• Familiarity with collaborative task management software (i.e. Asana, Trello, Basecamp)• Passion for art and culture, particularly as related to the collections of the National Museum of Asian Art• Reading and writing proficiency in one or more foreign languagesEducation 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.The Smithsonian Institution values and seeks a diverse workforce. 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.Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and InclusionThe Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact [email protected] 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. We believe that a workforce comprising a variety of educational, cultural, and experiential backgrounds support and enhance our daily work life and contribute to the richness of our exhibitions and programs. See Smithsonian EEO program information: https://www.si.edu/oeesd.