National Park Service Logo
Position Title
Museum Curator
Agency
National Park Service
Announcement Number
NPS-IRA-25-12574013-MP Opens in new window
Open Period
Tuesday, October 15, 2024 to Thursday, October 24, 2024
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
You will not be considered for any eligibility you do not select. For all eligibilities selected, you must provide supporting documentation defined in the required documents section of the vacancy announcement to receive consideration. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions will affect your eligibility. (limit characters)
1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
2. Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from the agency hiring for this position?   If yes, confirm:
  • you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
  • you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
  • you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
  • your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
 
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center. 
 
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
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3. Do you meet one of the following Competitive Merit Promotion Eligibilities:
  • Current Federal or former employees with career or career- conditional appointments in the competitive service that hold, or have held a career or career-conditional position at a lower grade level as the position being announced; or,
  • Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) eligibles
 
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation.  For example, a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your competitive status or a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service.  All required documentation will be outlined in the Job Opportunity Announcement.
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4. Are you a former member of the Public Lands Corps (PLC) who has served the time required for completing a PLC project carried out on Federal land within the preceding 2 years (an individuals eligibility for NCE under this authority shall not exceed 2 years after completion of his/her last PLC project), and:

• Served as a qualified youth on an appropriate conservation project completing a minimum of 640 hours of satisfactory service that included at least 120 hours through the PLC (individuals must provide a copy of the "Certificate of Eligibility for NCE Hiring Based on PLC Service" and the complete PLC Participant Work Hours Verification Form with your application package in order to be considered under this hiring authority), and

• Meet OPM qualification standards and any other qualification requirement(s) stated in this vacancy announcement for the position in which you are applying.
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5. Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a Federal agency other than the agency hiring for this position?  If yes, confirm:
  • you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
  • you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
  • you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
  • your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
 
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.  
 
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
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6. Are you a current or former employee of a land management agency (Forest Service; Bureau of Land Management; National Park Service; Fish and Wildlife Service; Bureau of Indian Affairs; or Bureau of Reclamation) who:
  • was originally hired to a time-limited position under a competitive appointment; and,
  • served one or more time-limited appointments at a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two or more years; and,
  • performed at an acceptable level of service during each period of service; and,
  • if no longer employed by the land management agency, have been separated for no more than two years, and departed that position in good standing.
 
To verify your eligibility, you must provide documentation for the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) eligibility, which includes ALL Appointment AND Termination SF-50s for EACH appointment as well as ALL performance evaluations, for each qualifying period of temporary employment claimed.
For more information, review Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA).
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7. Do you meet one of the following Non-Competitive Merit Promotion Eligibilities:
  • Disabled veteran receiving 30% or more disability compensation from the VA;
  • Transfer, reassignment or reinstatement eligible:  current Federal or former employee with career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service that hold, or have previously held a career or career-conditional position at the same or higher grade level with the same or higher promotion potential as the position being announced; or,
  • Individual eligible under other non-competitive appointment authorities such as: Veterans Recruitment Authority; Military spouses under E.O. 13473; Certain former overseas employees; Present and former Peace Corps, Vista or Action volunteers; Former White House staff; Present and former Foreign Service officers and employees; Certain National Guard technicians; Schedule A; OPM Interchange Agreement and Other Miscellaneous Authorities.
 
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation.  For example, a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service; a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50); etc.  All required documentation will be outlined in the Job Opportunity Announcement.
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8. Are you a veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions and you:
  • recently separated (within the past 3 years)
  • are a disabled veteran
  • served on active duty during a war, campaign or expedition OR
  • received an Armed Forces Service Medal
If eligible, submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service. If claiming disability preference, provide the disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service and the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15.

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
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Preferences
1. My performance is at an acceptable level and I am not serving under a formal Performance Improvement Plan (PIP). (limit characters)
A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating. (limit characters)
Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest in the Museum Curator position with Natural Park Service. Your resume and the responses you provide to this assessment questionnaire will be used to determine if you are among the best qualified for this position. Your responses are subject to verification. Please review your responses for accuracy before you submit your application. (limit characters)
1. This position requires applicants to meet a Basic Education Requirement. Please select the description below that best describes your education or experience as it pertains to the Museum Curator, GS-1015 series. Your transcript(s) must support the response you selected. (limit characters)
2. Choose the statement below that most accurately describes your experience which meets the minimum qualifications for the GS-11 level. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
3. Ensure actions of the museum program are in compliance with all applicable laws, policy, and ethical standards.
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4. Serve as the subject matter expert representing the museum program as needed for strategic planning, work groups, etc.
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5. Complete all required annual reports, accessions, deaccessions, and other accountability actions.
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6. Ensure that federal records within the museum program are properly stored and addressed under the retention schedule.
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7. Lead or participate in the development of museum-related planning and guidance documents.
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8. Write project statements, scopes of work, funding requests, etc. related to the museum program.
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9. Monitor and control the museum collection environment, through decisions about storage and housing, climate, security, and fire protection.
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10. Arrange for specialized needs of collection items to be met, such as conservation treatment.
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11. Keep apprised of trends in the museum field as a whole and applies best practices to work.
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12. Catalog museum items into a standardized database.
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13. Complete documentation actions, including accessioning, deaccessioning, loans, etc.
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14. Conduct specialized research on diagnostic items.
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15. Interpret museum collection to the public through exhibits, tours, programs, online features, social media, etc.
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16. Represent the museum program when relevant information is being included in wider informational or educational programs.
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17. Oversee maintenance of all records and documentation for museum collections using automated systems.
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18. Create accession and catalog records using collection management database software.
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19. Evaluate park program needs and make recommendations on priorities, cost estimates, and budget requirements for long term planning and management.
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20. Catalog objects according to agency standards.
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21. Work in a team environment and oversee day-to-day work of interns, volunteers, and contractors.
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22. Interact with other cultural or natural resource personnel, regional museum staff, and the public.
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23. Prepare presentations to share information with staff and partners.
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QTMATE (Job-related Technical Assessment): Please answer each of the following questions. Read all responses before making your selection and mark only one response. Do not leave any blank. (limit characters)
24. One of the most robust artifact types that generally tolerates a wide range of environmental conditions is:
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25. It is a good idea for museums to expand public access to collections through an "open stacks" policy.
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26. In terms of ethics, should a curator refrain from building a personal collection of artifacts that closely resembles the collection they oversee at work?
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27. Auction house catalogs provide a good source of information for historic furnishings, including up-to-date appraisal estimates.
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28. Do Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) requirements apply to federal museums?
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29. If you find old cannonballs in your museum storage, you should:
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30. You discover signs of mold growing on boxes in museum storage, you should immediately: (limit characters)
31. Annual inventories provide legal proof of ownership for museum objects.
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32. Wooden plywood containing formaldehyde provides one of the most stable materials for building museum storage racks.
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33. When you move artifacts around in museum storage, one of the first things you should do is:
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34. I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all the information included in this questionnaire is true, correct, and provided in good faith. I understand that if I make an intentional false statement or commit deception or fraud in this application and its supporting materials, or in any document or interview associated with the examination process, I may be fined or imprisoned (18 U.S.C. 1001); my eligibilities may be cancelled, I may be denied an appointment, or I may be removed and debarred from Federal service (5 C.F.R. part 731). I understand that any information I give may be investigated. (limit characters)