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Public Affairs Specialist (Visitor Services Coordinator) • National Museum of African American History and Culture • April 22, 2022 OR 150 applicants
This is an entry-level, customer-service position. You qualify with a BA. I am sure many DC grad stipends are better than they are other places, but I am also sure the starting salary for this position is higher than the stipends.
The visitor services coordinator provides the following duties and responsibilities:
Responsible for assisting the OVGS Supervisory Manager and Lead Visitor Services Coordinator in executing all elements of Visitor and Guest Services operations.
Responsible for providing excellence in customer service.
Executes and supports the day-to-day Visitor and Guest Services programs and activities, including: wayfinding; indoor and outdoor queuing and line management; safety; security; VIP tours; group visits; assistance and accessibility support services; dissemination of maps, guides and information concerning the public areas of the museum, facilities use, exhibitions, collections, and objects; demonstration of interactives and immersion experiences; and engagement and interpretation of difficult and challenging content that may evoke layers of emotion for visitors and guests.
It could be an interesting job, I think. You may have relevant teaching experience:
For this position specialized experience is defined as activities such as assisting in daily operations at visitor information desks; working with visitor services teams and volunteers; facilitating dialogue around challenging and sensitive subjects; compiling data and requirements for projects and reports; assisting in the care and maintenance of equipment and supplies for visitor services programs; and providing services and assistance to a large number of visitors in a fast-paced museum, education center, cultural or historic site, recreation site or similar facility.
Technical Writer-Editor • Department of Justice • April 26, 2022
You need to be able to evaluate work in statistics, as well as writing skills. There’s a small chance this is mistakenly listed as open to the public. And I can’t find the questionnaire on the listing. Okay, now that’s out of the way, the minimum qualifications are one year of:
Specialized experience is defined as: coordinating the publication of complex information and materials; editing or writing statistically significant materials to non-technical audiences, such as policy makers, media, and the general public; applying agency style standards for written and graphic materials; and, conducting research analysis, and interpretation of information on a variety of subjects and developing technical materials for presentation.
And then there are some technical qualifications/KSAs for people who recognize themselves in the above description.
Archivist • Smithsonian • April 26, 2022
You do need to have archivist experience, but this is sort of an entry-level position so it needn’t ben “I was an archivist.” I think some kinds of graduate work would get you what they want:
For this position Specialized experience is defined as assisting with archival records management; processes and enters metadata. Conducts reference services and assists in research into the history of the Smithsonian Institution. Processes of Content Management System (CMS) transactions, and support website and/or social media platforms.
And if you have an MA/two years’ of graduate education, you can substitute that for the experience you don’t have. You do need history credits in your undergrad (or experience). Here are the questions.
Reference Librarian • Library of Congress • May 3, 2022
They are looking for someone with expertise on “Greater China,” including literacy in Chinese languages. The responsibilities list is lengthy - and many of the skills are library-specific. You don’t strictly need a MLS, but you need to show you have the relevant skills. You do need some grad education.
The qualifications, which are fleshed out in the questionnaire, are:
Knowledge of history, politics, and literature of Greater China.**
Ability to communicate in English and Chinese languages.**
Ability to provide reference and research services.
Ability to develop and manage collections.
Ability to use integrated library systems, applications, or other information technologies.
Ability to communicate in writing.
Ability to provide consultation and/or liaison duties.
Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.
Historian • U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum • May 4, 2022
This position looks quite close to the work one would do as an historian in an academic context:
Possess good reading comprehension of German or another foreign language relevant to the history of the Holocaust (e.g., Russian, Hungarian, Polish, French).
Respond to relevant reference questions from within and outside the museum.
Under the general direction of the Senior Historian, plan, coordinate, and conduct historical research in both primary and secondary historical sources that pertain to the era of the Holocaust and World War II.
Establish and maintain consultative relationships with fellow historians both within and outside the Museum, including individuals in other disciplines working in the field of Holocaust studies. . . .
And, as you might expect, the qualifications reflect that. The experiential qualifications are basically what you get with a PhD in the field:
Plan, coordinate, and conduct historical research in both primary and secondary historical sources.
Present papers based on primary-source historical research in the Museum’s collection.
Assist in leading discussions about the future of Holocaust studies by identifying trends, new subfields of study, and new research directions across disciplines.
Provide historical content support to scholars, outside agencies, journalists, and the public.
And so you can also qualify with a PhD in the field. Here are the questions.
Analyst in Health Policy • Library of Congress • May 6, 2022
This is a new graduate recruitment position, so you have to be enrolled in a higher degree program or a recent graduate of one. They mention social and behavioral sciences, but I can see someone with research in certain kinds of bioethics or data science topics being a good candidate:
The Congressional Research Service (CRS), Domestic Social Policy Division (DSP), seeks an Analyst in Health Policy to join its Health Services and Research Section. The applicant should have some knowledge of key health policy issues, including issues related to health information technology (e.g., digital health, health informatics, and/or health care cybersecurity) along with the organization delivery, and financing of health services. The applicant should be able to demonstrate their proficiency through relevant coursework or experience. Applicants earning an advanced degree in health policy, including issues related to health information technology, digital health, health informatics, and/or health care cybersecurity, are especially encouraged to apply.
They are looking for subject-area expertise and writing skills. The questionnaire includes a statement of interest.
CYAC Librarian • Library of Congress • May 9, 2022
Uh, you are probably not a candidate for this job if you don’t recognize the acronym right away.
The Literature Section at the Library of Congress seeks a cataloger with strong cataloging and subject analysis skills, . . .. This position requires the ability to communicate effectively in writing in order to write objective and succinct summaries for Children’s and Young Adults’ (CYAC) literature. For more information on the CYAC program: https://www.loc.gov/aba/cyac/
In addition to subject expertise, they would like you to have some foreign language skills and library/cataloging experience:
Knowledge of at least one of the following subject areas: Children's Literature, Graphic Novels, General Literature and related areas (e.g., fiction, poetry, history and criticism of literary works).**
Ability to communicate in writing.**
Knowledge of library metadata rules, practices, and procedures.**
Ability to use library software applications, integrated library platforms, and other information technology.
Ability to provide consultation and/or liaison duties.
Ability to recognize bibliographic data in a foreign language.
Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.
Analyst in Natural Resources Policy (Fisheries) • Library of Congress • May 13, 2022
The analyst will address U.S. and international natural resources policy issues as applies to marine living resources, including impacts from changing ocean environments, fisheries management, and/or activities that affect marine living resources.
Okay, this may look odd! But the description sounds like someone who works on environmental history with a policy angle would be a good fit!
The analyst will possess knowledge of the theories, concepts, principles, issues, and/or practices of U.S. and international natural resources policy as applies to marine living resources, the biological sciences, and federal and state management of marine species. The analyst will also have knowledge of the history, trends, and current status of U.S. and international natural resources policy and interrelationships of natural resources policy with other key ecosystem, conservation, protection, and fisheries issues. The ideal candidate will demonstrate ability to develop expertise in new areas.
They do want quantitative research skills, unsurprisingly. Take a look at the responsibilities section for more information. The questionnaire gives more detailed information on the qualifications, which as usual are qualitative and generic:
Knowledge of Natural Resources Policy**
Ability to analyze public policy issues**
Ability to write in a public policy context**
Ability to convey analysis and information orally through briefings, consultations and other presentations.
Ability to work collaboratively with others.
Ability to exercise objectivity in all phases of analysis and consultation.
Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.
Make sure to prep your narrative responses.
Senior Digital Collection Specialist • Library of Congress • May 16, 2022
Some of you may already have this job:
Coordinates, determines, and manages projects for digital collections. Serves as a technical expert in the planning, management, and execution of digital collections workflow/lifecycle management projects. Acts as an expert on special projects, and advises management on issues. Plans, tests, and executes projects that involve acquiring, describing, storing, and providing access to digital content for which the section has curatorial responsibility. Serves as a project leader for content transfers and processing from varied acquisitions sources including, but not limited to, content on tangible media, web archived content, and data sets. Plans for new digital acquisition streams, and is responsible for their implementation using new or existing workflows. Identifies opportunities for improving the performance of existing streams and workflows, and implements new tools and processes as appropriate. Ensures that assigned projects are completed on time and achieve the desired objectives.
The qualifications are detailed in the questionnaire, so maybe look there first:
Knowledge of library digital content management principles and practices.**
Ability to perform project development and management duties.**
Ability to research and analyze technical issues.
Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
Ability to provide consultation or liaison duties.
Ability to present information other than in writing.