To start, two jobs that have short windows and which I’m posting mostly so people know this kind of work exists.
Supervisor Social Science Analyst • Smithsonian Organization and Audience Research • September 21, 2021
Academic Exchange Specialist • USA Study Abroad Branch (State) • September 22, 2021
Library Technician • South Asian Division (LOC) • September 24, 2021
This position is located in the Collections Services Section of the Asian Division, Collection and Services Directorate. The incumbent of this position provides reader services in the Collections Services for readers using the Library's Asian collections that include monographs, serials, microfilms, microfiche, CDs, and online electronic resources.
The thing that will rule you in or out is being able to read a South Asian language.
Ability to read, write, and understand English and one or more South Asia languages, such as Bengali, Hindi, Tamil, Urdu, in order to maintain and process library materials.**
Knowledge of library processes and procedures.**
Ability to plan, organize, and execute work within specified deadlines.
Ability to use computerized search tools, web-based tools and databases.
Ability to provide customer service.
Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.
I could see this being an attractive position for graduate students in the DC area (but keep in mind that the LOC moves slowly). Here’s the questionnaire.
Reference Librarian • Scholarly Services Section (LOC) • September 24, 2021
You’ll need Korean for this position.
Reference librarians in these divisions provide assistance to researchers in the culture, history, literature, politics, political structure, economies, humanities, and social sciences of these countries and regions. Clients include Congress, foreign and U.S. Government agencies, national and international academics and scholars, research and scientific institutions, the professional and business communities, and the general public. Librarians respond to inquiries that are received in person, by telephone, by correspondence and by electronic media.
There is a more robust listing of responsibilities, which you can look over yourself, if the language requirements make this a good fit for you. The qualifications are:
Knowledge of history, politics, and literature of Korea.**
Ability to communicate in English and Korean.**
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 or liaison duties.
Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.
Monitoring Officer • AmeriCorps • September 24, 2021
This is a grant management position under another name:
The Monitoring Officer will independently monitor programmatic and financial activities of grantees and project sponsors to ensure compliance with Federal requirements and AmeriCorps established policies. . . .
Specialized experience includes planning and evaluating grant programs; reviewing grant applications and proposals; and measuring the performance of awarded grants. . . .
If you are qualifying based on education alone, you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. Such education must be from an accredited institution and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work.
The KSAs are “Customer Service, Oral and Written Communication, Problem Solving, Technical Credibility.” I have no idea what “technical credibility” means. The questionnaire includes specific questions about grant experience, and also a number of skills that you should be cultivating as an academic.
Technical Writer-Editor (Environmental Science) • U.S. Army Corp of Engineers • September 24, 2021
This position is in St. Louis. There is also a listing for a Technical Writer-Editor at multiple grades; I’m just going to quote from the GS-7 listing.
Responsibilities
Conducts research at National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) facilities and military records repositories, as well as other various research locations that are pertinent to the project(s) assigned. . . .
Reviews and edits all information from technical team members and other report contributors for content, organization, accuracy, consistency (avoiding contradiction), format in accordance with changing regulations. . . .
Training includes educating staff members about editing tools as well as providing or referring authors to written articles, handbooks, and special training courses to improve individual?s writing skills.
Works with other report authors on an individual basis to provide training and guidance on professional writing, report formatting including use of MS Office tools.
You can qualify on one year of . . . doing this job . . . or through education:
One full year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Environmental Sciences, History, English, or related fields.
The KSAs are “Educational Experience, Mathematical Skills, Rating, Social Organizations, Work Experience.” The questionnaire includes questions about your high school GPA, so good luck trying to answer honestly. There are 81 questions, but mostly they are yes/no and you can look to them for résumé language.
Digital Conversion Technician •Digital Services Directorate (LOC) • September 27, 2021
Someone definitely worked on a grant learning how to do this, right?
Performs arrangement and description work in a major body of records that describe digitized materials. Assesses the correctness of item entries in different fields and makes corrections as needed. Identifies duplicate entries. Copies of records when needed. Creates new records or adds to or edits existing records as appropriate. Consults with senior staff frequently prior to correcting or significantly altering questionable database entries.
Applies knowledge of the full range of library rules, procedures, and operations to respond to a wide variety of non-standard library collection maintenance issues. . . .
The double asterisked items below are especially important:
Knowledge of digital conversion principles, procedures, and operations.**
Ability to utilize computer technology/software applications.**
Ability to accurately create and edit records.**
Ability to use computerized search tools, databases and web-based tools.
Ability to plan and organize work assignments in order to meet deadlines.
Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.
Here’s the questionnaire - with narratives, natch.
Language Specialist (Mandarin) • State • September 27, 2021
This position is located in the Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs (EAP) organization. The incumbent has primary responsibility as a Mandarin Language Analyst for the Office of Chinese and Mongolian Affairs (EAP/CM), supervised by Strategic Communications unit chief. . .
Responsibilities
Tracks and evaluates messaging trends on designated outlets.
Drafts analytical reports in English documenting trends , patterns, and other conclusions made through daily monitoring and analysis of Chinese-language source material.
Translates diplomatic communications with the People's Republic of China (PRC) and other Chinese -language source material for official purposes.
Provides consecutive interpretation for official calls and meetings between U .S. government and PRC and other Mandarin-speaking interlocutors, as needed.
You need previous experience translating Mandarin and English and
Experience in monitoring and analyzing Mandarin Chinese and English language media outlets.
Experience in tracking and evaluating messaging trends and flag messages related to important policy issues.
Experience in drafting analytical reports in English documenting trends , patterns, and other conclusions made through daily monitoring and analysis of Mandarin Chinese-language source material.
They give a sampling of possible jobs which would qualify one for this posting - teaching at the university level is included (though, um, obviously you must have been teaching Mandarin). The KSAs are basically “do you know Mandarin very well," but they also include “Knowledge of foreign state and foreign non-state propaganda and disinformation efforts.” The questionnaire is here.
Program Specialist • Office of Foreign Missions (State) • September 29, 2021
This is in New York! The position starts at GS-9.
Position is in the Office of Foreign Missions (OFM), New York Regional Office and provides operational and administrative services: diplomatic importation, property acquisition, accreditation, tax exemption, travel controls, diplomatic motor vehicles, & other related activities as well as being primarily responsible for ensuring that services provided by the Regional Office meet customer needs in the most efficient and effective manner. Also, position conducts outreach and liaison activities.
If applying at GS-9, you need one year of . . .
Experience providing information, assistance, and support to foreign mission members.
Experience participating in administrative reviews of program operations and recommending any corrective actions.
Or a graduate degree which gives you the KSAs:
Ability to evaluate and de-conflict local and state governmental policy impact.
Knowledge of the Foreign Missions Act (FMA).
Ability to liaison with others.
Knowledge of administrative concepts, principles, and practices.
Skill in problem solving.
Ability to communicate both orally and in writing.
Or some combo! Here’s the questionnaire.
Science Analyst • Office of International Science and Engineering (NSF) • October 4, 2021
I recognize that this is not going to be a great fit for many people on this list, but it could be good for some people:
OISE promotes an integrated, NSF wide international engagement strategy and manages internationally focused programs that are innovative and catalytic. OISE engages in international activities to identify opportunities for U.S. researchers to access international knowledge, infrastructure, and capabilities. OISE’s portfolio focuses on three activities: (1) promoting the development of a globally engaged U.S. workforce, (2) facilitating and supporting international partnerships, and (3) providing opportunities for U.S. leadership to shape the global science and engineering agenda.
. . .
Candidates must have a Ph.D. in a Social, Biological or Physical Science, Engineering or Mathematics; OR a Master’s degree in a Social, Biological or Physical Science, Engineering or Mathematics plus after award of the degree, two or more years of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position.
The KSAs are:
Familiarity with U.S. and foreign scientific, technological, innovation, and/or STEM higher education trends and policies.
Experience researching, analyzing, or supporting international scientific, technological, innovation, and/or STEM higher education initiatives.
Experience working with multiple sectors, including government, academia, and private sector (industry or non-profit), particularly in an international context, or experience supporting diplomatic positions on behalf of the U.S. government.
Ability to organize across, prioritize, and coordinate multiple, simultaneous activities, maintain records, and track details.
Ability to cooperate with and work across multiple scientific disciplines.
And the questionnaire is over here. There is also a temporary version of this position posted here.
Public Programs Coordinator • National Museum of American Art (Smithsonian) • October 4, 2021
Here’s a cool job!
This position is located in the Office of External Affairs at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM). Incumbent is responsible for conceiving, executing, and implementing interpretive public programs from initial proposal through program close-out. Programs are offered in conjunction with the permanent collections, temporary exhibitions, and scholarly activities of the museum and its Renwick Gallery. The incumbent reports directly to the Manager of Public Programs.
They break down the responsibilities a bit more. You can qualify with a graduate degree, if it gives you the following:
For this position specialized experience is defined as planning and coordinating museum programs or other educational, cultural public programs and events such as lectures, workshops, demonstrations, tours, film series, family events, or performances for audiences of different ages and educational backgrounds; use of Microsoft Office software; and experience facilitating public forums and dealing with the general public in order to provide information.
The KSAs are:
Ability to conceive and prepare proposals for a variety of programs and audiences.
Ability to plan and implement arrangements for funded programs including physical space, staffing, contractors and materials.
Ability to oversee on site program logistics, including introducing programs, participants, and resolving problems.
And here’s the questionnaire. (If you visit the posting, click the second questionnaire link; the first is for a different position.)
Museum Specialist (Conservator) • National Museum of American History (Smithsonian) • October 13, 2021
You can only qualify through experience. You’ll need one year of:
1) performing conservation of three-dimensional historic objects and art in a museum or cultural institution to include coordinating and organizing conservation work related to multiple concurrent projects; 2) conducting object-level conservation surveys to determine condition and treatment needs; 3) preparing object-level conservation treatment proposals and reports; and 4) performing object-level conservation treatments.
If you have that, here’s the questionnaire. There are some wordy KSAs in the “How You Will Be Evaluated” section which you should also look at.
Instructor/Assistant Professor (French) • U. S. Military Academy • November 1, 2021
West Point would like someone to teach French.
Associate Portfolio Manager • AmeriCorps • January 31, 2022
I’m not sure what to make of that deadline. There are multiple vacancies in several locations, and I assume that if they all had different timelines there would be different postings. But maybe some of you with AmeriCorps experience know better and could chime in.
Anyway, this is an administrative/analyst-y position:
Supports AmeriCorps VISTA recruitment and placement by reviewing and approving candidate applications, service opportunity listings, and VISTA assignment descriptions
Processes administrative actions for AmeriCorps members during the lifecycle of their service
Participates in grant review and award processing for various competitive and non-competitive processes . . .
To qualify, you need one year of:
Updating and maintaining data system(s);
Collecting and analyzing data, issuing reports;
Leading or Supporting grant funded programs or projects
Proficiency with spreadsheet and word processing software; and
Providing administrative technical assistance or guidance to customers.
The KSAs are “Customer Service, Oral and Written Communication, Partnering, Problem Solving, Technical Competence.” The questionnaire gives some more examples of what the KSAs entail and also hits the grant experience thing some more.