Photographer IS-1060-11
Smithsonian Institution
Full-time
On-site
Washington DC US
$84,601 - $109,975 USD yearly
Photographer IS-1060-11
Application Deadline: 26 August 2025
Department: National Museum of the American Latino
Employment Type: Fixed Term - Full Time
Location: Washington, DC
Compensation: $84,601 - $109,975 / year
Description
OPEN DATE: August 11, 2025
CLOSING DATE: August 26, 2025
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Term, Not to exceed 3 years
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC
- Open to all qualified applicants
What 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.
OVERVIEW
This position is located organizationally in Content and Interpretation, National Museum of the American Latino (NMAL), Under Secretary for Museums and Culture, Smithsonian Institution (SI).
SI is a diverse museum and research complex dedicated to the increase and diffusion of knowledge. NMAL connects with audiences both online and in-person as a national museum dedicated to enriching the appreciation of America’s Latino heritage, sharing the experiences and perspectives of Latinos across history and deepen our shared understanding of what it means to be American.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino (NMAL) seeks an enthusiastic and experienced photographer to provide photography and digital capture services, photo studio management and digital asset management services for the Museum’s collection. This position will:
- Produces high quality visual documentation of collections, ensuring safe and secure collections handling.
- Manages the lifecycle of digital assets, including preparing files for ingest into the SI Digital Asset Management System (DAMS), adding appropriate metadata, and where appropriate enabling linking to the collections information system(s) of record.
- Supports the Museum’s collection and research projects through the creation of a digital record of the people and places of Latino influence.
- Creates photographs, audio/video recordings and other digital records that render the character and feel of local communities
- Manages daily operations of the photography studio, including contributing to development of plans and budgets.
Additional position factors:
· Travel may be required.
· Work during the evenings and weekends may be necessary.
· Requires ability to stand for long periods of time.
· Requires ability to lift objects up to 50 pounds, unassisted.
· Requires dexterity to manipulate delicate, intricate equipment and objects.
· Requires accurate vision sufficient to focus the camera and assess and correct sharpness and color.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Experience: To qualify for this position, applicants must possess 3-5 years of related experience (described below).
Experience required for this position is as follows:
· Comprehensive knowledge of photographic and videographic equipment, techniques and processes to produce images of high artistic merit that: visually communicate the characteristics and details of objects, places and subjects; achieve museum standards for photography and digital imaging; meet the special requirements of the project
Experience required for this position is as follows:
· Comprehensive knowledge of photographic and videographic equipment, techniques and processes to produce images of high artistic merit that: visually communicate the characteristics and details of objects, places and subjects; achieve museum standards for photography and digital imaging; meet the special requirements of the project
· Knowledge of image and video processing software, to prepare and process digital image files in RAW and other formats (e.g., CMYK, RGB, TIFF, JPEG) with a variety of platforms. Ability to process digital audio/video and other files on a range of platforms.
· Skill to operate professional digital cameras, scanners and associated accessories and equipment to photograph museum objects, portraits, indoor and outdoor events and urban landscapes for documentation, access and publication.
· Knowledge of best practices in object collections handling.
Education 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.
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.
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact youmansc@si.edu. 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 (https://www.si.edu/OEO/IndividualswithDisabilities).
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact youmansc@si.edu. 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 (https://www.si.edu/OEO/IndividualswithDisabilities).
The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To review The Smithsonian's EEO program information, please click the following: https://www.si.edu/oeo