Public Affairs Specialist, IS-1035-09

Position sensitivity and risk:
Non-sensitive/Low Risk

Who May Apply:
Open to all qualified applicants

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).

The Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (HMSG) is a leading voice for contemporary art and culture and provides a national platform for the art and artists of our time. We seek to share the transformative power of modern and contemporary art with audiences at all levels of awareness and understanding by creating meaningful, personal experiences in which art, artists, audiences, and ideas converge. We enhance public understanding and appreciation of contemporary art through acquisition, exhibitions, education and public programs, conservation, and research. In order to fulfill its mission, HMSG develops collaborative relationships with institutions and organizations within the Smithsonian, the United States, and abroad. The collection consists of approximately 13,000 objects of modern and contemporary art, consisting of paintings, sculptures, variable media, and works on paper.

The Public Affairs Specialist is located in the Office of Communications and Marketing, which has responsibility for directing, planning, and coordinating the communications and promotion of the museum’s mission, activities, and accomplishments to its audiences. The incumbent prepares informational materials, serves as a media contact, and formulates and implements outreach to media, influential publics and stakeholders, and drafts and supports marketing plans for assigned exhibitions, initiatives, and programs. Strong writing and organizational skills are essential.

· Develops media plans, to include the calendar for outreach, the story or theme relevant to individual media segments, and the methods to distribute the themes.
· Compiles and tracks media coverage of the museum to evaluate success of the plans and methods.
· Responds to inquiries from the media by providing information packets and factual verifications. As necessary, determines the nature of the information required for responses, conducts research to locate additional appropriate materials, and collects material including short original video and photos for pitching, public awareness, and promotional use.
· Provides information and responses according to media plans and Smithsonian policies.
· Schedules museum or other site visits for photo shoots and filming by news outlets, production companies, and Smithsonian photographers, and coordinates necessary building access. Schedules and makes logistical arrangements for media events including VIP tours, press previews, and exhibition previews.
· Maintains friendly and cooperative relationships with a large spectrum of local and national media, and keeps them informed of the wide range of the museum’s activities.
· Conducts regular measurement of the department’s media reach and drafts reports.

Writing and Editing Coordination

· Writes and edits materials for the media including press releases, media advisories, calendars, fact sheets, etc.
· Writes and edits materials for the general public including two original weekly e-newsletters, program descriptions, museum signage, social media posts
· Confers with curators, educators, and other museum staff to identify and develop information for use in news releases, TV and radio programs, articles, and meetings with media representatives.
· Creates materials that support media coverage for a wide range of events including facesheets and backgrounds, runs-of-show and coordinates internal memos to alert staff museum-wide of communications needs.
· Authors materials in accordance with the museum and Smithsonian policies.

· Writes and updates textual content, selects suitable and relevant images, and shares this content through digital distribution channels.
· Manages the departments Google Ads grant by measuring, adjusting and refocusing the campaign as needed.
· Works with the communications team to host press and influencers for familiarization with the mission, collection, programming and expertise.
· Coordinates promotional efforts, messages, and content consistency with other museum and Smithsonian staff who manage similar outlets.
· Monitors the responses to campaign messages and materials, identifies trends, and posts or distributes further content to sustain positive interest and online dialogue.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Experience: To qualify for this position, applicants must possess 2-3 years of related experience (described below).

Experience required for this position is as follows:

· Knowledge of communication principles, methods, and techniques to prepare and disseminate information about the museum’s activities to the general public through print, electronic, and broadcast media.

· Knowledge of art and museum practices to communicate the messages of a modern and contemporary art institution.

· Ability to research, compile, and analyze information to write news releases on museum activities.

· Skill in exchanging information with a wide variety of museum staff and outside museum constituents to coordinate interviews and tours with the media.

· Knowledge of AP and MLA style guides to write and edit documents prepared for the media and the public.

· Knowledge of media resource databases to research media contacts and clips.

· Knowledge of key measurement platforms including Cision and Meltwater.

· Knowledge of Adobe Illustrator, Canva and toolbox for Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn

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 HMSG-HR@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.

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