Seasonal Retail Associate

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OPEN DATE: June 22, 2026

CLOSING DATE: July 1, 2026

POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Temporary

SCHEDULE: Intermittent

DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC
Position sensitivity and risk: NonSensitive/Low Risk
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.

The Smithsonian Museums in Washington DC are currently seeking experienced and friendly Temporary Retail Associates to deliver excellent customer service in our Museum Stores, Our Retail Associates represent the Smithsonian Institution and deliver top-notch customer service to our visitors from around the world!

Accurately operates a POS cash register.

Replenishes and recovers sales floor and maintains appropriate stock levels throughout the day.
Assists in maintenance of merchandise presentations according to established standards.
Assists with price changes and physical inventory.
Exercises care in handling and storing merchandise.
Provides courteous, professional, and knowledgeable service to both internal and external customers; responds courteously and knowledgeably to visitor inquiries in a timely manner.
Accurately handles cash and credit funds and media.
Performs basic cleaning duties.
Maintains knowledge of current sales, promotions, and exhibits. Takes initiative to recommend and provide information to visitors.
Works cooperatively with supervisors to ensure the safe and expeditious movement of visitors throughout the Theaters and/or Stores.
Adheres to safety and security policies. Recognizes security risks and thefts and is aware of how to prevent or handle these situations.
Completes assignments efficiently and accurately with minimal supervision.
Adheres to assigned schedule, demonstrating flexibility as needed to support the needs of the business.
Candidates must be available weekends, holidays, and evenings.
Candidates must be able to move or lift up to 25 pounds and to stand for long periods of time.

High school diploma or general education diploma (GED), or at least 6 months related experience (retail, movie theater or similar customer service experience), or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Must be able to operate a computerized cash register and/or ticketing system.
Basic math skills are required.
Ability to perform basic selling techniques.
Must report to work at the scheduled time and adhere to leave policies.
Must maintain a neat, clean, and conservative appearance in accordance with the Dress Code Policy.
Must be flexible for scheduling - including evening/weekend/holiday availability.
Must possess excellent customer service skills and be able to model our customer service standard.

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 SEJobs@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