Smithsonian Institution

Advancement Specialist (Communications), Office of Advancement

Washington, Dist. Columbia | Jan 11, 2024
Job Function
Admin/Clerical/Secretarial

Job Description


Grade: 11
Location: Washington, DC
Status: Open to All
Closing: February 9

Come join a dedicated and creative team at an exceptional time for the Smithsonian, an institution with a bold vision for the future: to build a better tomorrow for all. Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III and the institution's leadership are launching a campaign to support this vision. The Smithsonian Campaign for Our Shared Future will secure funds for all Smithsonian museums and centers as the institution reimagines its mission to find solutions for collective challenges in a rapidly changing world. The campaign will provide a foundation for critical research to ensure people and nature thrive together, build unparalleled education programs with families and partners, collect the world's most precious objects, document the present while reflecting on the past, and reimagine the visitor experience both in-person and online.

We are bringing the Smithsonian off the National Mall and across the country through dynamic programming and affiliate partnerships, creating access for all. The Smithsonian is also developing two new museums-the National Museum of the American Latino and the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum. These museums will share the experiences and perspectives of Latinos and women across history and deepen our shared understanding of what it means to be American.

The Smithsonian has built a model fundraising organization, driven by talented staff across our many museums and research and cultural centers. This position offers exciting opportunities for the successful candidate to make a significant impact on the future of the Smithsonian and its museums and research centers. There is no better time to join this amazing institution.

Key Responsibilities
The Advancement Specialist oversees nearly every project for the Advancement Communications + Marketing team and maintains and nurtures the team's many relationships with colleagues in the central office and gift officers and leadership across the Smithsonian. The incumbent supervises the development and production of fundraising collateral, both digital and print, including high-visibility stewardship publications such as IMPACT and the Smithsonian Annual Report. In addition, the Specialist is the lead project manager for pieces that steward, cultivate, and solicit donors.

Major duties will include:
  • Collaborating with writers and designers to create efficient work systems. This means having a hand in all aspects of a project -from initial concept to editorial, design, proofreading, quality control, production, and completion.
  • Managing budgets and timelines, using a digital project management tool, such as Jira, and is the main point of contact for clients and printers, ensuring projects meet deadlines, stay on budget and adhere to the highest professional standards. Serving as the lead point of contact for outside vendors who provide graphic design, printing, video production, photography and other services.
  • Receiving and analyzing project requests from colleagues, assessing relevant information then building project timelines, assigning projects, and taking initiative to shepherd projects to completion, often with multiple stakeholders and competing deadlines.

The Advancement Communications + Marketing includes a director, three writers, two designers, a digital manager and production manager. An award-winning team, the team supports Smithsonian leadership and all museums and research centers, producing white papers, concept papers, cases for support, proposals, brochures, videos, magazine-style stories that run in IMPACT and the annual report and more.

Skills, Knowledge, and Expertise
Qualified candidates will successfully demonstrate sound decision-making skills, strong written and verbal communications skills, with an eye toward editing, and proofreading, an ability to successfully manage and prioritize multiple deadlines for very complex projects that may be multi-faceted, superior organization skills, a thirst for learning and curiosity. Experience in a large, complex non-profit organization and/or development department preferred.

Applicants who wish to qualify based on 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 your application being rejected and may also result in termination after employment begins.

Application Instructions
The Smithsonian Institution values and seeks a diverse workforce. Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery." Interested candidates should submit their resumes using this link by February 9, 2024. 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. Relocation expenses are not paid.

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.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact oastaffing@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. We believe that a workforce comprising a variety of educational, cultural, and experiential backgrounds support and enhance our daily work life and contribute to the richness of our exhibitions and programs. See Smithsonian EEO program information: www.si.edu/oeema .