The Smithsonian Institution

OPEN DATE: July 23, 2025

CLOSING DATE: August 7, 2025 (There is a 300 application limit)

POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund (Non-Federal)

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite

PROMOTION POTENTIAL: IS-15

SCHEDULE: Full Time

DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC

Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/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.

OVERVIEW

Come join a dedicated and creative team at an exceptional time for the Smithsonian, an institution with a bold vision for the future: to provide Americans and the world with the tools and information they need to forge Our Shared Future. The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex. The National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) is part of the Smithsonian’s unique complex and is one of the most visited museums in the United States. Its mission is to promote understanding of the natural world and our place in it. NMNH has a collection of 148 million specimens and artifacts. Each one reflects a moment in space and time and in these moments, we find Earth’s story.

NMNH is seeking an experienced candidate to fill the position of Assistant Director Informatics and Data Science, in the Office of the Associate Director for Science and Chief Scientist. The Assistant Director for Informatics and Data Science will be at the forefront of transforming how NMNH leverages data and digital tools to advance its mission. The Assistant Director will lead and implement policies, programs, and strategies governing the planning and delivery of information and data science (informatics) at NMNH. The Assistant Director will shape the museum’s informatics strategy and drive innovation across scientific, collections, and operational domains.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Assistant Director for Informatics and Data Science will:

• Champion Data-Driven Innovation: Spearhead the integration of informatics into museum-wide practices, aligning data science with NMNH’s mission and strategic goals.
• Architect Our Digital Strategy: Develop and execute an informatics and digital strategy for the Museum that fosters a collaborative community of practice and connects NMNH to external data systems.
• Connect NMNH to Pan-Smithsonian Digital Transformation: Participate in the integration of informatics data management projects with other initiatives and services both internal and external to the Institution, and coordinate with the Institution’s Chief Data Officer and Office of Digital and Innovation in spearheading institutional efforts to manage data and data assets across the data lifecycle.
• Lead a High-Performing Team: Perform a full range of supervisory duties, including work assignments and review, and administrative and personnel management functions.
• Steer Strategic Investments: Manage IT budgets with a strategic lens—analyzing current systems, forecasting future needs, and recommending scalable solutions. Develop short- and long-term cost analysis and budget forecasts. Analyze the organization’s digital and information technology plans and operations to make recommendations about current and future information systems requirements.