Summary
The National Gallery of Art welcomes all people to explore art, creativity, and our shared humanity. Millions of people come through our doors each year, with even more online, making us one of the most visited art museums in the world. Our renowned collection includes over 160,000 works of art, from the ancient world to today. Admission to the West and East Buildings, Sculpture Garden, special exhibitions, and public programs is always free.
Duties
The Division of Photography (CPH) is responsible for the acquisition, care, study, and display of the National Gallery's preeminent collection of Photographs, which includes over 21,000 works encompassing the history of the medium from its beginnings in 1839 to the present as well as time-based media art. The collection features deep holdings of the most celebrated practitioners of photography, including Alfred Stieglitz, Robert Frank, Robert Adams, Gordon Parks, Dorothea Lange, and others. It also includes exceptional examples of Western European and American photography from the 19th-century to contemporary photography. Through exhibitions and publications, the department advances scholarship in the history of photography and ensures the long-term preservation of the collection. Duties for this position include Undertakes and oversees major art historical research projects based on observation, critical analysis, hypothesis, investigation, evidence, and conclusions, utilizing established art historical approaches as well as broader methodologies that illuminate new perspectives. Leads the Department of Photography, responsible for formulating and implementing its strategic plan in consultation with the Chief Curator and Conservation Officer. Manages the departmental budget and personnel matters. Participates in Gallery-wide activities and meetings related to curatorial or administrative matters of concern to the department or the Gallery. Assists the Chief Curator and Curatorial Officer in management duties beyond the departmental level. Participates in Gallery-wide advisory, curatorial, and management committees.
Requirements
Resumes must be no longer than two-pages in length. The resume must address minimum qualifications and other requirements listed in the job announcement. Beginning on September 27, 2025, job seekers can modify existing resumes stored in their USAJOBS profile or upload or build a new resume in their USAJOBS profile to meet the two-page requirement and mark a resume as searchable in the Agency Talent Portal (ATP). Job seekers must choose a resume that is two pages or less to make it searchable and apply for jobs. Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant work experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to this job opportunity. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Your resume must include the dates of all qualifying experience (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours worked/volunteered per week.
Education
This position has an education requirement. Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website. You must provide documentation supporting your education claims.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Applications will be evaluated based on the quality and extent of accomplishments and experience as they relate to the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs). This information will be obtained from the application and narrative statements. Failure to provide specific information in each of the narrative statements will result in you receiving a lower rating or disqualification. A minimum qualifications screening will be conducted by Human Resources. Eligible applicants will then be evaluated by evaluated by a screening panel composed of a diverse mix of senior executives and/or general officers selected from organizational and/or functional backgrounds relevant to this position. The panel will rate minimally qualified applicants in order to determine which candidates are considered "Superior" (top), "Very Good" (middle), or "Acceptable" (bottom) category. Generally, only the individuals in the Superior (top) category will be referred to the Hiring Manager/Selection Official for interview. Please make sure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your evaluation. Note, the Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three" instead Category Rating protects the rights of qualified veterans by placing them ahead of qualified non-preference eligibles within each category. Qualified preference-eligibles will be listed at the top of their assigned category and considered before qualified non-preference-eligibles in that same category. And preference eligible applicants that meet the qualification requirements for the position and have a compensable service-connected disability rating of ten percent or more are listed at the top of the superior (top) category, except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 level or higher. Your responses should be clear and concise and show a level of accomplishment and a degree of responsibility. We use a multi-step process to evaluate and refer applicants: 1. Screen for Eligibility and Minimum Requirements: Your application must show that you meet all requirements, including any minimum education and/or experience required for this position. You may be found "not qualified" if you do not possess the minimum competencies required for the position. If your application is incomplete, we may rate you as ineligible. 2. Ranking and Rating: You will be evaluated by a screening panel composed of a diverse mix of senior executives and/or general officers panel based on your responses to the mandatory technical qualification (MTQ) requirements stated in this announcement. 3. Referral: If you are among the Superior (best qualified) candidates, your application will be referred to the hiring manager/selecting official for consideration and possible interview. You may preview questions for this vacancy.