Public Affairs Specialist, IS-1035-07

Application Deadline: 3 April 2026 Department: Office of Public Affairs Location: Washington, DC Compensation: $57,736 - $65,435 / year Description OPEN DATE: March 20, 2026 CLOSING DATE: April 3, 2026 (This job will close once 100 applications are received which may be sooner than the closing date.) POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite SCHEDULE: Full Time DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC Position sensitivity and risk: Non-Sensitive/Low Risk Who May Apply: Open to all qualified applicants 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 This position is located in the Office of Public Affairs (OPA), Office of Communications and External Affairs (OCEA) at the Smithsonian Institution (SI). OPA manages communications for the main Smithsonian brand which includes media relations, social media, communications, internal communications, and counseling senior staff on sensitive or controversial issues. The purpose of this position is to handle media inquiries and provide public affairs support on a wide range of media projects. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Public Affairs Support Assists in planning, preparing and execution of publicity campaigns that disseminate information to the media. Supports units and major Smithsonian initiatives by staffing press previews. Drafts media advisories and assists the Media Relations team by editing and gathering information for news releases. Posts releases, advisories, and other digital assets to the Smithsonian News desk. Escorts photographers, videographers, and other film crews during onsite visits. Builds and maintains media lists, pitches media outlets in the direction of the supervisor and helps organize and maintain departmental files to support efficient operations. Media Monitoring Assists with the production of daily news reports, which are distributed to staff across the Institution in communications, advancement and education offices and weekly news reports to leadership. Maintains relationship with Cision, the media monitoring software vendor, attending the monthly and quarterly reviews, as well as directing SI users to appropriate training materials and customer service support resources. Administrative Support Provides general administrative support to OPA by maintaining the OPA leave calendar, preparing monthly calendars for the media team, supporting supervisors with editorial meetings and the weekly report, and holding a procurement card to pay for news subscriptions and other purchases for professional development, one-time services, and purchase orders. Inquiries Support Acts as a backup to senior press staff by monitoring the general Smithsonian media inbox, reviewing incoming media inquiries and ensuring they are promptly routed to the appropriate unit or public affairs specialist. Supports the Media Relations team by collecting and organizing media clips for special reports, presentations and other projects. Performs other duties as assigned. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS Education and Experience To qualify for this position, applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from an accredited four-year college or university and/or 3 years of related experience (described below); or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience required for this position is as follows: Knowledge of basic public affairs principles, communication methods, and writing techniques to assist in preparing news releases, feature stories, and informational materials. Knowledge of written and oral communication principles, media relations practices, and basic reporting methods to gather, organize, and present information in a clear and concise manner. Knowledge of standard media relations practices to carry out recurring assignments, including media monitoring, drafting advisories, preparing daily and weekly news reports, and supporting press events. Skill to review media coverage, identify trends, and contribute to recommendations that support broader public affairs objectives. Skill with organizational programs and the ability to research background information. Skill in proofreading material using Associated Press (AP) for grammar, format and punctuation. Skill to deal effectively and tactfully with members of the news media, public affairs specialists, and staff, ensuring accurate information exchange and smooth logistical support during media activities. Technical experience 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 [OCEA-ADMIN@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 #J-18808-Ljbffr