Senior Program Advisor

Application Deadline: 6 February 2026

Department: National Air and Space Museum

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Washington, DC

Reporting To: John and Adrienne Mars Director

Compensation: $143,913 - $163,104 / year

Description

• 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

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Incumbent serves as a key advisor to the Director, assisting and providing recommendations to the Director concerning oversight of the day-to-day operations of the museum and in the formulation of decisions that relate to museum matters.
• Maintains close contact with senior management, program, and museum staffs, and draws upon a comprehensive understanding of the Director's priorities, views, and objectives. Interprets policies and procedures to coordinate museum activities ensuring their implementation and to resolve conflicts.
• Ensures that all matters brought to the Director's attention have been thoroughly researched and analyzed and that alternative courses of action have been explored and identified. Recommends policy, goals and objectives for managing museum operations. Prepares and issues policy guidelines and standards in alignment with the overall guidance set down by the Smithsonian Institution, the Director and Senior Leadership Team.
• Serves as a resource officer to staff in their pursuit of information required to complete work assignments in support of the museum's mission and operations. Performs management and/or program support work, such as research, analysis of reports, written correspondence/action item control, communications, and/or liaison services. The incumbent may also plan, accomplish, and/or manage special projects or serve on special study groups or committees throughout NASM.
• Participates in the research, development, and organization of projects as assigned by the Director; takes the initiative in seeking out information from a variety of internal and external sources. Working independently and/or in concert with others, assures that a wide range of issues are identified, that applicable reference materials are assembled, and that appropriate contacts are made to secure information needed for action and/or decision by the Director, and may represent the Director within established authorities on matters relating to museum programs and management.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• This position requires very broad knowledge of the mission and function of the entire spectrum of the Smithsonian organization, the programmatic activities of the Smithsonian, in general, and the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, in particular, in order to deal with operations that are potentially complex, difficult or controversial.
•  High degree of independent research and analytical and writing and software technical skills to generate strategic analyses, brief presentations, reports, correspondence, proposals and memoranda in appropriate format, tone and style.
• Analytical ability to assess various options and strategies and to present recommendations to the Director and to management based on analyses and evaluation. High level of skill in written communication that involves researching and analyzing key issues that may impact on NASM’s mission, goals, and objectives and in preparing reports and other written materials.
• Unusual skill in establishing and maintaining effective and cooperative working relationships with high-level SI administrators as well as senior leaders in and outside universities, government, and cultural institutions is required.