Job Description
Digital Imaging Specialist, IS-1001-09 National Museum of Natural History - 3.3 Washington, DC Job Details Full-time $70,623 - $91,815 a year 1 hour ago Benefits Commuter assistance AD&D insurance Health insurance Dental insurance Flexible spending account Vision insurance 403(b) Life insurance Qualifications Project team coordination Digital resource management Record keeping Digital imaging Data migration Digital asset management Data quality management Team training Quality control Museum database software Digital asset management systems Data validation Collections management systems Quality data entry Metadata management Full Job Description Description
OPEN DATE
May 27, 2026 CLOSING DATE:
June 10, 2026 (This job will close once 150 applications are received, which may be sooner than the closing date). POSITION TYPE
Trust Fund APPOINTMENT TYPE
Temporary, NTE 4 years PROMOTION POTENTIAL
No 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. Work is primarily sedentary with regular periods of standing, bending, and walking while setting up equipment, positioning objects, and operating imaging systems. Occasional lifting/carrying of light to moderately heavy items (e.g., equipment components, collections objects) may be required consistent with safety and collections handling procedures. Work is performed in offices, digitization labs, and museum collections areas. Normal safety precautions are required when operating imaging equipment and handling collections materials. 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 build a better tomorrow for all. 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. The National Museum of Natural History is seeking an experienced candidate to fill the Digital Imaging Specialist position in the Department of Paleobiology. The incumbent serves as a Digital Imaging Specialist for fossil collections, collaborating closely with department and museum staff to plan, develop, and implement data and image driven collections initiatives. The purpose of this position is to support collection digitization, advance imaging workflows across multiple modalities, and implement information technology for the benefit of departmental research, collections stewardship, and public outreach. The incumbent supports NMNH goals of enhancing collections discoverability and expanding institutional capacity in digitization, data management, and imaging practices. This role promotes best practices within the assigned department, advances both collections stewardship and scientific research through effective coordination of data-oriented activities, and facilitates improved access, preservation, and use of collections data and digital assets. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Participates in digitization projects for natural history collections, including communicating and coordinating with stakeholders and team collaborators, contributing to project design and implementation, supporting 2D, 3D, and CT imaging requirements, assisting digital asset management, identification of new solutions, and contributing to data collection workflows. Provides digital imaging services (2D photography, 3D capture, and CT scanning) of the museum's collections objects, which are constructed of a wide variety of materials, come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and can be generally complex to image or otherwise digitize. Supports the data lifecycle for digital assets associated with the museum's collections, including data management and processing of new and existing 3D and CT digital assets and 2D image files including file naming, metadata, and organization following departmental guidelines. Assists with maintaining departmental collections data and data systems, including creation of records, editing records based on information provided or gathered from primary sources (e.g. object labels, field books, ledgers, publications, research results), and responding to digital information requests with standardized reports that meet user needs Participates in tracking, documenting, and reporting project activities and outcomes, including specimen organization and movement in collections, ensuring accurate recordkeeping and accountability. Supports staff in developing data-oriented projects by advising on workflows, tools, and best practices. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Basic Requirements:
One year specialized experience equivalent to at least grade 07 that is close or similar to the work of this position. In addition to the Basic Requirement above, the candidate must possess the following. Education and Experience:
To qualify for this position, applicants must possess a master's or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree from an accredited college or university and/or 3-5 years of related experience (described below); or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Specialized experience may include:
Experience working with natural history collections Experience in imaging of natural history collections objects using imaging modalities, like 2D photography, specialized imaging (e.g. SEM, microscopy, EDF), 3D surface capture (e.g. photogrammetry, structure light or laser line scanners), and/or CT scanning techniques, to support collections documentation and research. Experience with digital asset management, whichis required to organize files, apply metadata, and support data migration into systems of record (e.g., EMu, DAMS). Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required : Knowledge of natural history collections practices and museum standards, particularly related to paleobiology, biodiversity, and geoscience materials Knowledge and ability to apply standard data management practices, including data entry, validation, quality control, cleaning, and migration, with attention to accuracy and consistency. Demonstrated ability with imaging equipment and software tools used to produce, process, and manage digital assets. Ability to adapt established workflows, support digitization projects, and assist with evaluating new tools and technologies Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with team members, stakeholders, and external partners in support of project goals Knowledge of training and oral communication techniques, sufficient to assist in instructing staff, interns, or volunteers in standard procedures and workflows. Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery." To Apply:
Applications should include a cover letter and resume with 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. (If applicable include) Unofficial school transcripts (undergraduate and graduate) must be submitted with your application package by the closing date of the announcement. If selected for the position, you must provide official transcripts before appointment. Applicants who wish to qualify based on education completed outside the United States. Education completed outside the U.S. 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. 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 will not be paid. The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact . 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:
Individuals with Disabilities | Smithsonian Institution (https://www.si.edu/oeo/individuals-disabilities). The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer . To review The Smithsonian's EEO program information, please click the following: Office of Equal Opportunity | Smithsonian Institution (https://www.si.edu/oeo)https://www.si.edu/oeesd. About National Museum of Natural History The National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) is part of the Smithsonian Institution's unique complex museums and galleries, the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, and education and research facilities. The NMNH mission is to promote understanding of the natural world and our place in it, thus inspiring curiosity, discovery, and learning about the natural world through its unparalleled research, collection, exhibitions, and education and outreach programs. The museum's collections tell the history of the planet and are a record of human interaction with the environment and one another. Because of the boundless curiosity of NMNH researchers, the breadth and depth of the collection, and the ability to inspire future generations of scientists, the museum has a vital role to play. In the next decade, the museum will welcome 40 million people through its doors and engage millions more digitally. Through NMNH, people can both discover the world and learn to become better stewards of it. About the Smithsonian Institution Founded in 1846, the Smithsonian is the world's largest museum and research complex of 21 museums and galleries, the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, and 14 education and research facilities. There are more than 6,500 Smithsonian employees, including approximately 500 scientists. The total number of objects, works of art and specimens at the Smithsonian is estimated at more than 157 million.
