OPEN DATE: July 16, 2026                    
CLOSING DATE: August 14, 2026              
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE:  Permanent  
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC 
 
Position sensitivity and risk: 
Low Risk Non-Sensitive  
 
Open to all qualified applicants

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). 

Come join a team of dedicated staff at an exceptional time in the Smithsonian’s history during the Smithsonian Campaign for Our Shared Future.  The Smithsonian has surpassed its $2.5 billion fundraising goal one full year ahead of schedule, a milestone that comes as the nation commemorates its 250th anniversary in 2026. This achievement marks the largest fundraising effort in the history of any cultural organization and represents a defining moment for the Institution and the country it serves. The Our Shared Future campaign has advanced the Smithsonian’s reach and impact, empowering the institution to find solutions to today’s most pressing challenges. The Smithsonian has built a model fundraising organization, driven by talented staff across our many museums, research centers and cultural centers. This position offers exciting opportunities for the successful candidate to make a significant impact on the future of the Smithsonian. There is no better time to join this amazing Institution.

 The Office of Advancement (OA) oversees and guides the fundraising efforts of the entire Smithsonian and is home to the central development organization for the Institution. In addition to raising significant support for a variety of Smithsonian initiatives, the OA provides support services to advancement offices across the Institution. The office engages with staff throughout the Smithsonian in accomplishing their goals. 

This position oversees all human resources activity for the Smithsonian’s Office of Advancement (OA).  It also works with advancement teams across the Institution in devising and executing recruiting and hiring strategies for all Smithsonian advancement positions.  The position works closely with the Director of Professional Development in the Office of Advancement to plan and execute a range of programming and policies.  

It supervises a Human Resources Specialist and reports to the Director, Advancement Operations and Talent Management.  The position is part of the Advancement Administration team.  

·       Leads all human resources activity for the Office of Advancement.  
·       Advises OA staff and management on Smithsonian HR policy and practices.
·       Oversees the annual performance plan and appraisal process for OA.
·       Works with the Smithsonian Office of Human Resources to interpret and craft HR policy; to support actions with the Office of Labor and Employee Relations at SI.
·       Works closely with advancement leads and unit directors across the Institution to plan and execute recruitment and hiring strategies for a range of advancement positions.
·       Organizes and manages interview panels for job recruitments
·       Provides HR and hiring guidance to advancement staff, management and senior leadership at the Institution.

·       At least 6+ years of HR experience in a large complex organization.  

·       Demonstrated ability to successfully initiate new programs and initiatives within a complex organization.  

·       Solid experience in building working relationships across an organization, from entry level staff to senior management.
·       Proven ability to successfully apply creative problem solving to various situations.
·       Experience crafting and presenting accurate, insightful reports to management.
·       Ability to successfully apply organizational policy in a complex environment.

Applicants who wish to qualify based on 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 your application being rejected and may also result in termination after employment begins.

Application Instructions 

Interested candidates should submit their resumes and a cover letter by August 14, 2026.  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. Relocation expenses are not paid. This is an in-person with 5 days a week expected in the office. 

 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. 

 The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. 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