Program Assistant

Program Assistant (IS-0303-06)

Application Deadline: 20 July 2026

Department: Smithsonian Associates

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Washington, DC

Reporting To: Supervisory Program Manager

Compensation: $51,957 - $55,420 / year

Description

OPEN DATE: July 6, 2026

CLOSING DATE: July 20, 2026 (This job will close once 100 applications are received which may be sooner than the closing date.)

PROMOTION POTENTIAL
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite

SCHEDULE: Full Time

DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC
Position sensitivity and risk :
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Open to all qualified applicants *This is a career ladder opportunity with promotion potential up to grade 7. Selection for this position to be made at the grade 6 leve l.
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.

OVERVIEW

Smithsonian Associates leverages the vast resources of the Smithsonian Institution to create a broad array of public programs for Associates members and the public, in the Washington area and across the country.


Associates offers a widely-diversified program of performing arts, films, lectures, seminars, courses, study tours, teacher and student workshops, children's theater, and summer camp, developed from Institutional and other resources. Audiences of all ages explore the best in scientific, historic, artistic, and cultural expression drawn from the United States and around the world. Through their participation, members and the public become involved in the Institution's work, creating broad interest and support for the Smithsonian.


Smithsonian Associates is seeking a Program Assistant to support the day-to-day operations primarily related to Youth and Family programming. The selected candidate will be a self-motivated and energetic professional who can work independently while effectively managing multiple projects, prioritizing tasks and deliverables, adapting to evolving needs, and thriving in a fast-paced environment.


The ideal candidate is a creative thinker who values collaboration and enjoys working as part of a team. Candidates with experience in office administration are encouraged to apply, and those with an interest in youth and family programming-such as summer camps and children's theater-are especially encouraged to apply.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Prepares, submits, and tracks all necessary administrative forms (e.g., contracts, purchase orders, program detail sheets, bus orders, handouts, AV and space requirements, volunteer requests, event/change forms, program evaluations, supply orders, etc.) in a timely fashion.
• Helps with and ensures that all logistical and technical arrangements for programs are in place.
• Maintains a well-organized file on each assigned program containing all pertinent information relating to its implementation.
• Notifies relevant parties (presenters, participants, staff, et al.) in a timely manner should a program be cancelled, moved, or postponed for any reason.
• Attends programs as assigned to supervise and/or assist instructors, actors, school groups, managers, volunteers, and vendors.
• Assists in training and supervising interns and program/office volunteers as appropriate.
• Tracks expenditures for assigned programs, reviewing bills for accuracy and submitting approved invoices for payment.
• Reviews related monthly reconciliation statements.
• Prepares budget reports and financial summaries for individual programs as assigned.
• Prepares correspondences, printed programs, program notes, etc.
• Provides phone and window coverage for advance and day of ticket sales.
• Monitors Discovery Theater phone lines and responds to customer questions.
• Manages all aspect of individual and group sales (e.g. ticketing and payment processing) and related box office duties.
• Sets up and maintains the DT season in Tessitura
• Assists in the maintenance of social media platforms with the aim of providing content and stimulating sales, occasionally contributing original content.
• Assists with the day-to-day management of a 9-week summer camp
• Other duties may be assigned.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Detailed oriented with strong organizational and analytical skills.
• Self-starter with the ability to take ownership of tasks and responsibilities.
• Interpersonal skills with demonstrated poise, tact, and diplomacy.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks with various deadlines and set priorities.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office applications; familiarity with Adobe, related software, and Tessitura is a plus.
• Working knowledge of museum, education, and/or liberal arts environments as it relates to administrative and clerical functions.
• Experience with Group sales and Box Office operations is advantageous

Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.

The Smithsonian Institution values and seeks a diverse workforce. Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."

Interested candidates must submit a resume and cover letter. 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 View email address on click.appcast.io . 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: