Advancement Specialist (Communications)

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. Smithsonian Secretary
Lonnie G. Bunch III and the institution’s leadership are launching
a campaign to support this vision. The Smithsonian Campaign for Our
Shared Future will secure funds for all Smithsonian museums and
centers as the institution reimagines its mission to find solutions
for collective challenges in a rapidly changing world. The campaign
will provide a foundation for critical research to ensure people
and nature thrive together, build unparalleled education programs
with families and partners, collect the world’s most precious
objects, document the present while reflecting on the past, and
reimagine the visitor experience both in-person and online.

We are bringing the Smithsonian off the National Mall and across
the country through dynamic programming and affiliate partnerships,
creating access for all. The Smithsonian is also developing two new
museums—the National Museum of the American Latino and the
Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum. These museums will
share the experiences and perspectives of Latinos and women across
history and deepen our shared understanding of what it means
to be American.

The Smithsonian has built a model fundraising organization,
driven by talented staff across our many museums and research and
cultural centers. This position offers exciting opportunities for
the successful candidate to make a significant impact on the future
of the Smithsonian and its museums and research centers. There is
no better time to join this amazing institution.

Key Responsibilities

The Advancement Specialist oversees nearly every project for the
Advancement Communications + Marketing team and maintains and
nurtures the team’s many relationships with colleagues in the
central office and gift officers and leadership across the
Smithsonian. The incumbent supervises the development and
production of fundraising collateral, both digital and print,
including high-visibility stewardship publications such as IMPACT
and the Smithsonian Annual Report. In addition, the Specialist is
the lead project manager for pieces that steward, cultivate, and
solicit donors.  

Major duties will include:

• Collaborating with writers and designers to create efficient
  work systems. This means having a hand in all aspects of a project
  —from initial concept to editorial, design, proofreading, quality
  control, production, and completion.  

• Managing budgets and timelines, using a digital project
  management tool, such as Jira, and is the main point of contact for
  clients and printers, ensuring projects meet deadlines, stay on
  budget and adhere to the highest professional standards. Serving as
  the lead point of contact for outside vendors who provide graphic
  design, printing, video production, photography and other
  services.

• Receiving and analyzing project requests from colleagues,
  assessing relevant information then building project timelines,
  assigning projects, and taking initiative to shepherd projects to
  completion, often with multiple stakeholders and competing
  deadlines. 

The Advancement Communications + Marketing includes a director,
three writers, two designers, a digital manager and production
manager. An award-winning team, the team supports Smithsonian
leadership and all museums and research centers, producing white
papers, concept papers, cases for support, proposals, brochures,
videos, magazine-style stories that run in IMPACT and the annual
report and more.

Skills, Knowledge, and Expertise

Qualified candidates will successfully demonstrate sound
decision-making skills, strong written and verbal communications
skills, with an eye toward editing, and proofreading, an ability to
successfully manage and prioritize multiple deadlines for very
complex projects that may be multi-faceted, superior organization
skills, a thirst for learning and curiosity. Experience in a large,
complex non-profit organization and/or development department
preferred. 

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

The Smithsonian Institution values and seeks a diverse
workforce. Join us in “Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and
Discovery.” Interested candidates should submit their resumes using
this
link by February 9, 2024. 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.

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.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and
Inclusion

The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to
applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants
requiring reasonable accommodation should contact [email protected]. 
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. We believe that a workforce comprising a variety
of educational, cultural, and experiential backgrounds support and
enhance our daily work life and contribute to the richness of our
exhibitions and programs. See Smithsonian EEO program
information: www.si.edu/oeema.