About the opportunity
The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. This permanent, full-time position is located in Communications and Marketing, External Affairs, National Museum of the American Latino (NMAL) in Washington, D.C. The Editor provides bilingual editorial, translation, and support services to all unit departments, producing a broad range of museum content for digital and print media while ensuring accuracy, consistency, and high-quality communication.
Salary and benefits
- Comprehensive federal benefits package including health insurance, life insurance, and long-term care insurance
- Retirement program
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Leave benefits
- Recruitment incentives may be authorized conditionally, requiring a service agreement
Who can apply?
- One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in Federal Service, involving writing, editing, and proofreading English- and Spanish-language content; translating and reviewing written materials between English and Spanish; and ensuring accuracy and clarity
- Alternatively, a master's or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or a related LL.B. or J.D.
- Must meet the Selective Placement Factor to successfully translate, adapt, and review content between English and Spanish for the National Museum of the American Latino
- Must be able to pass a pre-employment background investigation
- Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service
Required documents
- Resume (maximum of two pages) containing job title, occupational series and grade, job-related qualifications, starting and ending dates (month and year), and hours worked per week
- Standard Form (SF)-50, 'Notice of Personnel Action,' for current and former federal employees to prove status and time-in-grade eligibility
- Unofficial school transcripts, if using education to qualify
- Proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study, if applicable
- Proof of Veteran's Preference (DD214 Member 4 Copy), if requesting a special appointment authority
- Proof of severe disability or military spouse appointment eligibility, if applicable
When to apply
- Applications open on 2026-09-09
- Application closing date is 2026-09-23 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time
How to apply
- Click the 'Apply Online' button on the USAJOBS vacancy page
- Upload required supplemental documents and a resume of no more than two pages
- Complete the online occupational questionnaire
Additional information
- Applicants may be required to submit a writing sample and complete a written translation exercise from English to Spanish and Spanish to English
- The Smithsonian does not pay relocation expenses
- This position is included in the bargaining unit
- Selections may be made for vacancies across the Smithsonian Institution for same or similar positions
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Candidates possessing bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish, backed by relevant writing, editing, and translation experience.
- Professionals seeking a permanent federal position within a museum, education, and research complex.
- Applicants who qualify via a master's or equivalent graduate degree, or specialized federal service experience equivalent to the GS-07 level.
What should you think carefully about?
- The Smithsonian Institution does not pay relocation expenses, so applicants must independently manage relocation if not already based in Washington, D.C.
- A pre-employment background investigation and selective service registration are mandatory for eligible candidates.
- Applicants may be required to complete a written translation exercise and submit a writing sample.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This full-time federal role aligns well with career plans focused on long-term public service, cultural institutional work, and utilizing advanced bilingual communication skills in digital and print media.
Our take
Bilingual editorial professionals with a strong background in English-Spanish translation should seriously consider applying, whereas those unable to work on-site in Washington, D.C. without relocation assistance will find it less suitable.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
Official-source verifiedSource: USAJOBS
