Fine Arts Specialist in United States

Summary As a Fine Arts Specialist, you will contribute to the development of region-wide policy on a variety of diverse and complex technical, professional or administrative issues related to commissioning, installing, maintaining, and conserving works of art. This position is located in the Public Buildings Service, Design & Construction Project Programs Division. We are currently filling one vacancy, but additional vacancies may be filled as needed. Responsibilities This position is located in the Public Buildings Service, Design & Construction Project Programs Division. This division is responsible for implementation of national and regional design and construction policy in all production offices. This position has job functions that must be executed within specific geographic locations. The official duty station is a federal facility, leased space, or an alternative worksite (typically the employee’s home) within the specified geographic area: Chicago, IL; Indianapolis, IN; Milwaukee, WI; Detroit, MI; Cleveland, OH; Cincinnati, OH; Columbus, OH and Minneapolis, MN. You will be expected to report to a specific GSA duty location at least two or more days a pay period depending upon the terms of the agency’s telework policy. Duties include, but are not limited to: Assembles Arts Panels incorporating representation from the community, client(s), and the A/E firm tasked with designing the project and surveys the cultural and artistic preferences of affected parties where the particular work of art is to be commissioned. Conducts and represents management at meetings where substantive formal participation by local intergovernmental bodies, private firms, public and private organizations and private citizens can have major input in the development and decision-making process relative to projects, and manages all aspects of the Artist contract. Serves as a member of the Source Selection Evaluation Board (SSEB), which includes conducting technical and price evaluations of artists’ submissions. Negotiates contracts and develops advertisements and contract specifications, and serves as the Contracting Officer’s Representative for artist contracts, with authority to accept or reject the technical aspects of the submitted work. Ensures that the artist and/or contract A/E personnel comply with all applicable laws and regulations and approved design concepts. Provides administrative and technical expertise in the areas of American art history, art acquisition and commissioning and related legal requirements. Contributes to the development of region-wide policy on a variety of diverse and complex technical, professional or administrative issues related to commissioning, installing, maintaining, and conserving works of art. Provides technical advice on complex work assignments in the arts program areas, which involve extremely difficult or controversial projects requiring highly specialized experience or broad policy interpretation. Assists in the develop of scopes of work, negotiating artist contracts and coordinating the review of artist proposal submissions. Reviews specific project goals and objectives; monitors the sequence and timing of key program events and milestones and evaluates overall program accomplishment and significant contributions in terms of regional goals and relationship to other organizations and administrative requirements. Maintains ongoing liaison with project managers, building managers and other federal agency, private industry and contractor personnel for the purpose of exchanging current data regarding contemporary and public art and proposed changes in policies and program goals. Overall, promotes program goals and develops consensus with all affected parties and organizations, with a view towards optimizing public relations and furthering the agency’s goals for its arts programs. Conducts and documents bi-annual inspections of all fine art in the regional inventory. Assists in the management of the regional fine arts inventory, which includes administering a bi-annual inspection cycle; assessing the results of inspections and establishing priorities and budget requirements for art conservation projects. Ensures that emergency response and relocation plans include provisions for the immediate protection, relocation and/or emergency restoration of properties in the regional art inventory. Requirements Conditions of Employment US Citizens and National (Residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) Meet all eligibility criteria within 30 days of the closing date Register with Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/1959 Direct Deposit of salary check to financial organization required. Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non­Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service. Serve a one year probationary period, if required. Undergo and pass a background investigation (Tier 1 investigation level). Have your identity and work status eligibility verified if you are not a GSA employee. We will use the Department of Homeland Security’s e-Verify system for this. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of continued employment. Qualifications For each job on your resume, provide: the exact dates you held each job (from month/year to month/year) number of hours per week you worked (if part time). If you have volunteered your service through a National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, Americorps), we encourage you to apply and include this experience on your resume. For a brief video on creating a Federal resume, click here. The GS-12 salary range starts at $87,758 per year. Salary is determined by the location for which you are selected. If you are a new federal employee, your starting salary will likely be set at the Step 1 of the grade for which you are selected. To qualify, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level or higher in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience providing administrative and technical expertise in the areas of American art history, art acquisition, commissioning and related legal requirements. This experience should include: Assisting in managing public art projects and/or programs that fulfill agency or institutional objectives; Developing creative strategies to promote public understanding of new art commissions and interpretative materials for works of art in a public collection; Troubleshooting a diverse range of art-related projects and concerns, to include (but not limited to) issues involving installation, conservation, maintenance funding and implementation, artwork relocation ensuring conformance with environmental installation standards and legal requirements; and property disposal; Making recommendations on key programmatic decisions related to art programs; and Reviewing and assessing artist proposals where complex negotiations with client agencies, intergovernmental bodies and outside professionals are required. Education Additional Information This position is eligible for the bargaining unit. If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency or visit GSA’s webpage. Relocation-related expenses are not approved and will be your responsibility. Additional vacancies may be filled through this announcement in this or other GSA organizations within the same commuting area as needed; through other means; or not at all. If you are eligible under Merit Promotion, you may also apply under Vacancy Announcement #5P-2025-0022. You must apply separately to each announcement to be considered for both. GSA is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility that goes beyond our compliance with EEO regulations including: Valuing and embracing diversity, promoting equity, inclusion and accessibility, and expecting cultural competence; and Fostering a work environment where all employees, customers and stakeholders feel respected and valued. Our commitment is: Reflected in our policies, procedures and work environment; Recognized by our employees, customers and stakeholders; and Drives our efforts to recruit, attract, retain and engage the diverse workforce needed to achieve our mission.