Project Coordinator, IS-0301-09
Summary
Remote Project Coordinator supporting digital storytelling initiatives with budget tracking, project management, research, and procurement tasks using standard office tools.
OPEN DATE: September 1, 2026
CLOSING DATE: September 5, 2026
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Trust Indefinite
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: REMOTE
Position sensitivity and risk:
Low Risk
Who May Apply:
Open to all qualified applicants
Low Risk
Who May Apply:
Open to all qualified applicants
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.
This position is in the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage (CFCH), a research center of the Smithsonian Institution (SI). The Center connects communities across cultures—cultivating curiosity, understanding, and belonging for all people. The Center works collaboratively with local communities and cooperates closely with scholars, professional organizations, government agencies and others in the research, maintenance, and presentation of these cultures. The purpose of the position is to provide support for project management, aiding in the planning, implementation, management, and documentation of digital storytelling projects and initiatives. The incumbent works with staff within CFCH and the wider Institution under the direct supervision of the Director of Strategic Initiatives & External Affairs.
Project Coordination, Evaluation and Budget Administration Support
Under the direction of the Director of Strategic Initiatives & External Affairs, incumbent provides support with developing project work plans including, but not limited to, budgets, spending plans, schedules, milestone charts, goals, and/or objectives. Specifically, the incumbent performs the following functions.
Under the direction of the Director of Strategic Initiatives & External Affairs, incumbent provides support with developing project work plans including, but not limited to, budgets, spending plans, schedules, milestone charts, goals, and/or objectives. Specifically, the incumbent performs the following functions.
- Budget development and monitoring: Develops budgets and spending plans which includes building and maintaining budget templates. Occasionally and with supervision, creates and updates monthly budget monitors; calculates budget projections and burn rates; analyzes project activities and estimates staff level of effort. On a regular and recurring basis, communicates with contractors to determine appropriate pricing; reviewing contractor proposals to evaluate pricing against proposed activities; and calculating travel costs based on foreign per diem rates. Provides support with budget planning, data entry of financial information into budget management tools developed for digital storytelling projects, and oversight of project spending. This includes managing records of financial commitments and transactions and monitoring spending in ERP. Serves as fiscal manager for a range of project requests including training, local miscellaneous reimbursements, and/or general office supplies.
- Project management assistance: Works closely with project managers and other CFCH staff engaged in projects, assists with developing, coordinating and updating project-related briefing materials, including, but not limited to concept notes, status reports, and briefing books. Maintains the CFCH filing system for set project documents.
- Meeting and travel coordination: Participates in team meetings for assigned projects. Records key discussion points and decisions for distribution to team members and key staff. Conducts desk research and maintains project files and information regarding potential digital storytelling project opportunities. Supports the project teams, both in Washington, DC and in the field, in the day-today logistical coordination of project activities by organizing meetings and preparing travel authorizations and vouchers for local, national and international travel. Travels nationally and internationally to support administrative and technical aspects of assigned projects and critical activities, as necessary.
- Internal relationships for project coordination: Establishes and builds relationships with project partners and support units within SI dealing with issues related to grants, contracting, office management, and finance. This involves coordinating with multiple project partners and units simultaneously, ensuring that all parties have the information necessary to solve complex problems. The incumbent serves as a project liaison with the Office of Sponsored Projects to assure compliance with grant guidelines and that CFCH respects the various clauses and conditions of our external grants. S/he also coordinates with Office of Contracting to prepare Statements of Work for contracts and with our internal admin team as well as with SI’s finance office.
- Project evaluation: Works with project managers to support the development of program evaluation plans and impact evaluation tools, including identifying indicators and measures of impact. Gathers and manages evaluation data, including assistance in analysis and interpretation of data, and reporting on findings and learnings. Assists in development and upkeep of evaluation data management system. Develops and manages partners and participants Excel database.
Research and Technical Support
- Research: Conducts research in support of digital storytelling using library and/or online resources. Assists in the identification of relevant research materials; reports and white papers published by government agencies and NGOs; and other academic works in the field of communications, digital media, anthropology, and folklore.
- Supporting and leading trainings: Provides technical support in research-based fieldwork and inleading trainings related to assigned projects in the United States as well as in foreign countries, which may involve developing training workshops for non-English speakers. This includes managing contracts in the country where local expectations relating to schedules, performance, and payments may be quite different than in the United States.
- Supporting capacity building: Works with SI project team and partners to support general capacity building for communications and digital storytelling efforts of national and international cultural heritage organizations.
- Digital media content preparation: assists with collecting and updating project-related, public facing materials for publication on project web pages, including, but not limited to announcements, teaching materials, participant bios and news items. Develops communication plans and social media content to share on CFCH platforms.
Procurement
- Provides input on product specifications and Statements of Work for contract services by contacting vendors to obtain necessary bids. Verifies the availability of funds, initiates contracts and purchase orders, and ensures that all vendors are enrolled in the System for Acquisition Management (SAM) and PeopleSoft database. Responds to vendor inquiries regarding the status of payments. Accesses PeopleSoft computer database to review payment history information, track payments through the processing cycle, and verify that all payment information is available, etc.
Experience required for this position is as follows:
1. Knowledge of standard communications and digital storytelling practices and procedures.
2. Knowledge of project management principles and techniques.
3. Knowledge of administrative procedures in an automated office environment sufficient to process forms and support project activities.
4. Knowledge of basic budget and grant administration procedures.
5. Knowledge of qualitative and/or quantitative evaluation design.
6. Ability to communicate orally to a range of audiences, including but not limited to cultural practitioners, academic institutions, and governmental and non-governmental organizations.
7. Ability to communicate in writing to a range of audiences, including but not limited to, cultural practitioners, academic institutions, and governmental and non-governmental organizations.
8. Ability to conduct research and produce written reports.
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 rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.
Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."
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 CFCH at <CavanaghS@si.edu>. 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 provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact CFCH at <CavanaghS@si.edu>. 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: