Materials Handler

Other Agencies and Independent Organizations Smithsonian Institution (37 current openings)

Who may apply

Limited to the following applicant groups:

  • Internal to an agency
Landover, Maryland
Full-time Security Clearance: Other
Application Deadline:
2026-09-01
Posted:
2026-08-19

About 2 weeks left

Salary: $24.5 – $28.58 per hour (WG-05)

Salary context

Based on 45 hourly jobs in the same occupational series. This role pays around the middle of similar positions.

Job Details

Position Overview

The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo.  This position is located in one of the SI facilities serviced by the Office of Facilities Management (FM).  The Office of Facilities Management is responsible for all Smithsonian facilities, many of which are designated as historic and all of which are visited by millions of people each year.

Duties

The Materials Handler performs a wide range of work assignments and assists the labor and custodial supervisors and the maintenance staff.

In this position, you will:

  • Keeps a log of all items received and when distributed to staff.
  • Assists the labor staff with moving and arranging office furniture, exhibit props, and unique event set-ups as directed.
  • Operates a scissor lift, one-person lift, forklift, Cushman, and other motorized vehicles.
  • Determines within the general warehouse plan how to organize and arrange stock in the general area.

Qualifications & Requirements

In order to be rated qualified, an applicant's overall experience and training must indicate possession of the minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the duties of this position.

Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages and should clearly demonstrate how your experience aligns with the responsibilities and specialized experience required for this position. Do not copy language directly from the vacancy announcement, as you will be deemed ineligible for consideration. Instead, provide detailed, descriptive information about your actual experience.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Must have a valid State or District of Columbia driver's license. (You must submit a copy)
  • Must be available to work late shifts, weekends and holidays and is subject to being called in for emergencies to restore the Smithsonian Institution to normal operations.  Call back and emergency overtime are regular requirements of this position.

Qualification requirements, including one year time-in-grade at the next lower grade level for promotion candidates, must be met within 30 days of the job announcement closing date. See the 'Required Documents' section for additional information.

For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions viewable on OPM Website.

Evaluations

Applications will first be evaluated to determine whether the following screen out element is met:

  1. Ability to do the work of a Materials Handler without more than normal supervision.

If an applicant meets the screen-out element, the following Job Elements will be evaluated:

       2. Knowledge of work practices (includes keeping things neat, clean, and in order).

       3. Knowledge of technical practices (theoretical, precise, artistic).

       4. Ability to interpret instructions, specifications, etc. (other than blueprints).

       5. Knowledge of Materials associated with warehousing, storage of museum artifacts, specimens, various types of office equipment and supplies, proper handling of fragile materials, chemical and hazardous.

       6. Ability to Operate with dexterity and safety.

Applicants who meet or exceed the screen-out element will be assigned to one of two category groups based on job-related criteria:

Best Qualified - Meets the screen-out element and excels in most of the job-related elements above.
Qualified- Meets the screen-out element and satisfies most of the job-related elements above.

This category rating process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-veterans within each category. A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Category) provided no veteran in that category is passed over to select a non-veteran in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied.

Important Note:

Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire or other assessment tool for consistency. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your resume, you will be assigned a rating commensurate to your described experience. Your resume should provide detailed information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed.


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

Your application package should include the following documents:

  • Resume - Your resume can be uploaded and attached to your application or created using the USA Jobs on-line resume builder. Ensure your resume contains the job title (including the occupational series and grade if it is Federal), job-related qualifications, starting and ending dates (month and year), and hours worked per week, for each employment period. It is your responsibility to ensure all information is submitted. Failure to include this information may result in disqualification for the position.

    For assistance with creating a resume, please click USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job?

  • A copy of your valid State or District of Columbia driver's license is required.
  • Current and former employees MUST submit a copy of their Standard Form (SF)-50, “Notice of Personnel Action,” that indicates proof of status and time-in-grade eligibility. SI Trust employees are ineligible for Merit Promotion consideration unless you submit a Standard Form (SF) - 50, "Notice of Personnel Action", that indicates proof you previously held a 'status' position and proof of time-in-grade.  The SF-50 must include your position title, series, grade, step, salary, type of service (competitive or excepted in block 34), and tenure (1 or 2 in block 24). Please provide a SF-50 that shows the length of time you have been in your current/highest grade level.  Examples of appropriate SF50s include: Appointments, Reassignments, Within-grade/range increases or Promotion actions.  NOTE: Pay adjustments and award SF-50s do not include the length of time in your current position, therefore, they are NOT acceptable SF-50’s on their own. You may need to provide more than one SF-50. Failure to provide the appropriate SF-50(s) may prevent you from receiving consideration for this position.

How to Apply

Click on the "Apply Online" button on the upper right side of the page.
Please Note:

  • You must apply for this position online through the 'Apply Online' button and submit required supplemental documents (if they are relevant to you).
  • Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages.
  • You may submit required documents by uploading them online during the application process.
  • The complete application package, including any required documents, is due in the Smithsonian Office of Human Resources on the closing date of the announcement by 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
  • If you are unable to apply online, paper applications may be accepted with prior approval of the Contact Person listed below.

At the end of the application process you will be able to create and save a PDF file that contains your responses to the assessment questions. You may save this file as initial receipt of your application. After the job announcement closes, you will receive an email from the Smithsonian with confirmation of receipt.

The Smithsonian receives many applications for each job. Each application is reviewed carefully which may take a few weeks. We will send you an e-mail to update you as we go through phases of the application review process. You may also check your application status by logging into www.usajobs.gov and selecting the tab "My USAJOBS;" e-mailing [email protected]; or by contacting the Office of Human Resources Representative listed.

Additional Information:

  • Tips on applying for Smithsonian jobs are available at https://www.si.edu/OHR/howtoapply.
  • The Smithsonian does not pay relocation expenses.
  • The Smithsonian Institution is an equal opportunity employer. Additional information can be found on our website at (www.si.edu/oeesd).