Equipment Specialist (Automotive) (GS-09)
Smithsonian Institution
Suitland, MD · $71k–$92k a year · Posted November 6, 2026
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About the job
Summary
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 Equipment Specialist (Automotive) provides inventory control of automotive parts for a variety of mobile assets in the fleet, based on the knowledge of the utilization, properties, and characteristics of automotive parts, tools, and other equipment. In this position, you will: Facilitate the procurement of automotive parts, equipment, and services by conducting market research, preparing purchase requests, tracking deliveries, and using a Government Purchase Card (GPC) in compliance with Federal procurement regulations. Recommend corrective action for repeated maintenance problems; note abnormal replacement rates for various parts; consider vehicle and parts characteristics, special requirements, and usage patterns. Advise the supervisor of purchasing requirements and assist with preparation of items such as contract specifications, statements of work, and requests for proposal or bid summaries. Prepare reports on production equipment, material and maintenance. Analyze maintenance actions and assign industry later rates to maintenance actions performed by each mechanic and document service repair orders.
Qualifications
Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal Service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as applying contracting and procurement procedures, reviewing planned orders, creating requisitions, developing statements of work for small acquisitions and services and utilizing purchase cards for small acquisitions and services. 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. Part-time and/or unpaid experience related to this position will be considered to determine the total number of years and months of experience. Be sure to note the number of paid or unpaid hours worked each week. Or Education: master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are qualifying by education and/or you have education completed in a foreign college/university described above, it is your responsibility to provide transcripts and proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study. For instructions on where to fax these documents, see the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. Or a Combination: Education and experience may be combined to meet the basic qualifications; For a full explanation of this option please see the Qualification Standards. In an effort to streamline our hiring process, SI employees whose current position of record is in the same job series (1670) and who are in a Federal competitive service appointment as this advertised position, are not required to submit a transcript with your application package. However, if selected, you will be required to provide a copy of your transcript before your start date in the position. Time-in-Grade Requirements: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under a non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying).
Requirements
Conditions of Employment Physical Requirements: The incumbent frequently works long hours at a computer monitor and with numbers and fine print, which may result in eye strain. The incumbent routinely lifts supplies and equipment weighing up to fifty pounds. Work Environment: Work is performed in an office section of a garage which is susceptible to noise, drafts and carbon monoxide. Air conditioning and heating are provided in the office section of the garage. Additional Conditions of Employment: Must have a valid state or District of Columbia driver's license. (Must submit a copy of your valid license) 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.
Key requirements
Requires career/career-conditional status or eligibility. Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
How you will be evaluated
Your application will be evaluated first for the basic qualifications described above. The applications that meet the basic qualifications will be evaluated further against the following criteria: Knowledge of automotive parts, procurement procedures, inventory management, and manufacturer specifications. Knowledge of Purchase Authorization Card (PAC) program, regulations, laws, policies and procedures. Ability to interpret specialized documentation and descriptions pertaining to equipment. Skill in written communications to prepare a variety of documents, reports and procurement justifications. 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.
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.
Other information
This position is included in the bargaining unit. Recruitment Incentive: Recruitment incentive(s) may be authorized for this position. However, approval for incentives are contingent upon various availability. If authorized, certain incentives will require the incumbent to sign a service agreement to remain in the Federal government for a certain time period. Note: This statement does not imply nor guarantee an incentive will be offered and paid. Selections may be made for vacancies across the Smithsonian Institution (SI). By applying to this position, you agree to allow your application and other personal information to be shared with one or more SI hiring officials for employment consideration for same/similar positions within the location(s) identified in this announcement.