I currently work in an exhibits development role for a federal agency. I also previously worked for SI. In my current role, I read applications for some GS 7/9 roles. So that is where I am coming from in offering this advice.

Honestly as someone who tried to get a NYC job, I found it tough to make the transition because NYC museums hire from NYC grad schools and DC hire from DC grad schools. Ultimately I did not get a NYC job and my partner had to go fulltime remote for us to accommodate staying here. For federal jobs, I have been most successful using the Resume Builder on USA jobs and also make sure you pay attention to the KSAs. If he doesn't mind not being directly IN the District, there are several lesser known federal museums in the area (DEA museum, new Army Museum in Alexandria, army medical museum in Silver Spring). Also don't rule out the Library of Congress or AOC collecting institutions (Capitol Visitor Center, US Botanic Gardens). Plus NPS jobs although NPS generally has low ratings in federal employee happiness survey and you usually have to work your way up through positions that are full time but seasonal. DoD also runs an arts in embassies program; for someone with a collections background this could be a really cool job, organizing loans and exhibits across the world.

The local park systems also manage museums and historic sites, plus National Trust is headquarted in DC and recently hiring for DC area positions (Woodrow Wilson House etc). Historic Alexandria generally had good pay rates. Fairfax County has full time museum jobs under the "historian" title and MNCPPC (PG county/Montgomery) has a vibrant historic sites program as well.

Is he doing any volunteering/board service/writing about museums? For me hiring someone who has the majority of experience in the world of private galleries I don't doubt those are transferable skills, but I would like to see evidence in the cover letter they are keeping up with trends in the world of museums or maintaining professional memberships etc. So if he is thinking about what to do in the next few months to make himself more competitive, authoring something (even a blog, we love blogs) or presenting at a conference or volunteering somewhere that could be mentioned as examples in an interview would be great. I have interviewed a lot of people who studied museums, their career went somewhere else, and now they are coming back to public- serving institutions.

Like any industry, there is a lot of toxicity and burnout in museums. I have worked for city and county museums and also federal, plus spent a year consulting after a pandemic layoff. By far, my federal museum job has provided the best worklife balance.

After almost a decade in the field, I feel I may be overpaid for people with similar experiences at non federal museums, but I think that is my brain just being broken from being in a field where our labor is not valued. I am a GS 12 so I make a pretty standard salary for those with 10 years experience and a masters degree in other fields, but for museums I feel a little overpaid.

I would be happy to speak directly with your friend if you DM me. The Smithsonian is not the end all be all; there are many other federal agencies with museums or museum functions. Plus non Smithsonian museums in DC.