Position Opening:  Curator of Collections and Exhibits

 

Applications accepted until May 8th,

or thereafter until filled.

 

Sitka Historical Society & Museum

March 2009

 

POSITION SUMMARY

Under the general supervision of the Director, responsible for the acquisition, registration, condition assessment, and collections management of the Sitka Historical Museum permanent collections.  Collaborates and supports the upgrade of permanent & temporary exhibits. Assists Director in support of related grant funded projects. May occasionally serve as facility supervisor.

 

Duties / Responsibilities

Collections: Identifies and assesses needs for collections and makes recommendations to the Director. Plans, identifies and implements proper storage and record keeping for permanent collections, including: registering, cataloging, processing, and accessioning acquisitions and maintains inventories of permanent & loaned collections.  Monitors and takes steps to mitigate hazards to the collections including museum environmental conditions, pests, handling, and disasters. 

 

Trains staff, interns and volunteers on the correct use of PastPerfect software, monitors information for accuracy and standardization.  Organizes collection documentation systematically. Supervises, trains and educates as appropriate, staff, contractors, volunteers and interns about collections management, record keeping, ethics, and collection issues. Provides information on the collections for newsletter, publicity, reports, grants and public presentations.  With input from the Director, helps develop and implement collections policies and long-range management plans. Administer Museum's collections database.  Maintain and preserve photograph collection in all forms.

           

Exhibits:  Identifies, assesses, and prioritizes needs for permanent maintenance and upgrades to exhibits and makes recommendations to Director. Uses aesthetic, interpretive, and conservation skills and techniques when installing objects in exhibits. Builds familiarity with local history & culture and advises in historical interpretation.

           

Facility Management: Occasionally supervises staff and volunteers and the operation of the museum facility. Maintains knowledge of routine and emergency operation procedures of the facility.

 

Equipment and Technology Use:

  • Computers and software used for word processing, spreadsheets, and relational databases, e.g. Macintosh and/or IBM PCs and laptops, MS Word, MS Excel, Collections Management Software (PastPerfect).
  • Cameras
  • Cars/light trucks used to transport artifacts/consultants
  • Knives, hand tools, hot glue guns, mat cutters to construct storage/shipping mounts.

 

Rules, Regulations and Standards:  Development of Knowledge

  • Laws, rules, regulations, standards, codes, or other regulatory guides as to statutes, federal regulations, professional standards, building codes, trade practices, and procedure manuals:
  • Alaska statutes relating to museums
  • Federal regulations, including Acts relating to: Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation; Endangered and threatened wildlife; Convention on Cultural Property Implementation; Curation of Federally-Owned and Administered Archeological Collections; Antiquities; National Historic Preservation; Alaska Native Claims Settlement; and Archaeological Resources Protection Act.
  • Professional and ethical standards related to the American Association of Museums
  • Policies and Procedures manuals of the Sitka Historical Society & Museum

 

Position Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess or develop a passion for our local history and demonstrate skills in all aspects of museum operations. An undergraduate degree in history, anthropology, American studies or a related field is required.

 

  Preferred

§         An advanced degree with training in Curatorial Studies and/or Museum Studies Programs.

§         Experience working in a historical society or similar museum environment.  

§         Experience in cataloging, records management, or museum registration.

§         Computer skills related to collections management software.

 

  Licenses and Certifications:

§         Valid Alaska Driver's License, or attainment after hire.

 

  Criminal Background Checks:

§         Required prior to final hire

 

Salary / Benefits

Salary:    Yearly Contract @ $40,000 to $43,000 Depending on Experience

 

Benefits:

Sick Leave: shall accrue @-  80 hours per year/2080 paid hours annually

Vacation Leave: shall accrue @- 80 hours per year/2080 paid hours annually

 

Paid Holidays: New Year’s Day, President’s Day, Seward’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Alaska Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day

 

Also provided will be a Cafeteria Style benefits plan (Flexible Benefits).  This is a type of employee benefit plan offered pursuant to Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code.  This plan is currently under development by the Sitka Historical Society due to a recent funding increase, and will be provided at an additional rate beyond salary of 14% to 19% of the position, plus a optional employee contribution rate.  

 

Additional benefits and procedures as provided in the Sitka Historical Society Personnel Policy.

 

 

Application Process
  • Letter of Interest
  • Standard Application Form
  • Resume
  • Copy of appropriate degrees or college transcript (unofficial)
  • References: 

1. Professional: Three

2. Include the names, titles, and phone numbers of your last three work supervisors.  (on application form)

 

Send to:            Sitka Historical Society & Museum

                        Bob Medinger, Director

                        330 Harbor Drive

                        Sitka, AK  99835

 

                        Fax: 907-747-6588

                        Email: [log in to unmask]

                        Voice:  907-747-6455

                       

                        WEB Site: www.sitkahistory.org

 

The Sitka Historical Society is in its 52nd year of operation, with the Sitka Historical Museum now in its 42nd year.   The Society and Museum are a small 501(c) 3, non-profit that is funded primarily by yearly allocations from the City and Borough of Sitka, and by admission, memberships, giving, fund-raising, and profits from our museum gift shop.  We are housed in the city owned Centennial Hall Conference Center, with additional storage and workspace off site.

 

Sitka is located on Baranof Island in Southeast Alaska, and with 8800 people is the fifth largest town in Alaska.  Our history, culture, environment, and community spirit of volunteerism and support for youth, the arts, and education, makes Sitka one of the most desirable locations in all of Alaska.           http://www.sitka.org/

 

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