Job Description:
Salary: $54,600-$61,880 based on experience and qualifications. In addition, qathet Museum and Archives offers a benefits package and professional development opportunities.
Work Week: 8:30am to 4:00pm, based on 35-hour workweek (the successful candidate must be able to work weekends and some evenings)
Museum Open Hours (All Year): Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00am to 3:00pm.
Purpose of the Position:
As a team player with initiative, the Curator of Collections and Exhibitions will provide a source of skilled professional support for collections to create a welcoming, and accessible community museum and archives.
The Curator of Collections and Exhibitions will take on a major career opportunity, an exciting project coordinating the installation of state-of-the-art high-density mobile shelving to re-house the collections that will significantly increase the museum’s storage capacity and the collections’ accessibility, benefiting the museum for years to come. Moreover, the Curator is responsible for overseeing all aspects of collections management for the artifact, archival and reference library collections. This includes documentation, preventive conservation, security, storage, display and the proper handling of artifacts and archival materials. The Curator will also plan, design and fabricate engaging temporary and permanent exhibits.
Description of Location and Institution:
The qathet Museum and Archives is located on the Upper Sunshine Coast between the spectacular Coast Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, northwest of Vancouver, in traditional territory of the Tla’amin Nation who have inhabited the region for at least 7,600 years.
The qathet Museum and Archives houses 260m2 of displays, including Exhibitions on Tla’amin Nation (Coast Salish) culture, the Powell River Company paper mill, and life in the community over the ages. The Museum has a small gift shop proudly displaying local history books. The museum collections include about 8,000 objects, and about 500 biological specimens. The archival collection contains about 175,000 images, 95 metres of archival fonds, and 2,000 maps and blueprints. The qathet Museum and Archives also administers the Forestry Museum, located nearby, that covers forestry operations from hand logging times through to the era of chain saws. On exhibit are 2-man chain saws that were among the largest ever made.
Working in the heritage field in qathet is a rewarding experience, as many aspects of the region’s history are unique. Powell River’s paper mill, built early in the twentieth century, became by the 1960’s, the largest pulp and paper mill in the world. Powell River is also home to the first Credit Union in British Columbia and the Patricia Theatre, which is the longest continuously operating theatre in Western Canada.
Key Responsibilities:
- In consultation with the Executive Director provides assistance with loans of travelling exhibitions and artifacts/material including arranging packing, shipping, storage and insurance, customs, etc. as required and keeps related records;
- Manages research requests with the help of volunteers and staff; & facilitates public research and access to the collections;
- Helps in the preparation of funding applications/grants related to areas of responsibility as required;
- Trains, supervises, and evaluates volunteers/contract staff who report to this position;
- Ensures all aspects of the physical and records management of the archival, artifact, library and other collections at the Museum and Archives are handled according to legal requirements and are up to professional standards, including accurate and up-to-date record keeping, appropriate standards of storage, security and risk management, deaccessioning and taking preventative conservation action;
- Facilitates acquisition, preservation, cataloguing and deaccessioning of artifacts, archival materials reference publications;
- Coordinating artifact and archival collection acquisitions and procedures;
- Evaluates current practices, stays current with professional standards, and ensures long-term sustainability of the collection;
- Implements museum collection policy and procedures;
- Manages all incoming and outgoing loans of artifacts or archival materials, ensuring accurate and up to date record keeping, and documentation maintenance;
- Retrieves and prepares information in regards to artifacts and archival materials, conducting research and provides input to staff regarding collection elements for exhibits, programs and other museum needs;
- Plans, designs and fabricates temporary and permanent exhibitions;
- Maintains and updates the collections management database;
- Continues the process of digitizing and photographing the collection and adding these to the catalogue records;
- Attending Collections Committee meetings and preparing completed gift offer forms for the Committee’s review;
- Developing annual collections plan proposals for approval by the Executive Director and the Collections Committee;
- Assisting with the recruiting, training, and supervising of collections summer and intern staff;
- Collaborating with the Program & Education Manager to develop programs and special events that correspond to the museum’s exhibits and collections;
- Maintaining the cleanliness of the storage facility and exhibits, and implementing preventive conservation measures;
- Works closely with the museum team to provide engaging online and social media content;
- Any additional duties as assigned by the Executive Director.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Post-secondary qualification (Bachelor’s degree or higher credential) in Collections Management, Museum Studies, Archival Studies, Cultural Resource Management, Heritage Resources Management, Cultural Heritage Conservation, Museum Anthropology, Archaeology or Public History;
- Experience working in a museum or heritage organization, with five years of experience in collections management and/or archives management, in addition to experience developing exhibits;
- Extensive knowledge of professional museum principles, practices and procedures, with a specialization in collections management, care, preservation and conservation, including training in exhibit development;
- Knowledge of copyright, intellectual property, privacy and heritage conservation legislation and their application in a museum collection setting;
- Experience with and knowledge of archival cataloguing rules – Rules for Archival Description (RAD) and museum registration and cataloguing methods
- Knowledge of museum collections software, specifically Past Perfect;
- Excellent interpersonal skills and a high degree of professionalism, discretion and confidentiality.
- Clear Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector Background Checks;
- Valid First Aid Certification is considered an asset;
- Valid Firearms Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) or ability to obtain PAL within 3 months of hire.
- The qathet Museum & Archives is an equal opportunity employer.
See full job posting at https://www.qathetmuseum.ca/careers.html
Please apply with a cover letter, resume and three professional references by email to: [email protected]
Include “Attn: Executive Director – Curator of Collections and Exhibitions” in the subject of your email.
Deadline for Applications: Applications accepted until this position is filled
We would like to thank all applicants for their interest in this position. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.