Collections Specialist

Museum Vision and Mission:

MOHAI is treasured locally and respected nationally as a vibrant resource where history inspires us to build a better future. To serve our region, we bridge the past, present, and future by collecting, preserving, and sharing stories through compelling, innovative exhibits and community engagement.

Position Title: Collections Specialist

Reports to: Curator of Collections

Location: MOHAI McQuaid Resource Center at Georgetown

Classification: Non-Exempt; Part-time (22.5 hours/week); Hourly

Schedule: Weekdays

Rate of Pay: $28 – $32 per hour

Benefits: Paid Sick and Safe Time in accordance with the City of Seattle ordinance

Position Description:

Assists and collaborates with the Curator of Collections and Registrar in maintaining the physical and intellectual control of the 3-D artifact collection, including the care and organization of the costume and textile collection. This individual also contributes to, and participates in, the overall projects and goals of the museum. This position is a member of the Collections Resources (CR) Department.

MOHAI is undertaking a strategic reimagining of the museum’s core exhibits. The project will prioritize marginalized stories, introduce bolder design elements and technologies, and provide a more impactful and coherent visitor experience. This Reimagining project is part of a longer-term commitment to elevate marginalized stories, create exhibitions that are accessible to broad audiences, and offer comprehensive and critical assessments into areas of our past and our world. The Collections Specialist will support CR in this project.

Key Responsibilities:

Reimagining Project Responsibilities

• Assist CR team with Reimagining project collecting initiatives.
• Pull artifacts from storage for research and consideration for exhibition.
• Assist Curator of Collections on monitoring and assessing the condition of the current artifacts in the True Northwest (TNW) exhibit and Bezos Center for Innovation (BCI) and begin planning deinstallation needs.
• Assist CR team in deinstallation of artifacts in TNW and BCI and installation of artifacts selected in the Reimagining project.
• Ensure that all interactions are culturally responsive, respectful, and based on a foundation of MOHAI’s commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility.

General Responsibilities

• Assist Curator of Collections in managing the physical care and organization of the collection, including cleaning, rehousing, and collection inventory.
• Maintain the collection storage areas. Specific areas of responsibility include security, access, organization, environmental monitoring, and integrated pest management.
• Assist CR team and exhibits department with research, cataloging, artifact procurement, and exhibition installation and de-installation.
• Assist in preparation, packing, and movement of artifacts and textiles for purposes of loan, exhibition, conservation, and deaccession. This includes transport of objects to and from the Museum and Resource Center.
• Assist the Registrar and Curator of Collections in processing artifacts and textiles into the collection. This includes: cleaning, applying ID numbers, measuring, researching, cataloging, data entry, creating boxes, and building storge mounts.
• Identify, research, and propose artifacts for deaccession and assist with the disposal of approved deaccessions.
• Be the lead on collections emergency preparedness by checking and maintaining supplies, planning and installing seismic mitigation in storage, keeping the Emergency Response plan updated, and attending meetings of the Seattle Heritage Response Network (SHERN).
• Supervise volunteers and interns.
• Attendance at museum-sponsored events may be required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Two years of collections-related work experience in a museum setting.
• Bachelor’s degree or any equivalent combination of experience and/or education from which comparable knowledge, skills, and abilities have been achieved. Master’s degree in museum studies or related field preferred.
• Experience with proper techniques for accessioning, handling, storage, and display of museum artifacts and archival materials, including clothing and textiles.
• Ability to make archival boxes and carve Ethafoam for artifact storage.
• Strong attention to detail and task oriented.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with museum database software.
• Ability to climb stairs and comfortable with heights up to 25 feet.
• Ability to lift 30 lbs.
• Valid Washington State driver’s license.
• Willingness and ability to travel between museum locations and work nights/weekends as required.
• Bilingual and multilingual skills valued.
• Enthusiasm for MOHAI’s exhibits, programs, and mission.

Find yourself checking a lot of these boxes but doubting whether you should apply? If you meet some of the requirements and you share MOHAI’s values and support our mission, we encourage you to apply. As part of our ongoing commitment to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, we’re invested in building teams with a wide variety of backgrounds, identities, and experiences.

Museum Overview:

For 70 years, MOHAI has been dedicated to enriching lives by preserving, sharing, and teaching the diverse history of Seattle, the Puget Sound region, and the nation. With a collection of 6.5 million artifacts, photographs, oral histories and archival items, and an expansive schedule of exhibits and programs, MOHAI is the region’s premier history center. MOHAI operates a dramatic and award-winning museum in Seattle’s vibrant South Lake Union neighborhood and a resource center in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood. MOHAI also hosts the Bezos Center for Innovation, focusing on the history and future of innovation in the Puget Sound region. MOHAI is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, and has been selected by USA Today as one of the Top Ten History Museums in the nation. For more information, please visit mohai.org.

To Apply:

Please e-mail letter of interest and resume to Human.Resources@mohai.org. No phone calls, please.

MOHAI is a 501(c)(3) organization and an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building a team and an organizational culture that fosters inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility. We encourage candidates of color to apply.