Collection Technician
Overview
Maine Maritime Museum (MMM) is an independent, nonprofit institution dedicated to celebrating Maine’s vibrant maritime culture. Because this culture includes different backgrounds, perspectives, and voices—and because our museum welcomes visitors from around the world—our institution is firmly committed to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion. If you believe in museums’ important role to reveal the past, to inform the present, and to shape the future, we invite you to join our team. You will join us on the beautiful banks of the Kennebec River, on a twenty-acre campus where collaboration and creativity are encouraged.
Position Summary
Reporting to the Collections & Library Services Manager and working closely with the curatorial team, the Collection Technician is a part-time, temporary staff position designed to advance and complete a comprehensive inventory, cataloging, and digitization project in the museum’s principal collection storage space. The project will provide the museum with substantially improved intellectual and physical control of a large portion of its object collection, resulting in increased access and improved collection care. The roughly 9,000 items include models, clothing and textiles, furniture, fishing materials, and other 3D and 2D cultural heritage objects. This position will continue work made possible thanks to an Institute of Museum and Library Services Museums for America project.
Essential Job Functions
- Completes inventory of items within the scope of grant project
- Expands descriptive metadata in catalog records, including basic condition reporting
- Carries out provenance research
- Assesses conservation and rehousing needs
- Adheres to best practices in object handling
- Collaborates with team to assess project progress and workflows
Education & Experience
A Bachelor’s degree in history, art history, American studies, or a related field is required. Graduate coursework in museum studies, history, or related cultural heritage field preferred. Previous collections documentation experience is required.
Qualifications
• Proven collections handling and cataloging experience
• Knowledge of metadata standards and controlled vocabularies
• Thrives in a team-oriented environment
• Able to sit and stand for extended periods of time
• Ability to lift items weighing up to 50 pounds
• Familiarity with PastPerfect and American maritime material culture knowledge a plus
Terms
Collection Technician – Non-benefited; Hourly rate of $18-20/hour; Work to be completed between August 1, 2023 – December 1, 2023 with total hours not to exceed 250 hours. Review of applications to begin immediately.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Maine Maritime Museum is an equal opportunity employer and does not tolerate discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, age, protected genetic information, status as a parent, marital status, political affiliation, or any other basis prohibited by applicable
law.
Apply
Please email a cover letter and resume to hr@maritimeme.org