Job Announcement

Part-Time Visitor Services Associate at Historic Annapolis

/ Ricky Punzalan

Are you looking for part-time education and visitor services work in the museum field?

Please see the following opening with Historic Annapolis in Annapolis, MD, and submit your application if you are interested! Multiple openings are available.

JOB TITLE: Visitor Services Associate

EMPLOYMENT CATEGORY: Hourly, non-exempt, up to 25 hours per week

DATE UPDATED: January 16, 2018

REPORTS TO: VP of Education and Interpretation

HOURLY RATE: $10 per hour

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Visitor Services Associate is expected to assist with all aspects of visitor services at the William Paca House and Gardens: staffing the reception desk; admissions, membership and retail sales; collecting visitor statistics; maintaining site security; giving tours; and assisting with public programs, events, and other duties as assigned.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

– Assists with general museum reception and visitor services and maintains the highest standards of customer service for all visitors.

– Responds effectively and knowledgeably to questions from visitors regarding Historic Annapolis, Inc., HA sites and exhibit information, planned programs/events, local tourist information, and membership and volunteer opportunities.

– Responsible for all opening and closing procedures, both at the register and reception desk and in opening and closing the William Paca House and Gardens.

– Performs accurate POS retail sales processing, admissions, event, and membership sales through two software platforms (Counterpoint and Altru) to balance the day’s business in the appropriate manner.

– Provides in-depth and engaging tours of the William Paca House.

– Answers the telephone and provides requested information. If unable to answer the question, VSAs forward the call to appropriate staff members, using good communication skills and working collaboratively to do so.

– Performs store maintenance, restocking supplies, and cleaning as needed to optimize the appearance of the retail sales floor and all merchandise.

– Participates in all aspects of setup/break down and staffing of HA events in support of the organization as requested and needed.

– Assists with public, education, and fundraising programs.

– Is knowledgeable about HA membership levels and benefits and promotes HA membership sales.

– Willingly and enthusiastically assists HA staff with tasks as needed, including administrative tasks and public and fundraising programs.

– Other duties as assigned.

JOB SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EDUCATION:

– College preferred, high school or G.E.D. essential. Those with degrees in history, art history, museum studies, education, or related fields are encouraged to apply.

– A minimum of one year of work experience in retail or customer service position.

– Demonstrated interest in and aptitude for providing high-quality educational content to a diverse general public.

– Dedicated commitment to the philosophy and mission of Historic Annapolis.

– Excellent customer service abilities, accuracy, enthusiasm and productive work ethic.

– Effective oral, written and interpersonal communication skills.

– Effective knowledge of HA properties and programs as well as Annapolis tourism and restaurants.

– Ability to deal tactfully and effectively with a diverse population of visitors and staff.

– Demonstrated organizational and time management skills.

– Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, database system and Power Point required.

– Ability to follow policies, procedures, and instructions to accomplish assigned tasks accurately and appropriately.

– Demonstrate a desire and ability to function as a team player, including working a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends, to accommodate the needs of Historic Annapolis.

– Public speaking experience.

You can view this listing at http://www.annapolis.org/support/employment-internships. To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume tolucy.mikhailova@annapolis.org.

Summer ’18 Internship And Fellowship

/ Ricky Punzalan
Summer ’18 Internship And Fellowship Application 
Digitization and Curation of African American History
National Museum of African American History & Culture
This program seeks to build a professional pipeline for historically underrepresented individuals to grow successful careers in the cultural sector. All internship opportunities with this program will focus on work related to digital imaging, media preservation, digital preservation of personal and community objects, digital content management, collections information management, recording and preserving oral histories, or digital filmmaking.
Intern Benefits
  • Meaningful stipend to defray living expenses during the tenure of the appointment
  • Need-based housing and transportation stipends available for summer internships. Students qualify by selecting their need to pay rent during their term on the application.
  • Flexible start and end dates
  • Structured mentorship opportunities both within the Museum and with outside professionals
  • A calendar of professional development seminars catered to the needs of historically underrepresented individuals in the cultural sector
  • Paid registration and travel to attend the Association of African American Museums annual conference in August 2018
  • Paid professional memberships

Position Announcement: Executive Director

/ Ricky Punzalan

Position Announcement: Executive Director

The Laurel Historical Society, a small community history organization in Laurel, Maryland, seeks a energetic, creative, and goal-oriented leader to serve as Executive Director.

About the Laurel Historical Society:

The Laurel Historical Society (LHS) operates the Laurel Museum in an 1840s mill workers building which is owned by the City of Laurel. The LHS works to preserve the cultural and historical heritage of Laurel. Its holdings include a substantial collection of artifacts, photographs, documents, and ephemera related to the history of Laurel. The Laurel Museum has an exhibit which changes each year, a research library, Diven’s Den (an interactive discovery area), and a museum shop. The LHS holds approximately 10-15 programs a year, including two STEM-based summer camps. Strong partnerships within the community are vital to the organization.

Job Description:

The primary responsibilities of the Executive Director are the management of the LHS, which includes operation of the Laurel Museum, and the management of the LHS Collection. In conjunction with the Board of the LHS and its Executive Committee, the Executive Director undertakes long- and short-range planning, policy development, budget preparation and monitoring, and development of LHS programs and services. The Executive Director manages a part-time assistant and approximately 60-70 volunteers who serve as docents and on established committees that support the core work of the organization. The Executive Director represents the LHS in the community, participates in events which increase awareness of Laurel history and of the LHS, expands community outreach, and performs duties which foster donation of relevant artifacts and funds to the LHS.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities of the Executive Director:

•                     Supervises Paid and Volunteer Staff: Identifies, assigns, and supervises work of the paid part-time assistant and the volunteer staff. Assures that all are appropriately trained and adequate staffing is maintained to meet the LHS needs and objectives. Creates a congenial atmosphere and environment conducive for recruiting and retaining volunteers.

•                     Financial records, Reports, and Proposals: Performs ongoing daily financial management as well as long-term planning and reporting. Works with the Board of Directors to develop a yearly budget for the LHS. Oversees bookkeeper; works with bookkeeper and treasurer to maintain all financial records and conduct a yearly review.

•                     Planning: Responsible for strategic planning, as well as creating long-term, short-term, and annual goals and objectives for the organization.

•                     Exhibits: Works with the Exhibits Committee to develop and implement exhibits for the Laurel Museum and off-site venues.

•                     Collection: Works with the Collections Committee to ensure items donated to the LHS are appropriately reviewed, accessioned, conserved, preserved, and cataloged.

•                     Community Outreach: Develops programs, community activities, and appropriate meetings which further the mission of the LHS and benefit the community

•                      Website, Promotion and Publicity: Promotes LHS and Museum events and activities. Keeps website current.

•                     Membership: Works to increase membership numbers and member benefits, and maintains LHS member records on PastPerfect.

•                     Development: Sets goals for all major fundraising efforts, tracks totals, and reports to appropriate committees. Works with special event committees (e.g. Gala, Holiday House Tour) to create sponsorship levels as well as solicit and process donations.

•                     Grants: Identifies grant opportunities and works to develop government, non-profit, and foundation grants to support the operations of the LHS. Responsible for appropriate monitoring of grants and required reporting.

•                     Records: Keeps electronic records in an orderly and accessible system and monitors regular file back-up. Maintains hard-copy files in an organized manner.

•                     Facilities, Supplies and Equipment: Coordinates maintenance of the museum building, grounds, and equipment, and provides for safe and reliable operation of the Laurel Museum. Maintains adequate supplies for LHS and Museum operation within budget parameters.

•                     Museum Operations and Visitor Services: Regularly meets with Assistant to the Director to oversee coordination of all Museum functions and services. Provides oversight and support as needed to the Assistant, who schedules group tours and coordinates volunteer staffing for regular open hours as well as special tours and events. May conduct some tours and educational programs. Maintains records related to utilization of the Museum.

•                     Museum Shop: Provides final oversight on shop purchases, timing of shop activities, and setting of prices for the shop.

•                     Professional Development: Participates in educational activities and museum associations to keep abreast of the latest development in small museum and historical society management.

Skills and Expertise Required:

•                     Supervisory skills, especially as relevant to a volunteer staff, financial, and administrative management of an organization

•                     Ability to serve as an articulate spokesperson for the LHS

•                     Experience in development and fundraising, including foundation and government grants as well as corporate and private donations; demonstrated ability to develop partnerships and identify creative solutions

•                     Financial record-keeping skills

•                     Knowledge of Museum Professional policies, issues, and strategies

•                     Familiarity with PC environment and knowledge of the following applications: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, PastPerfect, QuickBooks, and Dropbox; knowledge of  G Suite helpful

•                     Adept at Social Media, especially Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

•                     Interpersonal and team interaction skills; ability to work with a diverse community and with standing and ad hoc committees

•                     Ability to meet the physical demands of working and transporting materials in an historic building with non-standard stairs

Qualifications:

The Executive Director will have a relevant bachelor’s degree and 3-5 years’ work in a related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience, demonstrating ability required to support a non-profit organization and manage service for a small historical society and museum staffed primarily with volunteers.

Location: The Executive Director will be based at the Laurel Museum in Laurel, Maryland.

Salary: This is a full time, salaried position, salary range $40,000-$50,000 DOE, which requires some weekend and evening hours.  The work schedule is flexible and some duties may be performed from home.

Closing date: February 2, 2018

To Apply: Please submit cover letter and resume to: resumes@laurelhistoricalsociety.org with Executive Director in the subject line. No phone inquiries please.

Position at David C. Driskell Center

/ Ricky Punzalan

STUDENT HOURLY POSITION – ARCHIVES DIGITIZATION ASSISTANT

AT THE DAVID C. DRISKELL CENTER

The David C. Driskell Center for the Study of the Visual Arts and Culture of African Americans and the African Diaspora at the University of Maryland seeks a detail-oriented undergraduate or graduate student to serve as an archives digitization assistant for the Driskell Center Digitization Project, a project to preserve, reformat, digitize, and increase access to the Center’s 1,550-object art collection and 150 audio tapes, 90 visual reels, 1,500 photographs, and 3,500 slides. The student would work with the Driskell Center’s archival collection on this project, namely the photographs, slides, and documents. This position is supported in part by a two-year grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services [IMLS] through its Museum Grants for African American History and Culture program.

This position is valuable for students who are pursuing information science, library & information science, museum scholarship, art history, anthropology, and similar fields as their majors and whose career goal is to work in a library, archive, or museum. This position provides learning experience in using scanning equipment and software to digitize, name, and store archival materials including photographs, slides, and documents, some of which are fragile in nature; researching subjects included in the archive particularly around African American art and artists; and working with PastPerfect, a museum database software. Among the responsibilities are scanning and describing archival material; creating metadata, organizing, naming, and
maintaining digital files created; and working with PastPerfect software. He/she will follow the Center’s evolving digitization policies and procedures which are being created as part of the grant. Training for all equipment and PastPerfect will be provided.
He/she will work closely with and report to the Driskell Center’s Archivist, Stephanie Smith, as well as the Deputy Director, Dorit Yaron, and the graduate assistant on this project.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
• Must be enrolled as a full-time student at the University of Maryland, College Park.
• Must be in good standing academically.
• Must be enrolled in the following departments, or others in related studies: Information Science, Library & Information Science, Museum Scholarship and Material Culture Certificate, Art History and Archaeology, Anthropology, and History (Museum Studies certificate in particular).
• Must be detail oriented and have the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Must be able and willing to handle fragile objects.
• Excellent writing, editing, and organizational skills are a must.
• Knowledge of databases such as MS Excel and Photoshop are preferred.
• Interest in African American art is desired.
Student must be able to work min 8 hours/week to max 12 hours/week. Starting hourly rate is $12 per hour.
The position is available starting January 2018.

PREFERENCES:
Due to the nature of this position which will require training and includes professional responsibilities, a preference will be given to students who are graduating no earlier than May 2019 and who would be available to continue this position throughout the summer of 2018.

TO APPLY:
Please send the following items to Stephanie Smith, Archivist, David C. Driskell Center, slsmith3@umd.edu:
• A cover letter outlining your interest in the position, with a brief description of relevant work projects.
• A resume with a list of relevant courses completed or currently in progress; and your experience with any of the responsibilities mentioned above.
• A list of two professional references (references should include current phone numbers and email addresses).

University of Delaware Museum Studies Job Opportunity

/ Ricky Punzalan

CONTEXT OF THE JOB:
Under the general direction of the Chair of the History Department and the Faculty Director of the Museum Studies Program, the Program Coordinator has a full range of operational program duties. These include administration of both the graduate Museum Studies certificate program and the undergraduate Museum Studies minor; communications and marketing efforts for both Museum Studies programs; internship and job placement coordination for both MSST minors and HIST majors; participation in strategic projects aligned with the goals of the History Department and Museum Studies Program; and daily operation of the Museum Studies office. The position requires handling multiple assignments concurrently. Individual is expected to build sustainable engagement and support for the Museum Studies programs to bolster enrollment and foster program development. A high level of independent judgment, initiative and problem-solving skills are required. This position is proactive and results-oriented. Located for administrative and budgetary purposes within the Department of History, the Museum Studies Program serves students from departments and programs across the College of Arts and Sciences.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s degree with two years’ academic program coordination related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience and proven success in developing pitches and garnering media placements, and social media content development. Familiarity with website management practices, including work roles, workflow and versioning.
Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
Strong critical thinking and problem solving abilities.
Ability to manage several projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
Working knowledge of Social Media, including Facebook, Twitter, Linkedln, and Instagram, and best practices in a professional setting as well as an understanding of web standards. Familiarity with Hootsuite desirable.
Skills in Word Press, HTML, and Photoshop software strongly preferred.
Video editing experience is a plus.

For details and application link see: http://www.museumstudies.udel.edu/program-coordinator-museum-studies/.

Employment Opportunity at the National Museum of African American History and Culture

/ Ricky Punzalan

Background

The Smithsonian Institution (SI) National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) needs professional, non-personal, work-for-hire curatorial assistance services within the History Department, Office of Curatorial Affairs.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) opened on the National Mall on September 24, 2016. On December 16, 2003, President George W. Bush signed Congressional legislation establishing the Museum as the 19th museum of the Smithsonian Institution. The museum’s collections and educational programming cover topics as varied as Slavery and Emancipation, Reconstruction, the Civil Rights Movement, the Visual Arts, Fashion and Design and how African American culture has influenced and shaped history and culture throughout America and the world. It is anticipated that four to five million visitors will come to the approximately 400,000-square-foot Museum each year.

The purpose of this contract is to assist with managing and tracking information flow and the processing of new acquisitions and existing collection artifacts within the History Department, Office of Curatorial Affairs.

Scope

The contractor shall provide professional, technical, non-personal curatorial assistance services to research, manage and track proper and up-to-date information pertaining to existing collection objects and objects under consideration for acquisition in order to make artifacts publicly accessible and available for inclusion in Museum-defined projects.

The project will take place over the period of performance mainly at the NMAAHC’s Capital Gallery offices at 600 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. Periodically, the contractor will be required to work at the NMAAHC’s Mall building at 1400 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. and at the off-site storage facility at 3400 Pennsy Drive in Hyattsville, Maryland. NMAAHC and its Capital Gallery facility, and Pennsy Drive locations are accessible by public transportation. Work will be scheduled at mutually convenient times for the contractor and the Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR) between the hours of about 8:30am and 5:30pm over the course of the period of performance. Work shall proceed upon completion of a signed purchase order and the Contractor shall conduct work commencing on or around September 1, 2017 and finishing no later than around August 31, 2018.

Qualifications and Specific Tasks

The contractor shall have:

  • Knowledge of American history, particularly regarding African American history and culture.
  • Experience conducting research pertaining to African American history and material culture.
  • Experience communicating formally and informally in writing and over the phone.

The primary duties and responsibilities of the contractor shall include, but are not limited to, those tasks described below:

  • Work with Curators, Museum Specialists, Collections Management staff, and Management Support Assistants to track, review, and respond to collection offers referred to History Curators.
  • Conduct correspondence with potential donors; produce background material and draft justifications for acquisition and accessioning; maintain necessary records and files.
  • Assist Curators and Registrars in processing items to be acquired and accessioned.
  • Work with the cataloguing team in researching the provenance and historical context for artifacts; coordinate with the Digitization Team for imaging, cataloguing objects and, finally, reviewing TMS files.
  • Work with Registrars, Collections Management staff, and Project Management staff to maintain checklist of loaned objects and NMAAHC objects that require rotation in Inaugural Exhibitions, including necessary dates for rotation; research and provide viable replacements for objects; if necessary, complete loan request and justification paperwork in concert with Curatorial team, Registrars, and Project Management staff.
  • Assist with identifying, researching, and making artifacts publicly accessible as requested by Curators and/or project staff for specific programs or other interpretive products by working closely with staff members of the Office of Curatorial Affairs, IT Department, Project Management Office, and the Registrar’s Office.
  • Meet regularly in person and over the phone with the Supervisory Curator of History as well as with project teams, as needed.

The period of performance will be on or about September 1, 2017-August 31, 2018.
Contact William Pretzer (pretzerw@si.edu) for bid package. Quotes are due COB July 26, 2017

AASLH Annual Meeting Scholarships Available

/ Ricky Punzalan

Apply for a scholarship to attend the 2017 AASLH Annual Meeting. Scholarships are available for diverse attendees, employees of small museums, and new professionals in four states.

  • AASLH Douglas Evelyn Scholarship for Diversity (2)
  • AASLH Small Museum Scholarship (2-5)
  • 2017 Austin Diversity Scholarships (10)
  • Robert W. Richmond Scholarship for New Professionals in MO,KS, NE, IA

 

See the full list of scholarships, details, and deadlines here:

http://about.aaslh.org/annual-meeting-scholarships/

American Anthropological Association Short-term Internship Summer 2017

/ Ricky Punzalan

The AAA is collaborating with the Center for Folklife and Heritage during the Smithsonian’s Folklife Festival June 29 – July 4; July 6 -9 2017. The AAA will be hosting three interactive workshops on the diverse experiences of migration and displacement.

These workshop events are part of the AAA’s Public Education Initiative on Human Migration.

The AAA would like to recruit graduate and undergraduate students to serve as workshop facilitators, workshop assistant, and social media interns. I believe this will be an excellent opportunity for students to use their anthropological knowledge outside the classroom and gain experience working within a large public setting. This internship is best suited for students in anthropology and sociology; however, we encourage students who are studying ethnomusicology, cultural studies, language studies, and other related disciplines to apply.

Interns will work three hours a day on a rotating shift. Interns are expected to work through the ten days of the Festival during the last week of June and the first week of July, including weekends and the July Fourth holiday. The interns should be comfortable working outdoors in high heat and humidity, in a fast-paced environment among large crowds of people. The festival hours are 11 am to 5 pm. Interns will receive a modest stipend for participating in this event.

Please circulate this message among your faculty, students, and anthropology clubs. Students interested in applying for this internship should send an electronic copy of their resume, unofficial copy of transcripts, and cover letter to lwalker@americananthro.org.

Assistant Administrator position for the Maryland Heritage Areas Program

/ Ricky Punzalan

Below please see the job announcement for an Assistant Administrator position at the Maryland Heritage Areas Program.

This position will work in the Office of Planning, Education and Outreach at the Maryland Historical Trust and will be responsible for helping to administer the Maryland Heritage Areas Program, which encourages economic development through the protection and enhancement of historical, cultural and natural resources that support heritage tourism activities across the state.
We are looking for folks with heritage tourism and grants experience.
The official job listing is here:
https://www.jobaps.com/MD/sup/bulpreview.asp?R1=17&R2=002586&R3=0023
The position is only open for two weeks, closing on May 11, 2017.