Jobs and Internships

The University of Southern Maine’s Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education has an opening for a full-time Operations and Communications Coordinator. This is an excellent opportunity for a person looking to grow and develop as a museum, library, or cultural heritage operations manager.

The Operations and Communications Coordinator provides project support for the Executive Director and various departments of the Osher Map Library (OML). This includes the management of digital imaging and reproduction requests; gift correspondence; record keeping; the hiring and training of student workers; and event planning logistics. The Coordinator also manages a variety of communication initiatives including: maintaining the general OML email account and phone communication, coordinating social media, website content management related to news and events, creating and distributing monthly e-newsletters to patrons, coordinating exhibition and annual appeal mailings and the creation of promotional materials (working with Marketing), maintaining contact lists, assisting with grant applications, annual reports and exhibition guides, and managing donor and board correspondence.

The Operations and Communications Coordinator will work in collaboration with the Executive Director, staff, or independently to execute special projects from conception to completion and must be able to work under pressure in a highly secure, team-based environment and possess the ability to handle a wide variety of activities and confidential matters. Excellent oral and written communication skills are a must, as is the ability to engage with diverse audiences and stakeholders, including University faculty, staff, and students; K-12 students and teachers; other cultural organizations and community partners (local and national); research scholars; members of the general public; as well as board members and donors.

FMI and to apply (by July 31, 2023), please visit: https://usm.hiretouch.com/job-details?jobID=82087&job=operations-communications-coordinator-osher-map-library

Special Collections & Archives (SC&A) is the repository of Colby College’s rare books, literary materials, and institutional records. The archives processing coordinator in SC&A helps to manage the College archives by performing critical processing and discovery tasks for unpublished materials. The position includes supervision of student assistants and interns in various tasks within a busy library environment and may include reference service tasks when needed. Colby College is committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment where every member of the community feels a sense of respect and belonging.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage processing workflows within the College archives; create finding aids and other descriptive tools for manuscript and archival collections in consultation with the College archivist and other SC&A staff
• Serve as primary administrator of ArchivesSpace within SC&A, which has both internal and public interfaces
• Train and collaborate with other staff in effective management of records maintenance systems to assure compliance with records management and retention policies of the College
• Train and supervise student assistants and interns in archival processing best practices and ArchivesSpace data entry tasks
• Maintain documentation and communication of procedures to ensure work consistency and quality
• Remain knowledgeable of archival standards and takes a lead role in implementing standards in SC&A
• In collaboration with the College archivist, work with alumni relations, athletics, and other key campus partners on special commemorative events, Colby College history, and alumni-related projects
• In collaboration with the College archivist, assist with intake of materials (both analog and born digital) into the college archives
• Troubleshoot to identify potential problems, make recommendations, and participate in the development of better processes for storage, maintenance, and searchability of documents and files
• Provide reference services as requested and help to coordinate academic use of materials in order to assist the archives education staff within SC&A and department-initiated programming and exhibition
• Help to create/collect departmental statistics for administrative reports
• Participate on library committees and/or working groups and complete other assignments as needed

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in education and experience
• Minimum of two years of experience in a library, archives, museum, or relevant higher education environment preferred
• Experience with an archival collection management system, such as ArchivesSpace, preferred
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in professional settings
• Ability to establish priorities when working both independently and as a member of a collaborative team
• Demonstrated ability to complete detailed work with minimal supervision and a high degree of accuracy
• Ability to facilitate and improve processes for records organization and retention
• Strong project planning and implementation skills preferred
• Must be flexible, curious and committed to ongoing professional development
• Demonstrates a commitment to valuing diversity and contributes to providing an inclusive working environment
• Valid driver’s license required and must meet Colby’s Fleet Safety Policy requirements

KEY RELATIONSHIPS:

Reporting to the College archivist, this position has significant interaction with faculty, staff, students, and colleagues and programs in the Colby College Libraries.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

General open office and campus environment. Position involves sitting, although frequent movement is necessary. Computer usage involving repetitive hand/wrist motion is also necessary. Ability to move around campus and to/from the Libraries’ offsite Annex facility is necessary. Occasional lifting up to 30-50 pounds may be required.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Successful and satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check).

SALARY RANGE:

$45,000 - $50,000 based on experience and qualifications

TO APPLY:

Interested candidates should apply electronically by clicking the "Apply" button on the Colby Careers job posting. Please submit a letter of interest including salary requirements, resume, and the contact information of three professional references. Materials should be addressed to:

Archives Processing Coordinator - Search Committee
Office of Human Resources
Colby College
5500 Mayflower Hill
Waterville, ME  04901-8855

The Rufus Porter Museum of Art and Ingenuity, founded in 2005 located in Bridgton, Maine, is the only museum in the nation dedicated to telling the story of Rufus Porter (1792 – 1884), artist, inventor, and founding publisher of the magazine Scientific American. Located in the center of the town of Bridgton, this museum campus has become a part of the cultural hub of Main Street. Exhibits are open seasonally to the public from June through October. The Rufus Porter Museum’s mission is to celebrate the life, times, and legacy of a remarkable 19th century New Englander through preservation and promotion of creativity and invention.

The Board of Trustees seeks an Executive Director to implement the mission in creative ways and further the progress of the Rufus Porter Museum through the expansion of the permanent exhibits on Rufus Porter plus yearly special exhibits, enhancing programs that will continue to draw diverse visitors and increase membership, and directing the organization as it continues its capital campaign efforts to raise funds for a third museum building.

The successful candidate will have leadership skills to represent the organization effectively to all stakeholders and the public. He or she will be an experienced and well-organized professional of integrity and dedication who enjoys taking on new challenges and multi-tasking. He or she will have a firm grasp of museum best practices and non-profit management. The position requires proven experience in long-range planning, creative program development, donor stewardship, fundraising, grant writing, and project management.

Qualifications:

A Bachelor’s degree is required in a relevant area of study, a minimum of 3 years museum management or related experience. A Master’s degree in a related field is preferred. Familiarity with databases such as PastPerfect, DonorSnap, and accounting software like Quickbooks desired. The position is 40 hours a week.

To Apply:

Please send resume with cover letter including references and salary requirements to Search Committee at search@rufusportermuseum.org

Qualified candidates will be contacted on a rolling basis.

Job Type: Full-time

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Bridgton, ME 04009: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Willingness to travel:

• 25% (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

                

                                        Job Description

 

                   Reference Assistant

 

POSITION TITLE:    Reference Assistant

STATUS:                      Non-exempt                            

SCHEDULE:               Part-time, up to 28 hours per week

REPORTS TO:           MHS Research & Administrative Librarian  

DATE:                          05/01/2023

 

1. POSITION SUMMARY

The MHS Reference Assistant supports research and collections in the MHS Brown Library by answering ready-reference questions, undertaking research and reproduction services, providing patron orientation and access to collections, and monitoring reading room activities. Work includes conducting reference interviews, retrieving and reshelving collections, implementing library policy and procedure, and supporting library operations. The position provides reference desk coverage, works directly with patrons, provides collection use instruction, and helps maintain an orderly reading room. Other duties include stack maintenance, reviewing incoming materials, as well undertaking research for the institution. The position is part of the Brown Research Library’s front-line staff and the MHS Collections & Research department.  

 2. DIRECT REPORTS

 This position does not supervise staff; occasionally supervises interns and volunteers.

3. FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

•          Provides reference services for in-house, electronic and telephone inquiries including answering ready-reference questions, conducting reference interviews, patron communication, compiling statistics, and authoring written replies.
•          Provides patron orientation including researcher registration, outlining reading room policy and procedure, and collection handling. Provides oversight of active researchers.  
•          Supports the MHS Research & Administrative Librarian with fee-based research services and reproduction requests.
•          Retrieves and re-shelves materials in open and secure stacks.
•          Helps maintain a clean, secure, and clutter-free reading room.
•          Provides bibliographic instruction for MHS databases, including internal (Minerva/OPAC; Maine Memory Network; Collections Database; membership resources) and subscription databases (Ancestry.com; Heritage Quest; Sanborn Maps; JSTOR).
•          Recommends necessary updates to catalogues, finding aids or housing labels.
•          Supports in-depth and internal research requests as needed.
•          Performs stack maintenance, including shifting and filing collections, re-housing, and light preservation work.
•          Reviews incoming library materials (books, pamphlets, journals, etc.) for inclusion in library holdings.
•          Other duties as assigned.

4. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

•          An advanced degree (or currently enrolled) in Library Science or related humanities-based program.
•          Familiarity with special collections/archival reference services and settings.  
•          Demonstrated experience with researching within special collections and archives, including using finding aids and collection handling.
•          Demonstrated proficiency in searching an online library catalogue.

·             Strong communication skills:  listening, written, and verbal.

·             An open and positive attitude and enjoy working with the public.

·             Strong computer skills and ability to learn new programs when needed.

·             Ability to solve problems in a changing environment, high degree of flexibility and adaptability. 

·            Ability to adhere to and implement institutional protocol and methodologies.

·            Strong initiative combined with a willingness to take direction. 

·            Reliability and dependability; ability to work independently or as part of a group.

·         Ability to multi-task and facilitate several projects simultaneously.

·         Ability to lift 25 lbs. and reach above one’s head.

5. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

·         MLS or equivalent in Library Science from an ALA accredited institution.

·         Special Collections reference experience.

·         Working knowledge of Maine history.

·         Familiarity with genealogical research and family history.

·         Working knowledge of Past Perfect Museum Software.

·         Familiarity with PC platforms, WINDOWS, and Office 365.

·         Experience with archival processing and creating finding aids.

 6. WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

 Work is performed in an office and library environment using basic office equipment such as a computer, printer, telephone, and copier.  Work requires sitting, walking, pushing carts, and lifting. All work is performed on-site at MHS’ 489 Congress Street Portland, Maine location.  

 7. SCHEDULE & COMPENSATION:

An ideal schedule is Wednesday-Saturday, 9-5PM. Some degree of flexibility within MHS business hours, but Saturdays are required. A set schedule (week to week) is required.

 $22.00/ hr. with paid time off (PTO). In-town parking is provided.

 

APPLICATION

Contact and how to apply: Interested parties should email a cover letter, resume, and contact information (email address and phone number) for two professional references to:

Cindy Murphy, MHS Office Manager, at cmurphy@mainehistory.org. or mail to

Maine Historical Society, 489 Congress St., Suite 2, Portland, ME 04101-3498            c/o Cindy Murphy.

No phone calls, please.

Application deadline: Open until filled.

 

Maine Historical Society is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

Fulbright Specialist Program (FSP) is offering a fully-funded, short-term opportunity to travel to the Dominican Republic. We are seeking a highly qualified individual to serve as a Specialist for the project outlined in the attached Open Project Announcement – 

The FSP is part of the Fulbright Program, the U.S. Department of State’s flagship international educational exchange program, and pairs highly qualified U.S. academics and professionals with institutions abroad to share their expertise, strengthen institutional linkages, hone their skills, and gain international experience, while building capacity at their overseas host institutions though a short-term, project-based exchange.

The project, ‘Formulation of the Inclusion Policy – DR Museum Network’ (P008127), would involve one visit, approximately 40 days in length, to the Direccion General de Museos in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Ideally the project would be conducted in multiple visits, with Visit 1 during May 2023 and Visit 2 during September 2023, with flexibility depending on the selected candidate’s availability.  Full project details are included in the attached Open Project Announcement.

The grant will include international round-trip economy class airfare, transit allowance ($100), all applicable visa fees, a daily honorarium ($200), enrollment in a limited health benefits program, lodging, meals, and in-country transportation.

Interested applicants should submit a Resume/CV and brief Statement of Interest (max 400 words) to fulbrightspecialist@worldlearning.org no later than 11:59 PM ET on Thursday, April 20, 2023. Further details and application instructions are included in the attached announcement – please note that U.S. citizenship is required to serve as a Fulbright Specialist.

The Skowhegan History House Museum & Research Center in Skowhegan, Maine, is seeking a part-time, seasonal Curator. As the Museum’s primary staff person, the Curator cares for and manages the collection, provides tours for people of all ages, and assists with research requests. The Curator catalogs the collections, monitors the environmental conditions of the museum, supervises a summer student intern, collaborates with the Board’s Volunteer Coordinator to ensure daily museum coverage, assists with planning exhibits and programs, contributes to the Museum’s newsletter and social media, and reports to the Board of Trustees. The Curator helps to protect and preserve the collection while make it more accessible and resourceful to researchers and the community.

Ideal candidates have prior experience in a museum or historical setting and great enthusiasm for local history. Effective communication and interpersonal skills, comfort interacting with a variety of people, working knowledge of Microsoft Office, PastPerfect or other collections database program a plus.

This seasonal part-time position begins Mid-May and ends in Mid-October. It is 24 hours per week (Tuesday-Friday, 10am-4pm) for approximately 20 weeks. Compensation is $20.00 per hour.

For the detailed job description, email president@skowheganhistoryhouse.org .

To apply, email a letter of interest, resume and two letters of reference (as a PDF) by April 17th to: president@skowheganhistoryhouse.org or mail to Patricia Horine, Board President, Skowhegan History House Museum, PO Box 832, Skowhegan, ME 04976.

The Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum is hiring a casual Museum Receptionist! 

The Arctic Museum is looking for a Receptionist to join their team. The Receptionist will be responsible for greeting weekend museum visitors, answering questions, transacting museum shop sales, and providing general telephone reception.

• The regular hours will be Saturday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm; Sunday 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm.
• There may be opportunities to work weekday hours to serve as a back-up for the regular Receptionist.

For more information or to apply, visit the Careers at Bowdoin Site.

The Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum is hiring casual security officers! 

We offer flexible hours, and we are willing to train! For more details about the job and to apply please visit the Careers at Bowdoin Site or contact Steve Perkins – Assistant Director of Cultural Property Security, at 207-837-5969.

The Rufus Porter Museum of Art and Ingenuity, founded in 2005 located in Bridgton, Maine, is the only museum in the nation dedicated to telling the story of Rufus Porter (1792 – 1884), artist, inventor, and founding publisher of the magazine Scientific American. Located in the center of the town of Bridgton, this museum campus has become a part of the cultural hub of Main Street. Exhibits are open seasonally to the public from June through October. The Rufus Porter Museum’s mission is to celebrate the life, times, and legacy of a remarkable 19^th century New Englander through preservation and promotion of creativity and invention.  

The Board of Trustees seeks an Executive Director to implement the mission in creative ways and further the progress of the Rufus Porter Museum through the expansion of the permanent exhibits on Rufus Porter plus yearly special exhibits, enhancing programs that will continue to draw diverse visitors and increase membership, and directing the organization as it continues its capital campaign efforts to raise funds for a third museum building.  

The successful candidate will have leadership skills to represent the organization effectively to all stakeholders and the public. He or she will be an experienced and well-organized professional of integrity and dedication who enjoys taking on new challenges and multi-tasking. He or she will have a firm grasp of museum best practices and non-profit management. The position requires proven experience in long-range planning, creative program development, donor stewardship, fundraising, grant writing, and project management.  

Qualifications:  

A Bachelor’s degree is required in a relevant area of study, a minimum of 3 years museum management or related experience.  A Master’s degree in a related field is preferred. Familiarity with databases such as PastPerfect, DonorSnap, and accounting software like Quickbooks desired. The position is 40 hours a week.  

To Apply: 

Please send a resume with cover letter including references and salary requirements to Search Committee at search@rufusportermuseum.org  

Qualified candidates will be contacted on a rolling basis.  

Geiger Museum Learning Internship

Maine Maritime Museum (MMM) is an independent, nonprofit institution dedicated to celebrating Maine’s vibrant maritime culture. Because this vibrant culture includes different backgrounds, perspectives, and voices—and because our museum welcomes visitors from around the world—our institution is firmly committed to inclusion, accessibility, diversity, and equity.

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

The Geiger Museum Learning Internship offers an opportunity for a local high school or early college student (rising 11^th/ 12^th graders, recent high school graduates, or rising 1^st/ 2^nd-year college students) to explore the varied careers available in the museum and nonprofit field during summer 2023. The Geiger Museum Learning Intern will gain an up-close look at the behind-the-scenes operations of the museum as they work closely with museum staff across departments on varying museum initiatives.

The intern’s primary role will be to develop a creative way to connect visitors to the stories told in our museum galleries through in-gallery programming/activities. They will work under the direction of museum education staff to gain valuable experience in owning their project from conception to implementation. Additionally, the intern will assist with other program and curatorial projects to develop professional skills in time management, accountability, effective communication, and teamwork. 

The Geiger Museum Learning Internship will report to the Director of Education. The internship is open to students with a broad range of career interests seeking to sharpen their professional skills and begin building their professional portfolio. The internship is an hourly position and will not exceed 32 hours/week over the period of 6 weeks (June 26-August 4) for a total of 194 hours at the rate of $15.50/hour.

Primary Responsibilities:

• ·         Research, develop, and facilitate a gallery program for families and visitors
• ·         Gain professional experience in collaboration, time management, public engagement, and museum interpretation/education
• ·         Participate in structured internship reflections with supervisor and a cohort of other museum interns and complete a culminating presentation of internship experience

Other possible intern responsibilities include:

• ·         Leading public-facing museum and vessel tours and/or demonstrations
• ·         Assisting Guest Services with visitor orientation
• ·         Assisting with summer camp programs
• ·         Collections inventory and research
• ·         Develop social media content
• ·         Attending weekly staff meetings

Details:

• ·         194 hours at $15.50/hour
• ·         Up to 32 hours/week for six weeks between June 26-August 4, 2023 (start and end dates adjustable depending on school schedules)

QUALIFICATIONS

• ·         Must be at least 16 years old prior to start date
• ·         Rising 11^th/ 12^th graders, recent high school graduates, or rising 1^st/ 2^nd-year college students
• ·         Desire to learn and be a part of a team
• ·         Open to new experiences
• ·         Interested in environmental studies, museums, education, public history and/or non-profits
• ·         Interested in developing professional skills
• ·         Experience or interest in working with the public and/or children
• ·         Ability to be flexible and work in a fast-pace environment
• ·         Familiarity with Microsoft Office a plus

HOW TO APPLY

Review of applications will begin March 1, 2023 and will continue until the position is filled. Please submit a single pdf document including a cover letter, resume, and three references (professional or academic) to hr@maritimeme.org.

This position is subject to sex offender and criminal background checks.
Maine Maritime Museum is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Sandra D. Rapp Curatorial Internship

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

The 2023 Sandra D. Rapp Curatorial Intern will join Maine Maritime Museum’s Curatorial Department. This graduate-level internship will support departmental and institutional objectives to advance new and ongoing initiatives to collect, preserve, and share Maine's maritime stories, with a focus on increasing access and engagement with the museum’s collections and exhibitions. Collections and exhibitions include 18 historic buildings and structures across over a 20-acre campus, including the Percy & Small Shipyard, a Victorian shipbuilder’s home, and the Nathan R. Lipfert Research Library. As part of an immersive learning opportunity, the Rapp Intern will participate in professional development opportunities, mentoring, and experience reflections. Reporting to the Director of Curatorial Affairs, the 2023 Sandra D. Rapp Curatorial Intern will collaborate closely with staff, interns, and volunteers.

Specific Duties

• ·         Gain experience and familiarity with the day-to-day functions and operations of a mid-sized museum, collaborating closely with the Curatorial Department to participate in assigned projects, meetings, and initiatives
• ·         Support exhibition development under the guidance and direction of the Exhibition Coordinator by advancing research, planning, and management with exhibition coordination with installation, maintenance, and deinstallation
• ·         Develop and/or refine skills with museum collections under the guidance and direction of the Collections Manager, including handling, management, and research by supporting ongoing work to preserve and share museum collections
• ·         Gain experience engaging the public and collaborating with museum volunteers, including supporting functions and operations of the Nathan R. Lipfert Research Library
• ·         Broaden understanding and experience with museum operations, historic sites, and historic preservation by actively and enthusiastically collaborating across departments, gaining dynamic experience engaging with museum staff, volunteers, and visitors
• ·         Refine and/or hone skills in teamwork and collaboration to create and distribute printed or digitally published resources to directly and indirectly support engagement, awareness, and use of collections and exhibitions
• ·         Document, reflect, and share experiences with structured internship reflections, as well as a culminating presentation of internship experience

Qualifications

• ·         Candidates must be in the process of completing a graduate-level or terminal degree or have recently completed a graduate-level or terminal degree in Museum Studies, Public History, Historical Administration, or related field
• ·         Strong written and oral presentation skills
• ·         Strong time- and project-management skills
• ·         Ability to work independently or in close collaboration with teams
• ·         Desire and openness to learn, apply, and refine new skills and methodologies
• ·         Commitment to advancing Maine Maritime Museum’s mission and organizational values

Terms & How to Apply

This internship opportunity is part-time position for a period of 10 weeks, June 4-August 11, 2023. Internships are hourly positions and will not exceed 40 hours/week.  Compensation for this opportunity is $17/hr and includes off-site housing, at no cost to the intern.  Transportation to and from the museum is not provided.

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and three references as one document or one PDF to hr@maritimeme.org. The cover letter should clearly articulate how this opportunity will enrich and support academic and/or career goals for the applicant. Email subject line should note “Sandra D. Rapp Curatorial Internship.” Review of applications will begin March 10, 2023.

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.

February 2023