390th Memorial Museum Foundation
Position Title: Museum Archives and Collections Assistant
Reports To: Director of Archives and Collections
Part-time, three full days per week. Full benefits eligibility.
About the Museum:
The 390th Memorial Museum is a nonprofit organization located in Tucson, Arizona on the grounds of the Pima Air & Space Museum. The Museum was founded by veterans of the 390th Bombardment Group of the US Army Air Forces. This unit of American flyers and ground personnel, who served during World War II, played a key role in the defeat of Nazi Germany. The Museum’s vision is to become the premier national research and historical learning center focused on the 390th Bomb Group and its affiliated units, and their contribution to winning the air conflict over Europe.
The Museum has an impressive historic collections and archives, and a respectfully restored B-17 aircraft on indoor display. Over 110,000 people visit the Museum every year, many from dozens of nations around the world. This is an exciting time in the Museum’s development. We continue to expand our collaborations with the Pima Air & Space Museum. We recently completed several major building improvements and the development of many new exhibits. We continue to expand our offerings of special public programs, including talks by living witnesses to the events of World War Two. And we will soon lead the Museum’s first overseas educational field trip to England.
Our workplace is collegial, respectful, collaborative, and supportive. All team members—6 staff and over 60 volunteers–pitch in from time to time on tasks outside their regular job description as needed. Our Board, volunteer docents, and staff are strongly dedicated to our mission and vision. Please see www.390th.org to learn more about the Museum before developing your application for this position.
The artifacts in our collections were donated to the museum by World War Two veterans of the 390th Bombardment Group, their children, and others. Collectively, the items tell a fascinating story of the daily life, struggles, tragedies, and successes of the men who flew or supported the 390th in the air war against Nazi Germany.
Position Overview:
The Museum Archives and Collections Assistant works onsite three full days per week (24 hours/week) with volunteers and staff to examine, accurately describe, photograph, and safely store important historic artifacts in the museum’s collections. The goal of this position is to accelerate the pace of properly cataloging each object, photo, and document in the museum’s care that has not yet been fully processed. The process will involve removing artifacts from storage containers that do not conform to best practices, identify and assess each artifact, and then create an artifact profile in our database.
Each profile includes their current state of preservation, an item name and description, a catalog number, and digital photographs or scans. The nature of the work precludes remote or at-home work. The position is available immediately.
This is a very important project which will move the Museum closer to its goal of national accreditation. As part of this position, you will keep written track of the work progress made each week so that we can assure we remain on track to completing this important task.
Qualifications
Honesty, integrity, and reliability. You will be handling delicate items from a global conflict over 80 years ago.
Strong interest and appreciation for history, particularly history of World War Two.
Ability to accept and act on precise direction and close supervision during the initial learning phase of the position. Willingness and ability to apply instruction in a regular and uniform manner. A scholarly approach must be taken in writing the descriptions and the quality and uniformity of that writing is something that the museum is judged on.
Positive, supportive attitude when working alongside other volunteers and staff.
Ability to carefully handle historic artifacts in manner that conforms to best museum professional practices.
Ability to take good quality photographs and then move the image files into the data base.
Good verbal communication skills are important in discussing individual artifacts and following intake procedures.
Demonstrated computer skills, particularly word processing. Clear ability to learn new programs used in the cataloging of artifacts into the museum data bases.
Ability and willingness to work three full business days per week on a regular basis. Which business days you work are negotiable. Reliable attendance is a must.
Experience working with office scanners.
Working knowledge of Adobe Acrobat required.
Preference for candidates with working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop.
A bachelor’s degree in history or a related field is desirable.
Physical Requirements
Work will be performed in an office environment within the Museum. Moderate physical activity, including standing, reaching, lifting up to 15 pounds, and walking is involved.
Clear, corrected color vision with good depth perception is needed in order to study and analyze artifacts, photographs, etc.
Dexterity and coordination required to gently move delicate artifacts, manipulate keyboards, cameras, scanners, and other museum tools.
Wages and Benefits
The starting hourly wage for the position is $19.00. This position is eligible for our full benefits package of medical, vision, and dental insurance. Participating employees can choose to participate in one, two, or all three of the plans. If you elect to participate in one or more of the plans, the employee pays 20% and the museum pays 80% of the insurance plan fees.
We offer an optional 401K retirement plan through our payroll provider, ADP. The museum provides life insurance to all employees at no cost to the employee. Ample free parking is available. The museum is fully air conditioned in the summer and heated in the winter. The museum is located on the grounds of the Pima Air & Space Museum so if you are interested in the history of flight, you will really enjoy the workplace setting!
Application Instructions
Provide a persuasive cover letter that describes your experience and interest in this position and the 390th Memorial Museum. Include a resume that illustrates your relevant experience to the specific requirements and activities of the position and show how these connect with your passion for history. Tell us how you think you will contribute to the Museum’s mission! State in your letter when you are available to start and which three business days you are available to work.
Very strong writing skills are a must. Your ability to write will be initially evaluated based on the cover letter you submit as part of your application. Poorly written letters will result in immediate disqualification.
Please provide the names and complete contact information for four professional references.
Email your application materials to Bill Buckingham, Executive Director, at wbuckingham@390th.org Applications without a cover letter or resume will be immediately rejected.
Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.
The Museum is a non-smoking, drug-free environment.
Equal Opportunity Employer