The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum explores and preserves the history, environment, and culture of the entire Chesapeake Bay region, and makes this resource accessible to all. As an educational institution, staff carry out CBMM’s mission, goals, and vision, working individually and collaboratively to encourage the public’s access to our collections, programs, and resources. Serving more than 85,000 guests each year, CBMM’s 18-acre campus includes a floating fleet of historic boats, multiple exhibition buildings, and changing special exhibitions, all set in a park-like waterfront setting along the Miles River and St. Michaels’ harbor.
CBMM is in a transformative growth phase, including the completion of a renovated and expanded state-of-the-art collections storage facility and research space, implementation of increased online access to our collections through digitization, and the development and installation of long-term exhibitions in the Welcome Center to expand and diversify CBMM’s interpretive approach. The Collections Assistant plays a key role in these exciting projects as a manager of the collections.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Collections Assistant (CA) reports to the Assistant Curator and works with the curators to create and maintain CBMM’s collection records and carries out procedures ensuring the appropriate care, preservation, transportation, display, and access to collections, in storage and on exhibition. The CA supports the work of the exhibitions and collections team. In this dynamic work environment, the CA will provide critical support for long-term, interpretive projects, and help to set the tone and vision for CBMM’s future as well as have opportunities for professional growth as departmental and institutional needs evolve.
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Creating and maintaining CBMM’s collections records at professionally acceptable standards under the supervision and training of senior curatorial staff. Responsibilities include maintaining collections records, creating Deeds of Gift, cataloging, drafting finding aids, documenting loans in and loans out, recording condition of objects, and performing inventories.
- Performing regular monitoring of environmental conditions and safeguarding collections against agents of deterioration, theft, mishandling, and other threats. Providing basic housekeeping for collections storage, exhibition and processing spaces.
- Tracking exhibition objects and drafting loan agreements. Performing exhibition-related movement of objects, including packing, and condition reports. Assisting with installation and striking of exhibitions.
- Supporting and assisting other CBMM departments with collection-related needs for programs, publicity, interpretation, and other projects. Facilitating physical and electronic access to collections for staff, volunteers, and the public.
- Digitizing materials from CBMM’s collection including objects, photographic prints, transparent media and oral histories, as well as large format materials such as ships plans, maps and charts.
- Supporting collections and library volunteers and interns in coordination with senior curatorial staff.
- Assuming such other duties as are necessary for the operation of the department or as assigned by senior curatorial staff.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in history, art history, anthropology or museum studies or a related discipline and/or museum training, internship or work experience preferred.
- Proven word processing, database and/or spreadsheet skills are necessary.
- Experience with collections management system software, training and experience in digitization techniques, and Microsoft Office knowledge preferred.
- Good oral and written communications and interpersonal skills.
- A positive and forward-thinking team player and problem-solver who contributes constructively to projects and discussions.
- An organized and conscientious person who pays attention to details.
- Flexible, willing to take initiative, and able to work independently. Working knowledge of museum best practices for collections care, handling and conservation for a variety of collections, including metal, wood, textiles, natural fibers, and large/composite objects.
- Ability to lift 50 pounds.
This position is a non-exempt full-time, hourly position of CBMM with an expected minimum work schedule of 40 hours per week and is eligible for 20% remote work. All staff members are expected to be available to work a flexible schedule that may include evenings and weekends.
The Collections Assistant is expected to be present for festival and special events unless otherwise arranged and may be assigned to work in a capacity alternate to that defined.
Underwater Archaeology and Maritime History jobs 