Collections Move Technician - Exhibit Preparation
About The Position
The Milwaukee Public Museum (MPM) is seeking two temporary, part-time Collections Move Technicians to support the museum’s goal of moving its 4 million object collection to a new building. The technicians will operate within all the museum’s collections and research departments, with focused work on objects being prepared for permanent display. Initial work will focus on deinstalling current exhibits at MPM. Other duties may include packing and unpacking objects for permanent display. In addition to these tasks, future projects may include work with the museum’s preventive conservation needs, storage or shipping mounts, or other activities that directly support the organization and care of the museum’s collections while they transition to a new facility. The Technicians will also aid contractors, conservators, and preparators with their work as required. The vast majority of the work will be done onsite at MPM; however some work may be done at an offsite storage location or at the site of the new museum. This position will require consistent standing, bending, and lifting throughout the day and tasks that require repetitive movements for long periods of time. The schedule for the position is Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 – 3:30, and the position will run for approximately 1 year with the possibility for extension.
Requirements
- Undergraduate or graduate degree in Museum Studies or a related field (complete or in-progress), along with past experience with museum collections. A documented history of collections experience may be substituted for a formal degree.
- Comfortable undertaking fine dexterity work and handling delicate materials
- Ability to complete repetitive tasks consistently, while maintaining accuracy, safety, and integrity
- Detail oriented, with strong problem-solving skills
- Ability to wear PPE appropriate to the tasks assigned
- Strongly developed 3D-spatial reasoning skills
- Capable of working independently and as part of a team
- The ability to use a ladder, and spend much of the day standing, bending, and lifting
- Familiarity with Microsoft products, with specific experience in Excel
- Proficient typing skills
Nice To Haves
- Experience writing condition reports and undertaking object photography is preferred.
Responsibilities
- Safely handle and manipulate museum objects
- Remove dust, grime, and otherwise lightly clean objects under supervision from the museum’s conservator
- Photograph all objects before and after qualifying treatment.
- Assist contractors, conservators, preparators, and other staff with various exhibit projects
- Read and transcribe identifying numbers from object labels, catalog books, and catalog cards
- Swiftly generate digital records from transcribed data into a spreadsheet
- Create, tie, and attach barcodes to museum objects
- Critically assess object stability and material makeup, pre-packing
- Pack and unpack various types of objects safely and securely
- Fabricate basic packing supports out of archival materials
- Construct crates and other large scale packing material
- Perform basic operations within the museum’s collections database, EMu
- Other move-related collections duties as assigned
Benefits
- Dental and Vision Insurance
- Paid Time Off Package
- 401(k) Retirement Plan with Employer Match
- Free Museum Membership
- Museum Shop, Food, & Beverage Discounts
- Parking Subsidy/Discounted Bus Pass
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Associate degree
