Collections Assistant

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Posting End Date

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary
This is a part-time (93%), temporary position in the Collections Care, Management and Access Department at the Museum of Anthropology. The Collections Assistant is a Collections Management training position which helps with the processing and care of the Museum's collections by following established rules and guidelines. This position assists with the Museum's accessioning process, helps maintain the collections storage and display areas, and helps provide access to the Museum's collections. This position provides support for general collections care and management duties. The Collections Assistant is a temporary position.

Organizational Status
This position reports to the Collections Manager and works closely with the Collections Care and Management Department staff.

Work Performed

This position carries out a variety of collections management tasks including:

• Assisting with all aspects of the Museum's new acquisitions processing, including wrapping/freezing, numbering, digitization handling, and housing objects.
• Accessioning museum objects and entering the data into the collections database, following established rules and guidelines.
• Vacuuming/surface cleaning museum objects and their display areas.
• Assisting with installation of objects into collections storage units.
• Assisting with access requests relating to the collections from Museum staff, the general public, researchers and community groups.
• Other Collections Care & Management related duties and support, as needed.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
The Museum is a public trustee of rare and valuable collections; the Collections access assistant is responsible for the safe keeping and handling of both public and private collections. Errors could have financial, legal, ethical and other consequences for the University.

Supervision Received
The position reports to the Collections Manager. Performance is judged by results (see Consequences of Error above) and in accordance with established procedures.

Supervision Given
None.

Minimum Qualifications
High school graduation, some additional training in a related field and a minimum two years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one's own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one's own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

Education / Experience

Some post-secondary level training in museum studies, and knowledge of proper collections management processes. A degree in a relevant discipline, such as First Nations Studies or Anthropology/Museum Studies is preferred.

Skills / Knowledge

Post-secondary level English writing skills. Some knowledge of relevant professional standards for collections management, object handling, and preventative conservation is preferred; knowledge of the Museum of Anthropology's collections and processes is desirable.