Collections Assistant
The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21

Location: Halifax, NS
Compensation: $43,035 - $52,599

The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 is Canada's sixth national museum. Our mission is to share the ongoing story of immigration to Canada-past to present and coast to coast to coast. The Museum is located in the Pier 21 national historic site at the Halifax seaport where nearly one million immigrants landed in Canada from 1928 to 1971.

Our purpose is to explore the theme of immigration to Canada in order to enhance public understanding of the experiences of immigrants as they arrived in Canada, of the vital role immigration has played in the building of Canada and of the contributions of immigrants to Canada's culture, economy and way of life.

Description and Duties    

We are looking for a Collections Assistant to join our team at the Museum. This is a full time role and is a contract position for 12 months.

Reporting to the Manager of Collections and Digital Preservation and working closely with the Registrar, the Collections Assistant supports the review and assessment of select Collection assets and general Collections care and management. The person in this position will work with artifacts and archival materials, as well as born-digital and digitized archival media.  

Principal Accountabilities

• Conduct research as required to provide historical context for Collection assets;
• Select excerpts for identified written story account assets;
• Process deaccessioned assets according to policy and procedures;
• Review select Collection assets and assess for relevance to mandate;
• Compare and reconcile data between existing inventories, databases, and collections management records;
• Enter data and assist in maintaining the Collection management system database;
• File cataloging records, both electronic and hard copies, associated research reports, acquisition papers, and any other relevant documentation;
• Organize, rename, and resize intangible acquisitions;
• Conduct file cleaning and format migration where required;
• Accession and catalogue new acquisitions to Museum standards;
• Assist in updating and organizing the records of offers of donation;
• Prepare and submit monthly progress reports;
• Inform the Manager of Collections and Digital Preservation of any concerns or risks related to the Collection;
• Other tasks as assigned.

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

• Combination of work in an office environment as well as within collection storage and museum spaces. Work will be performed in both individual and team environments.  
• Requires lifting and moving objects from 20 to 50 pounds. Must be able to safely climb inclines, negotiate uneven surfaces, stairs and ladders.
• Occasional use of hand tools and basic power tools may be required.

Education, Knowledge & Experience

Skills and Qualifications - Required

• Bachelor's degree in related field or diploma in Museum Studies, Library Studies, Archival Studies, Records Management, or equivalent experience;
• Minimum one-year experience working with digital and physical collections in a museum or archival environment with a demonstrated understanding of archival theory and best practices;
• Demonstrated research skills, including the ability to locate, evaluate, analyze, and synthesize information from diverse sources;
• Established experience with collection management systems (databases);
• Strong attention to detail and excellent organizational skills: ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and meet deadlines;
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion in the handling of confidential matters;  
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment.
• Current knowledge of Canadian copyright laws and donor restriction/permission issues related to processing digitized and born-digital material;
• The ability to communicate effectively in both official languages is an asset.

Competencies

• Customer Focus - knowledge and ability to provide high levels of service to both internal and external customers, leading to high customer satisfaction and established relationships.
• Communication -ability to present and receive information in the most appropriate manner.
• Problem Solving - ability to generate solutions to problems and recommend a course of action.
• Adaptability - knowledge and ability to effectively manage ones' own behaviour and positively influence the actions of others during times of change, stress or uncertainty.
• Integrity and Trust - ability to operate with a high degree of honesty and openness such that respect and trust is earned by coworkers and visitors.

Application information

How to Apply: If you are interested in this opportunity, please send a resume and cover letter to Sarah Little, Manager of Collections and Digital Preservation, at slittle@pier21.ca.

Application Deadline: Competition closes at 5pm AST on March 31, 2023.