The MIT Museum (MITM) reopened to the public in October 2022 in a new location in Kendall Square. It is now in the final phase of development which involves relocating the entire collection to a new off-site facility. For the period August 2023 through June 2024, the collections assistant will aid in the handling, inventory, and packing of the museum’s extensive 2D collections (esp. the large maritime plans, architectural drawings, maps, prints and photographs.).

The MIT Museum embraces the Institute’s broad mandate to maximize public access to knowledge and to make research and innovation accessible to all. To aid this effort, the Museum seeks a Collections Assistant with specialized skills in the packing and moving of museum collections, most especially the handling of paper-based and other 2D materials.

The Collections Assistant must be knowledgeable of accepted museum standards, able to work with conventional collections information management systems, and demonstrate an interest in the long-term care and preservation of a broad range of diverse objects and materials. The Collections Assistant is a member of the Collections Team and reports to the Collections Manager.


Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Under the direction of the Collections Manager and using accepted museum standards, provides support to the collections management team by completing work associated with object handling and preparation for upcoming collection moves.
  
• Re-house, pack, box, crate, secure, and unpack artifacts using approved methods and materials.
  
• Provides safe transport of objects and other collections materials to and from storage, workstations and other museum areas.
  
• Use the museum’s collections information management system and other technologies to track and record object locations throughout the packing process as instructed.
• Develops custom packing containers for 2D materials, creates custom boxes, mounts, pallets or other supports for artifacts.
• Assists with inventory and photography as needed.
  
• Assist with light cleaning of objects.
  
• Assists with loading and unloading of trucks during scheduled shipments.
  
• Provide ongoing support in general maintenance and organization of the packing work areas, tools and machinery, as well as regularly reviewing environmental monitoring sensors and data.
  
• Helps supervise temporary packers and train collections staff in packing/building techniques as needed.
  
• Participates in Collections Team and Museum-wide meetings, training sessions, and projects as required.
  
• Performs other collections related duties as required.
  

Supervision Received
This position reports to the Collections Manager.

Supervision Exercised
The Collections Assistant may be deputized by the Collections Manager to lead a team of interns, volunteers, or contractors, while working on a specific task.


Experience/Skills Required

• Minimum 2 years of experience as preparator or in a similar position in a museum, gallery or arts organization that handles paper and photography artifacts.
  
• Knowledge of museum standards and best practices in the care, safe handling, packing, and crating of 2-D and 3-D artifacts.
  
• Experience handling and packing 2-D and 3-D artifacts.
  
• Basic skills in woodworking relating to crate and custom pallet fabrication.
  
• Knowledge of archival materials and fine art packing techniques including proficiency in custom box-making, soft-packing and cavity packs.
  
• Experience with shop equipment, power and manual woodworking tools, scissor lift, forklift, and other specialized warehouse equipment.
  
• Basic computer skills and experience using museum and/or collections databases.
• Must be able to climb ladders (of at least 10 feet or more) with the ability to lift, push, pull, and support heavy objects, oversize drawings and plans, crates, and other items up to 70 pounds in weight.
  
• Valid MA license.
  
• Excellent interpersonal skills. A positive and collegial work ethic, and the ability to work collaboratively within the Collections Team and the Museum staff as a whole.
  

Preferred Experience

• Experience handling, foldering, and moving works on paper, especially oversize plans and drawings, as well as photographs and paintings.
  
• Experience with matting and framing of works on paper.
  
• Familiarity with cameras, photography, and image editing software such as Photoshop and Lightroom.
  
• Familiarity with the MimsyXG collections information management system and database.
  
  

To apply, visit the MIT Human Resources Site. This role is a pay scale 5.