What you will be doing:
You will support the mission of the Washington State Historical Society (WSHS) by caring for its collection utilizing best practices in the museum field. The WSHS maintains an extensive collection of artifacts, manuscripts, books, photographs, ephemera, and maps as mandated in its founding legislation. You are vital for the long-term care of the Society's collections, and their preservation for the benefit of current and future generations. In addition to physical care of the collections, you are essential for the accurate documentation of the collection and digital recordkeeping, which in turn supports public access to the collection.

Why work for the Society
At WSHS, you will join a team of talented and committed professionals who work on projects that are incredibly rewarding and invigorating. You will work collaboratively with WSHS staff across departments and support the WSHS mission through your efforts. PLUS, working for the State of Washington provides for many great benefits.

• Ability to contribute to community conversations and engage in creative pursuits
• Work/life balance
• Exposure to a diverse array of programs, traveling exhibitions, and cultural experiences
• Workplace in the museum district of downtown Tacoma
• Free parking (to include personal weekend fun)

A little about us:
Founded in 1891 and now into its second century of service, the WSHS is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and vividly presenting Washington's diverse and storied history. Our work illuminates the past, enlightens the present, and informs the future.

Our mission is to partner with our communities to explore how history connects us all. Our vision is to be the recognized destination for Washington State history. We achieve this by serving as our state's primary history educator, making history relevant to our modern lives, and supporting civic dialogue where all are welcome.

The Society serves individuals and organizations statewide through publications, outreach programs, curriculum, free virtual public programs, and other online services. However, the majority of the Society's interactions with the public occur at the Washington State History Museum, located in Tacoma, Washington. The Museum traditionally serves more than 80,000 annually, including more than 15,000 K-12 school children visiting the museum on a field trip. We also welcome more than 10,000 visitors free of charge each year through a variety of access programs.

We are much more than a regional museum. We continually ask ourselves how we can better serve Washingtonians across our state. Our Heritage Capital Projects grant program distributes up to $10M per biennium to fund public heritage, history interpretation, and historic preservation projects across the state. Our popular public history magazine COLUMBIA is enjoyed by readers of all ages. And the Historical Society’s collections at our Research Center, along with a digital collections database, are a resource for scholars and researchers from across the nation.

The Washington State Historical Society is a dynamic place to work with a dedicated staff. We expand our impact by connecting with communities across the Evergreen State through exhibitions, heritage projects, workshops, public programs, publications, and conversations. Our goal is to bring history into focus in such a way that the participant cannot help but discover valuable insights from and feel deep connections with the people and events of the past.

We have an active commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility and are looking for team members who have a passion for professionalism and serving the public, and a desire to contribute to a positive work culture.

Some of what you will enjoy doing includes:

• Document and assist with the Acquisitions Committee process for acquisitions and deaccessions utilizing best practices from the American Alliance of Museums and in preparation for reporting to the Collections Committee of the WSHS Board of Directors.
• Recommend additions and changes to complex collection management policies and procedures for museum registration and is responsible for instituting changes and interpreting and providing the collections team with the most recent guidelines from the American Alliance of Museums.
• Prepare accession documents, maintain legal accession paperwork, and assign accession numbers as set out by the American Alliance of Museums to maintain ethical and legal obligations.
• Make recommendations for museum collections materials for WSHS collections conservation, collections rehousing, and catalog records.
• Make recommendations for conservation of artwork, records, artifacts and specimens to the Head of Collections.
• Provide support for incoming and outgoing loans, insurance arrangements, and artifact transportation.
• Determine final selection of collections materials for exhibitions.
• Independently responsible for the preparation of collections materials for display, and installation and deinstallation of materials for WSHS exhibitions. This includes making recommendations based on artifact, artwork, records or specimen conditions for conservation as needed.
• Independently responsible for all registrarial duties for traveling exhibitions, including arrangement of shipping, arrangement of insurance, physically receiving exhibitions as they arrive, and leading collections and installation teams in the packing and unpacking of materials, condition reporting of loaned exhibition materials, installation and deinstallation of materials, and physical exiting of materials from the WSHS facilities utilizing best practices in the museum field.
• Conducts object research for exhibitions team and runs detailed reports for the Head of Collections and other museum departments using complex collections information system software.
• Assists with cataloging, labeling, and photography of collections items.
• Assist in a full collections review regarding cultural sensitivity.
• Rehouse materials and maintain museum standards for collections in all collections storage spaces.

Required Qualifications:
To qualify for this role, the candidate must possess one (1) of the following education and/or experience options:

[OPTION 1]

• Six years of experience managing registration and museum collections

• Bachelor’s degree in history, anthropology, art history, or related, AND two (2) years of experience managing registration and museum collections

• Up to four years of relevant education may substitute for experience

AND

• The ability to take action to learn and grow
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others

• Proper handling of objects and archival material
• Museum loans, insurance, and transportation
• Installing and de-installing museum exhibitions
• Processing paperwork for museum donations providing good customer service to donors
• Familiarity with registration and collections management best practices, including accessioning, deaccessioning, cataloging, exhibitions, loans, and location and inventory control
• Knowledge of environmental requirements for collection preservation and IPM. (Integrated Pest Management)
• Excellent organizational skills, detail oriented, self-motivated, with ability to handle multiple projects
• Excellent customer service skills with the ability to work cooperatively and effectively with others
• Ability to work independently on a variety of projects

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in museum studies
• Professional experience as collections manager or registrar

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment

• This position requires a valid WA driver’s license, to drive WSHS van to pick up/return loans

• Must pass a background check prior to employment

• A letter of interest, describing how you meet the qualifications for this position as outlined in the job posting
• A current resume, detailing experience, and education
• A current list of at least three (3) professional references with current contact information (attached or available to provide at the time of interview)

• Background Check Notice: Prior to any new appointment into the Department of Enterprise Services, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.
  
  
• Union Inclusion: This position is included in a bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).