Collections Assistant

About Weeksville Heritage Center

Weeksville Heritage Center (WHC) is a historic site and cultural center in Central Brooklyn that uses education, arts, and a social justice lens to preserve, document and inspire engagement with the history of Weeksville, one of the largest free Black communities in pre-Civil War America, and the Historic Hunterfly Road Houses. Founded in 1838, Weeksville was the second largest of approximately 100 independent African-American communities established before the Civil War.

When a group of community activists rediscovered three remaining original homes 1968, they purchased, rehabilitated, and restored the Hunterfly Road Houses, re-opening their doors as the Weeksville Heritage Center in 1973. In 2014, WHC opened its new Cultural Arts and Education Center and campus, including a visual arts gallery, performance space, resource center, and administrative offices. WHC is now poised for a bright new era, with the resources and vision in place to fully activate our history and expand our education, preservation, and public programming.

Recently announced as New York City’s newest Cultural Institutions Group (CIG) member, the first since 1998, WHC is one of New York City’s cultural treasures, dedicated to preserving and celebrating the story of the 19th century African-American community of Weeksville, a nationally significant, exceptionally well-documented and rare extant example of an independent African-American community organized by Black entrepreneurs and land investors to promote economic, social, and political rights.

The Opportunity

Weeksville Heritage Center is seeking a part-time Collections Assistant, with a focus on data management, to support the initiatives of the Collections department. This is an ideal opportunity for a rising museum professional with a specialty in digital platforms who is passionate about increasing access to historical collections. The Collections Data Assistant will expand and enhance the CatalogIt collections management system through data ingestion and a sustained inventory project and will provide overall support to the Collections Department. This role is part of the Collections Department and reports to the Collections Manager.

Primary Responsibilities

  • Creates and maintains records in the CatalogIt collections management system (CMS)
  • Assesses born-digital files for migration to CMS while reducing redundancy and streamlining folder structure on the Organization’s shared drive 
  • Co-executes collections inventory process and ongoing assessment 
  • Keeps current with/oversees all required database upgrades and executes staff/user training 
  • Implements a standardized method for data entry and controlled vocabularies
  • Assists in planning for the long-term storage, organization, and preservation of digital assets including time-based media

As Needed

  • Implements emergency protective measures and maintenance of storage and gallery spaces 
  • Collaborates with the Collections Manager to develop, update, and review Collections procedures, workflows, and standards 
  • Assists with coordinating the shipping or receiving of collection or loaned objects
  • Responds to collection inquiries from staff, scholars, or the general public
  • Guides interns
  • Other duties as assigned

Required Skills, Knowledge, and Qualifications

  • 2+ years of relevant experience 
  • Master’s degree in museum studies, library & information science, archival studies, history, digital humanities, or a closely related field 
  • Experience working with archival and/or museum collections creating descriptive records for archival collections 
  • Skilled in processing, cataloging, and digitizing collections 
  • Ability to appropriately handle fragile and sensitive objects 
  • Knowledge of metadata standards used in digital collections is a plus 
  • Demonstrated photographic experience as a plus 
  • Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills; ability to work within a team and self-manage sustained projects 
  • Preferred candidates will display a commitment to serving the needs of diverse community stakeholders, as well as curatorial insight as to what collection holdings merit the most visibility 
  • Knowledge of African-American history and familiarity with metadata justice in cataloging is preferred

Salary

This is a part-time, non-exempt position with an annual salary of $30,000. This is a 20-hour a-week, 50-week role.

How to Apply

Submit a resume and cover letter to: inquiries@weeksvillesociety.org. Please include Collections Assistant in the subject line and include where you found this job posting in the body of your email. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Thank you for your interest in the position.

Weeksville Heritage Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All candidates for employment are considered without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, physical disability, military or veteran status, genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law.