Job Details
Level
Experienced
Job Location
Senator John Heinz History Center - Pittsburgh, PA
Position Type
Full Time
Description
About the Senator John Heinz History Center
The Senator John Heinz History Center is a Smithsonian-affiliated museum and a first-day Pittsburgh attraction that presents compelling stories from American history with a Western Pennsylvania connection, all in an interactive and engaging environment for visitors of all ages. The largest history museum in Pennsylvania, the AAM-accredited History Center attracts large and diverse audiences to its 370,000-square-foot facility in Pittsburgh's historic Strip District that includes six floors of long-term and changing exhibition space along with spectacular spaces for special events.
The History Center's family of museums includes the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, a dynamic museum-within-a-museum; the Fort Pitt Museum in Point State Park; and Meadowcroft Rockshelter & Historic Village, a National Historic Landmark located in Avella, Washington County, Pa. The History Center also leads a partnership of more than 125 regional historical societies, museums, and organizations dedicated to preserving local history - the History Center Affiliates Program.
A popular destination for families and visitors to our region, the History Center attracts more than 250,000 visitors annually and reaches millions through virtual programs and digital outreach. The History Center was recently recognized as America's #2 History Museum by USA TODAY and "Pittsburgh's Best Museum" by Pittsburgh Magazine.
Position Description
The Heinz History Center, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and the largest history museum in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is seeking a Project Coordinator to perform a variety of tasks related to the October 27 Collections held by the Rauh Jewish Archives.
The October 27 Project Coordinator is responsible for digitizing and cataloging artifacts and archival materials according to a pre-existing metadata scheme; conducting research about objects within the collection to expand contextual knowledge; working with community partners to understand the significance and relevance of objects within the collection; working with individuals and organizations who wish to use materials from the collection; and helping to expand existing institutional policy for managing the collection. The October 27 Project Coorfinator may also index oral histories using the OHMS/Aviary platform, crawl websites using Archive-It, and upload materials to an existing Islandora website using a custom Python script.
This is a full-time (temporary), salaried/non-exempt position reporting to the Director, Rauh Jewish Archives and taking occasional direction from the Collections Manager.
Project Description
The Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center was established Nov. 1, 1988, as a central repository for materials documenting the Jewish experience in Western Pennsylvania. The archive currently holds more than 1,500 collections documenting many expressions of Jewish identity and is still actively collecting. The Rauh Jewish Archives is a public-facing communal institution, operating two public history websites, publishing a weekly newsletter, participating in dozens of public programs each year, answering hundreds of reference requests annually, and working with many Jewish and non-Jewish partners on initiatives of regional significance.
Over the past five years, the Rauh Jewish Archives has assembled a large collection of materials documenting the local and global response to the synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh on October 27, 2018. The Rauh Jewish Archives launched the October 27 Archive website https://october27archive.org/ in January 2023 as the public face of this collection and is beginning to open the collection for public access and use. The October 27 Collections are intricately interconnected with the existing repository of materials documenting the impacted community for more than 150 years before the shooting, including collections from all three congregations directly impacted by the attack as well as many of the responding communal organizations.
All aspects of the October 27 collecting initiative have attempted to be a victim-centered, trauma-informed, and deeply responsive to the impacted community, while also meeting high standards of archival care. The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the organizational skills required to manage large amounts of complex metadata, while also demonstrating the maturity to gracefully navigate emotionally complex encounters with people and objects.
Qualifications

• Master's degree in library and information science, Public History, History, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least three (3) years of experience in library/archival/museum work.
• Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize multiple tasks simultaneously.
• High attention to detail and good record-keeping ability.
• Comfort using and troubleshooting new technologies.
• Experience handling archival materials and artifacts.
• Experience with digital photography.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Willingness to follow institutional practices and policies.
• Proficiency conducting online and person-to-person research about objects.
• Valid driver's license.

Technologies utilized in project
The successful candidate will be comfortable using the following technology.

• Custom Islandora website with Python script
• Microsoft Excel
• Archive-It
• OHMS/Aviary
• ArchivesSpace
• Adobe Photoshop
• VueScan

Subission of a cover letter is required to be considered for this position.
The successful candidate will be required to prove that they have received the COVID-19 vaccine or have a valid religious or medical reason not to be vaccinated.
Why Work at the History Center?

• Rewarding, mission-driven work that makes an impact in the community!
• Smithsonian affiliated museum located in Pittsburgh's historic Strip District
• Voted the #1 history museum in the nation by the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice poll - February 2024.
• Voted the Best Museum in Pittsburgh by Pittsburgh Magazine's Reader Poll 2022 & 2023
• Flexible work schedule
• Full benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 403(B) retirement plans
• Paid time off
• Nine (9) paid holidays
• Company paid life insurance / LTD
• Discounts in the Museum Shop and Cafe

The History Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The History Center celebrates diversity and is committed to treating all applicants & employees fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other classification protected by law.