REFERENCE ASSISTANT, MIT Museum (MITM)-Collections, to assume a key front-facing position supporting the collections team and its goal of making the collections accessible to all. Will serve the Museum’s maritime collections and the general reference needs across all collections. Responsibilities include responding to reference requests; identifying necessary permission forms and related agreements, securing signatures from requestors, and properly recording this information; identifying and locating relevant objects and digital assets in MITM’s databases; assisting with collection digitization; preparing materials/files for distribution; communicating with curatorial staff on complex/unusual requests; supervising and managing in-person research visits; providing support for class workshop visits; preparing materials for transfer; and performing other duties as needed.

Job Requirements

REQUIRED: high school diploma or its equivalent; excellent organizational, problem-solving, customer service, and communication skills; meticulous attention to detail; experience with/ability to learn photo editing software and museum/archival database, digital asset management, and CRM systems; and sound judgment when identifying, reporting, and/or solving problems. Must be able to manage multiple projects simultaneously; respond to incoming requests in a timely manner; develop working knowledge of technical vocabularies related to the Museum’s collecting areas, particularly maritime and boat-building topics; and work independently and as part of a team. PREFERRED: bachelor’s degree; familiarity with nautical plans or boat design and construction; familiarity with/background in the history of science and technology, history of architecture, maritime studies, and/or history; degree/certificates in museum studies, archives management, library science, or related fields; familiarity with Macintosh computers, Piction, HubSpot, MimsyXG, Photoshop, or Lightroom; ability to drive and obtain a valid MA driver’s license; and expertise/interest in becoming knowledgeable about MIT’s and the Museum’s collections. Job #23992-5
Work conditions: lifting and moving oversize plans; lifting materials weighing up to 35 lbs; carrying, handling, and climbing ladders to carry/place objects; and traversing long distances or moving from site to site
Will work from two different locations based on the location of reference documents needed for daily tasks (main museum in Kendall Square and an off-site collections facility on the MBTA Orange Line).
This one-year, renewable term position is primarily performed on-site.