Whitney Pier Historical Museum

Seasonal

Weekdays

Description

Student Curator / WHITNEY PIER HISTORICAL MUSEUM

88 MOUNT PLEASANT STREET, SYDNEY, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA,  B1N 2G1

Summer Student Position

**Eligible only currently enrolled full-time in a post-secondary institution

Position Title: Student Curator

Reports to: Museum Manager

Work Term: May 26-August 29 2025, 14 weeks

Employment Type: Seasonal

Review Period: End of Work Term

Revised: April 2025

Background:

The Whitney Pier Historical Society owns and operates a museum in the Pier

neighbourhood of Sydney. The Society curates, researches and celebrates the

cultural, visible and ethnic diversity of the people, historically and currently, who

contribute to our understanding of our community through artifacts, writings and

engagement. Our purpose is to enrich our community by providing meaningful

experiences that build connection, community, memory, knowledge,

understanding and pride in our community.

Wages: $17.50 per hour plus 4% vacation pay

Hours: 35 hours a week with one hour unpaid lunch break each day. The

Museum operates 5 days a week, Monday-Friday.

The Student Curator will assist with the day-to-day operations of the museum,

assisting volunteers and visitors. The Student Curator will be responsible for

carrying out tasks associated with the care and management of the museum’s

artifact and archival collections. The Student Curator will accession artifacts and

work to maintain and update the Society’s collections management database,

CollectiveAccess. They will report directly to the Museum Manager. They will

greet and interpret the collection for visitors providing excellent customer service.

They will update and engage on social media.

All training is provided. Supervision and support will be provided during the initial

training period and throughout the work term.

Qualifications, Essential Experience & Skills

• Excellent customer service and communication skills
• Experienced and comfortable with technology
• English essential

Education

• Must be currently enrolled full-time in a post-secondary institution

Abilities & Personal Suitability

• Oral and written communication
• Time management
• Initiative
• Reliability and dependability
• Adaptability
• Positive and professional attitude

Duties & Accountabilities

• Collections database records are edited for clarity, language and accuracy
• Artifact photography is conducted using the appropriate tools and method
• Artifacts are inventoried and catalogued according to the museum’s policies
• Duties associated with vetting, accessioning and deaccessioning of artifacts are carried out under the guidance of the Museum Manager.
• Regular housekeeping duties are completed to ensure museum site and collections are well-maintained
• Exhibits and displays are examined for signs of damage or deterioration and reported to the Museum Manager.

Day-to-day operations

• Visitor experience duties performed as required
• Conduct daily opening and closing operations of the museum
• Develop a well-rounded knowledge of the museum
• Assume additional duties as requested

Location Information

Community

Sydney

County

Cape Breton Regional Municipality

Province

Nova Scotia

Country

Canada

Opportunity Information

Employer

Whitney Pier Historical Museum

NOC Code

—

Experience Required

An Asset

Available Openings

1

Pay Type

Hourly

Pay Period

To be Determined

Remuneration Per Pay Period

Estimated Weekly Hours

—

Start Date

May 26th 2025

End Date

August 29th 2025

Language

English

Language Proficiency Level

Posted on

May 2nd 2025

Expires

May 9th 2025