Forager Foundation is Looking for Museum Assistant Full Time

Are you looking for an exciting role where you will have a direct impact on the evolution of a Provincial Heritage Site? Are you interested in spending your summer in a beautiful rural setting and spending your days welcoming visitors to one of BC’s hidden gems? Then Forager Foundation has the perfect opportunity for you!

Tucked away along the Trans-Canada Highway is the Yale Historic Site, an open-air museum with over 40 years of being open to the public. Now that Forager Foundation has taken over management of the Site, we are looking for a forward-thinking professional to join us for the summer season to help guide our stewardship of this Site into the future.

The Museum Assistant will work directly with the Acting Director of Heritage on-site for the entire run of this contract and will be responsible for helping welcome visitors, assessing the current state of the museum’s collection, and working on recommendations for how the site can develop.

Successful candidates will have experience in the heritage sector (work or academic experience) and a keen interest in preserving and promoting heritage. If you are a passionate heritage professional that is looking for more on-the-ground experience in how heritage sites are run, we are looking for you!

Responsibilities

• Providing assistance and information for visitors and assisting with the use of equipment such as self-guided tours
• Maintaining a high degree of customer service to provide an excellent experience for all visitors
• Communicating with customers over the phone and through social media
• Assisting in ensuring the security of the museum, its collections, fixtures and fittings, and team by supervising visitors as appropriate
• Opening and closing the building on occasions
• Assisting in the operation of the reception and gift shop, including retail sales, stock management, and cash handling
• Supporting events programming by helping to plan and deliver events and activities
• Setting up and taking down stands, equipment and exhibitions; moving furniture and exhibits when needed
• Cleaning exhibits and displays, and tidying the property including toilets
• Coordinating heritage programming with other museum assistants
• Coordinating with other team members in marketing, grant applications, education, and graphic design as needed

Requirements

• Excellent communication skills in English, including the ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• Demonstrable experience in the heritage sector (or ability to show a strong capacity for learning new skills)
• Customer care skills
• ICT skills (including Microsoft Word, Excel, email, and Internet)
• Flexibility and good team working skills
• Manual handling skills and ability to lift/carry reasonable loads and to stand/walk for long periods
• Willingness and ability to learn and gain new skills
• Ability to work accurately and with limited supervision
• Commitment to equality and diversity
• Commitment to health and safety
• Commitment to accomplishing corporate and public deadlines

This is a 5-month contract with a standard 35-hour week (Wed-Sun) and is based on-site at the Yale Historic Site for the entire contract. Forager Foundation is an equal opportunity organization and we strongly encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds, including Indigenous candidates. Our founder is an anthropologist by training, and our organizational culture reflects multiculturalism and an acceptance of all walks of life.

Job Types: Full-time, Contract
Contract length: 5 months

Salary: $20.00-$25.00 per hour

Flexible Language Requirement:

• French not required

Supplemental pay types:

• Overtime pay

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Yale, BC V0K 2S0: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Education:

• Secondary School (preferred)

Experience:

• Heritage Sector: 1 year (preferred)

Language:

• English (required)

Application deadline: 2023-04-28
Expected start date: 2023-05-01