Are you a cultural enthusiast with a knack for storytelling and a passion for bringing the arts and local history to life? The Ontario Museum of History and Art is seeking vibrant individuals dedicated to assisting in contributing to an atmosphere that sparks curiosity and engages the community in meaningful ways as a Museum Assistant. The Museum serves as a dynamic community resource, fostering education, cultural appreciation, and social connections that contribute to the overall enrichment and vitality of Ontario’s community. The Museum Assistant position performs a variety of activities and assists professional staff in various programs in one of three areas: Education, Collections or Exhibits.    
 
The ideal candidate will have exceptional communication skills and a passion for working in museums. Depending on the area of assignment, they will have the ability to handle and care for museum artifacts with precision and reverence, to lead informative and entertaining museum tours, or to collaborate with the team to design and implement captivating museum exhibitions. The successful candidate will embody the Department’s mission and vision as well as the qualities of a “Five Tool Player” – Leader, Thinker, Communicator, Operator and Public Servant – and the values of the City’s Approach to Public Service- Commitment to the Community, Excellence through Teamwork, and Doing the Right Thing the right way.  
 
The Museum Assistant position is a paid, part-time/temporary position scheduled to work no more than 29 hours per week and is not eligible to participate in the City’s health insurance or retirement plans. 

The City of Ontario reserves the right, if necessary, to accept only the first one hundred (100) applications from applicants that meet the qualification guidelines below. Completed applications will be reviewed and only qualified applicants whose qualifications best meet or exceed the requirements of the position and needs of the City, will be invited to participate further in the selection process.  

The Community Life and Culture Agency
The City of Ontario’s Community Life & Culture Agency endeavors to meet the Ontario City Council goal to “encourage, provide or support enhanced recreational, educational, cultural and healthy city programs, policies and activities.”  Community Life & Culture does this through a comprehensive array of programs, activities, services and events available through the Recreation & Community Services, Library, Museum, Arts & Culture, and Housing departments.

The City of Ontario’s Department of Museum, Arts & Culture enhances knowledge and appreciation of our Inland Empire community through dynamic, inspiring, and creative exhibits, collections stewardship, family-friendly educational programs, cultural events, and public art.  MAC reflects pride in our legacy, who we are, where we live, and who we aspire to be, as well as supports artists of all backgrounds who create experiences that are inclusive, innovative, and relevant. To learn more about the Ontario Museum of History & Art, please view the Department’s Strategic Plan here. (Download PDF reader)

The City of Ontario is a dynamic leading community in the Inland Empire with a variety of full-time and part-time employment and volunteer opportunities. Ontario is proud to have the reputation of being a progressive City, providing solid leadership to its citizens and to the business community. The City provides a full range of services to the community including; Police, Fire, Management Services, Community Life & Culture, Community Development, Economic Development, Public Works, Financial Services, Human Resources/Risk Management and the Ontario Municipal Utilities Company. The City’s team is staffed with approximately 1,517 FTE diverse and talented employees who work to support a common goal of providing excellent service to the community.

The City’s vision for the future is very exciting, and we foresee tremendous growth within the year(s) to come. We invite you to learn more about the City of Ontario by reviewing the City’s website. A few useful links are listed below, including a link to the City’s 2023 State of the City:
 
2023 State of the City (Video link)
 
Ontario Plan (The City’s Comprehensive Business Plan for Development)

Smart Ontario (Information about recent City projects)
 
Downtown Ontario (What to do in Downtown Ontario)  

Examples of Essential Functions 

The essential functions typically performed by the Museum Assistant include the following: 

Assists with exhibition research and installation, administrative, and other tasks as required. 
Sets up and arranges tables, chairs, and related equipment for educational and public programs. 
Operates audio-video equipment. 
Opens and closes the Museum according to standard operating procedures. 
Handles front desk operations such as answering phones, controlling access to the building, coordinating security guards and welcoming visitors to the Museum. 
Communicates and interacts with museum security guards to ensure a welcoming and inclusive work environment. 
When assigned to Exhibits, functions performed include: 

Assists in exhibition installation and dismantling using power and hand tools. 
Utilizes tools in a workshop environment; works on ladders and adjusts track lighting. 
Crates and uncrates artworks and exhibition components; moves and sets up exhibit furniture; paints and preps surfaces. 
Supports distribution of exhibition marketing materials, such as press release, local news listings and university outreach. 

When assigned to Collections, functions performed include:  

Installs, arranges, assembles, and prepares artifacts for exhibition, ensuring the artifacts’ safety, reporting their status and condition, and identifying and correcting any problems with the set-up.  
Performs a variety of museum collection care activities including accessioning, deaccessioning, caring for and handling objects.  
Classifies and assigns registration numbers to artifacts and supervises inventory control.  
Prepares artifacts for storage and shipping.  
Recruits, trains, and supervises volunteers to assist with routine registration tasks. 
Assists with maintaining database records. 
Ability to carry up to fifty pounds. 
Assists in the development of policies and procedures in relation to collections care. 
Assists with determining which items from collections can be used for exhibition and educational programs. 
Assists with processing loans to the museum, including intake, condition reporting, and documentation.

When assigned to Education, functions performed include:  

Leads exhibition tours for K-12 school audiences and the general public. 
Supports the development and coordination of museum public programs and tours. 
Coordinates reservations for public programs, school visits and other tours. 
Maintains an electronic database of contact information of Museum constituents and prepares ongoing communications and updates. 
Provides other administrative support, including filing, preparing correspondences, maintaining calendars, and scheduling as needed. 
Collaborates with Curator of Education in the development of exhibit gallery guides, tour training, and visitor materials. 
Participates in community outreach events and builds relationships with patrons. 
Trains part time staff on front desk duties. 
Briefs security guards on happenings at the museum on a daily basis and communicates security needs throughout the galleries. 
Prepares and distributes curriculum materials for docents and teachers.   
Assists with development of marketing materials for education programs (i.e. social media, newsletters, physical flyers) 
 

Qualification Guidelines 

Education: 

High school diploma or recognized equivalent plus completion of one year of college level coursework in U.S. or California History, Museum Studies, American Studies, Art History, or Anthropology.  Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for education.

Experience: 

One year of related work experience or volunteer work in a museum, gallery, arts, or education environment.

Licenses:

A valid Class C California driver’s license. Acceptable driving record at the time of appointment and throughout employment.

Special Requirement:

Ability to climb ladders and stairs and safely use hand and power tools.
Ability to work nights and weekends as required.

Desirable: 

Ability to read and speak Spanish. 

Supplemental InformationHow to Apply

Apply online by clicking on the “Apply” link at the top of this announcement. If this is the first time applying for a position using governmentjobs.com, you will be prompted to create a new user account; otherwise, log in with your username and password. Your application and responses to any supplemental questions will be used to evaluate your qualifications for this position. It is suggested that your application include the following:

List any relevant experience and education that demonstrates that you qualify for the position. 
List all periods of employment for at least the past 10 years, beginning with your most recent or present employer (including, if applicable, all employment with the City of Ontario). 
Separately list each position held, including different positions with the same employer.

A resume may be attached to your application but will not substitute for the proper completion of your application. Applications that are not properly completed may be rejected.

NOTE: Transcripts from colleges, universities or technical schools outside of the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. Failure to provide a transcript or credential evaluation report will result in your application being rejected and you will not be able to continue in the selection process for this position.

Apply Here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/ontario/jobs/4278627/museum-assistant-part-time?page=2&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs