Museum Curator

Placer County is comprised of over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, westward through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill, and Colfax, and to the County's jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. Placer is a great place to live, work, play and learn. For more information about Placer County, please visit www.visitplacer.com.

The Museums Division is hiring a Museum Curator - Archives. The Museums Division provides exhibits and educational programs such as living history, community heritage education programs, and special events for Placer County residents and visitors. Staff and volunteers process and preserve historic artifacts and documents by keeping them in a controlled environment and implement protective measures to ensure that the physical evidence of our history will be available for future generations. To learn more about the Museums Division click here.

The Curator of Archives:

• Is responsible for the preservation of documents, books, ledgers, photographs, negatives and ephemera in the Placer County Museums Collection. 
• Is responsible for assisting staff, other County personnel and the public with research requests and to serve as a member of the Exhibit Team. 
• Manages approximately 20 volunteers who assist with research requests, indexing, scanning images, data entry and inventory. 
• Works closely with the Curator of Collections to ensure the overall health of the facility and our Past Perfect database.

The Auburn Historic Courthouse where one of our lovely Placer County Museums is housed!

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. To learn more click here.

To perform professional museum duties in caring for and interpreting objects belonging to or lent to the County museums; and to oversee and administer specific museum project and program areas as assigned.

This is the journey level in the Museum Curator series. Incumbents initially perform the more routine duties assigned to positions in this series and work under close supervision.  However, as experience is gained, incumbents are expected to perform the full range of duties as assigned with increasing independence.

Receives direction from department management and supervisory staff.

Exercises technical and functional supervision over technical and clerical staff and volunteers.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Care for and interpret items belonging to or on loan to the museums; research collections owned by or lent to the museums.
• Disseminate information to the public; prepare and evaluate exhibitions. 
• Assist with community education and school education programs.
• Prepare educational materials and publicity for exhibits and programs.
• Assist with budget preparation in assigned program areas; monitor revenue and expenditures; assist with recruiting, training, evaluating and overseeing volunteer staff; maintain appropriate records; assist in the maintenance and daily operation of the museums. 
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Administer the professional archives management program, including conservation and preservation of historic books, documents, photos and ephemera.
• Assist public with research.
• Determine records and documents that are appropriate for retention in the Archives.
• Administer processing and accessioning procedures.
• Conduct research, analyze information and write reports for a variety of uses and develop historical context for volunteer training and presentations.
• Train and supervise docents and volunteers in Placer County history, research methods, archival procedures and conservation and preservation techniques.
• Assign and monitor volunteers’ projects in the Archives.
• Prepare for and conduct oral histories.
• Serve as a member of the Exhibit Team.
• Perform related duties as assigned.
  

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Experience: Two years experience in archives, collections, education, cultural resources or performing general museum duties.

Training: Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in history, art, anthropology, the humanities or a related field.

License or Certificate:
May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

NOTE: Applicants receiving their degree outside the United States must submit proof of accreditation by a recognized evaluation agency.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of professional museum work as it applies to archives, collections, education and cultural resources.
• Methods of interpretation relating to museum artifacts, exhibits and educational programs.
• Museum exhibit design.
• General principles of education. 
• Public relations and fiscal management.
• Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.
• Principles and practices of work safety.
• English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Arithmetic and mathematical calculations.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; intermittently analyze work papers, reports and special projects; identify and interpret technical and numerical information; observe and problem solve operational and technical policy and procedures.
• On a continuous basis sit at a desk for long periods of time; intermittently twist to reach equipment surrounding desk; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use telephone and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means.  Intermittently walk, stand, bend or climb while cataloging, conducting tours, assisting with exhibit installation or working in the field; and lift very heavy weight.
• Independently perform professional museum duties of interpretation, collection research, exhibition planning, collection cataloging and care and public education.
• Independently monitor budgets and oversee volunteer staff activities. 
• Use various graphic arts techniques.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Use a computer, calculator, typewriter, telephone, facsimile machine and photocopy machine.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula.  Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S.  For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a voice stress analysis and/or a polygraph) and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications, and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

The eligible list(s) resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification.  For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please click here.

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment, discrimination and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, physical disability (Including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.

The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change.  It is advisable that applicants inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view benefits for General bargaining unit