Employment

Outreach and Operations Coordinator - AMENDED

Job Title: Outreach and Operations Coordinator

Position Level: Permanent – Full-time

Hours of Work: 35 hours/week; 9:00am to 4:30pm Tuesday-Saturday
Salary: $41,860 – $47,320/ year
Benefits: Extended health benefits including dental*
Application Deadline: July 25th, 2026

*Extended benefits take effect following requisite 3-month probationary period.

Position Overview

The Sidney Museum and Archives is a community museum that interprets the history of Sidney and the Saanich Peninsula, and is operated by the Sidney Museum and Archives Society, a not-for-profit organization. The museum features two galleries focusing on the history of Sidney and North Saanich, as well as featured local and national exhibitions. The museum boasts an active volunteer group that assists in a variety of important tasks, including collections management, public programs, archives, and exhibits. Sidney Museum and Archives attracts thousands of visitors each year, and the extensive archives department preserves records and provides research and information about the local area to the public. The Museum operates with three full-time staff members in addition to temporary seasonal staff.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Outreach and Operations Coordinator is responsible for promotion and publicity of the Museum, including social media marketing and newsletter production as well as planning and delivery of outreach programming. Another key area of responsibility of the Outreach and Operations Coordinator is the development and coordination of the organization’s volunteer program. Moreover, this position will provide ample opportunity for emerging museum professionals to develop museological skills related to exhibit development & design, collections management, and research & interpretation. This permanent full-time position is scheduled Tuesday – Saturday, though given the small team schedules may shift to accommodate special events, seasonal high attendance periods, staff holidays etc. Occasional evening work will be required for events. This position is ideal for a well-organized person who demonstrates initiative and enjoys meeting and working with the public. Previous museum or education experience will be considered an asset.

Tasks and Responsibilities

  • Coordinate Museum marketing and publicity efforts, including preparation of newsletters, local media communications, and social media management. 
  • Support the Museum’s public outreach initiatives, including representing the Museum at assigned community events and/or committees.
  • Supervise day-to-day volunteer work,  and provide guidance and direction to temporary staff where required.
  • Coordination of museum operational tasks including administrative assistance, front desk operations, and gift shop management.
  • Work closely with volunteers and maintain a strong and positive team relationship.
  • Coordinate ongoing collections management tasks, including acquisition, processing, safe handling and storage. Additionally, identify, recommend, and process outgoing deaccessioned objects to external destinations. 
  • Support ongoing curatorial efforts through research assistance and participation in ongoing permanent exhibition revitalization work, temporary display development, and featured exhibition planning and development including the selection of exhibition themes and designs, and development and installation of exhibit materials.
  • Participates in strategic planning for assigned areas and assists the Executive Director in developing and implementing the overall strategic plan.
  • In the absence of the Executive Director and Assistant Director, this position would be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the museum, including opening and closing. 
  • Establish performance goals and measures to evaluate success of assigned areas of responsibility, and provide regular progress reports to the Executive Director.
  • Participate in formulating and implementing policies and procedures.
  • Ensure a positive, welcoming experience when interacting with members of the public.
  • Attend board meetings when required and/or relevant committee meetings.
  • Performs other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

Full Operational Accountabilities Document

Qualifications, Knowledge and Skills

An undergraduate degree is preferred, however an equivalent combination of education and training will be considered. Preference will be given to candidates with previous experience working in history, public history, archaeology, anthropology, or a related field and/or museum setting. 

In addition, the following competencies will be considered an asset:

  • A postgraduate degree in history, anthropology, museum studies, library & information science, or a related academic field. 
  • Excellent written and communication skills. In particular, proficiency in conducting historical research, developing historical interpretation, and delivering education or community-oriented programming. 
  • Proficiency in taking initiative, setting goals, and working to support the needs of a small team. 
  • Comfortable in a public speaking or presentation format.
  • Familiarity with Social Media platforms, bulk email programs, and digital graphic design. 
  • Demonstrable abilities in time management, organization, attention to detail, and problem solving. 
  • The ability to work independently as part of a team & with people of all ages, identities, and backgrounds.
  • Proficiency using Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, Canva, CatalogIt (or similar Museum collections management software).
  • Familiarity with museum standards and best practices including collection management, exhibit design, and interpretive content development.

Required Licensure and Certification

  • Criminal Record Check – Vulnerable Populations
  • Valid Class 5 BC Driver’s License or equivalent.

Please note: Applicants are encouraged to self-identify as members of the Government of Canada’s job equity groups or as a member of a group otherwise traditionally underrepresented in the GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, Museum) sector. SMA is committed to minimizing barriers to working in the heritage sector and making accommodations as needed to ensure the rich diversity of the sector. 

This role is considered a position of trust, and the successful candidate will be required to have a police information check as a condition of employment (not required as part of the application process).

Please submit a cover letter and resume as one PDF document to employment@sidneymuseum.ca by July 25th, 2026. We appreciate all applications, however, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Curatorial and Archives Intern

Hours of Work: 35 hours/week; 9:00am to 4:30pm – may include weekends
Hourly Wage: $20.40
Placement Term: October 4, 2026 – March 28, 2027 (funding dependent)
Application Deadline: September 13, 2026

Position Overview

Located in Sidney, B.C. the Sidney Museum and Archives (SMA) is a local historical museum and archives that preserves objects and records of significance to the people of Sidney and the Saanich Peninsula more broadly. The Museum hosts an annual cycle of both travelling and internally-developed exhibitions in addition to offering special events, workshops, and other programming activities open to the public. The SMA is in the midst of a transition period with a new and motivated staff team and ongoing projects working towards the implementation of a new collections management database, updating records of museum and archives collection inventories, and revitalizing permanent historical displays. This creates an excellent and exciting opportunity for aspiring or emerging museum and archival professionals to gain experience in a museum and archives with a half-century old collection.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Reporting to both the Executive Director and the Archives Manager, the Curatorial and Archives Intern will be expected to complete a number of diverse projects both in the Museum as well as the Archives, in addition to contributing to the regular daily tasks of the SMA’s operations. The Intern will undertake significant curatorial work, contributing both to SMA’s permanent galleries as well as its feature and other temporary exhibitions. The Intern will take point on planning and redeveloping a display in the museum’s permanent gallery, developing and installing multiple pop-up displays in collaboration with community groups, and contributing to the development and installation of feature exhibitions. In addition to this curatorial work, the Curatorial and Archives Intern will engage in collections management work in the course of improving the accuracy and organization of SMA’s digital collections database, including object photography tasks and research and writing of object descriptions. There will be additional opportunities for the Curatorial and Archives Intern to contribute to the development and execution of public programs.

In the Archives Department, the Curatorial and Archives Intern will undertake a number of projects related to increasing accessibility to the collections. The Intern will be instrumental in developing RAD-compliant archival descriptions of a major photographic fonds dating from 1940-2010. Significant experience will also be gained in appraisal, processing, describing, housing, and developing finding aids for new and backlogged acquisitions to the collection. The Curatorial and Archives Intern will additionally gain experience in archival preventive conservation through preparing and implementing a transfer of materials to permanent cold storage. Opportunities to contribute to outreach initiatives will also be available to the Intern. In addition to these projects, the Curatorial and Archives Intern will assist the Archives Manager in all operational tasks of the Archives, including responding to research requests and facilitating researchers in the research room.

 

Qualifications, Knowledge and Skills

The ideal candidate for the Curatorial and Archives Intern role with the SMA will possess a thorough attention to detail and well-honed organizational and research skills. As the planned projects for the role will involve significant curatorial development work such as the research and development of written interpretive materials, the ideal candidate will have strong English writing abilities and possess experience conducting and compiling historical research. The ideal candidate should also have a keen interest in history and possess the ability to efficiently and accurately understand and interpret historical information given the demands of their archival work. The ability to navigate new software efficiently and effectively is essential as is a high attention to detail and organization.

The candidate must be a graduate from a post-secondary accredited program of study, preferably in the field of Museum Studies, History, Anthropology, Archaeology, Art History, or Cultural Resource Management, Archival Studies, Library Information Studies, or a related field. Graduates from other programs of study will be considered depending on the candidate’s relevant professional and lived experience.

Existing familiarity with archives and museum standards and best practices including collections management, Rules for Archival Description, exhibit design, and interpretive content development will be considered an asset. The ability to work both independently and as a member of a team will be essential, as well as having the ability to work with individuals of diverse ages, identities, and backgrounds.

Please note: Applicants are encouraged to self-identify as members of the Government of Canada’s job equity groups or as a member of a group otherwise traditionally underrepresented in the GLAM sector; priority will be given to such candidates in the selection process. SMA is committed to minimizing barriers to working in the heritage sector and making accommodations as needed to ensure the rich diversity of the sector.

Eligibility Criteria

As this is a position funded by the Young Canada Works at Building Careers in Heritage (YCWBCH) program, only applicants who meet the below eligibility criteria will be considered:

  • Are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, or have refugee status in Canada (non-Canadians holding temporary work visas or awaiting permanent resident status are not eligible);
  • Are legally entitled to work in Canada (have a valid social insurance number);
  • Are between 16 and 30 years of age inclusively at the start of employment; and
  • Are a college or university graduate (certificate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate).

Note: Priority will be given to graduates that have not previously participated in YCW internship programs and that are unemployed or underemployed.

This position is considered a position of trust, and the successful candidate will be required to have a police information check as a condition of employment (Not required as part of the application process).

Please submit a cover letter and resume (in PDF format) to employment@sidneymuseum.ca by the application closing date. We appreciate all applications, however, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

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