Job description
General Statement of the Job & Essential Functions
GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB
Under general supervision, this position is responsible for the overall management and day-to-day administrative and professional duties for the History Division of the Museums and Tourism, to include research, documentation, interpretation and outreach, maintenance, and conservation. Reports to the Director.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Responsible for the day-to-day management and operation of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum (including the Marshall Butt Library and Archives) Lightship Portsmouth and the Portsmouth Colored Community Library Museum. Responsible for managing the museums’ collection and loaned artifacts including, but not limited to, the collecting, inventorying, accessioning, documentation and cataloging of a wide range of objects, documents, photographs and recordings.
Oversees all library and archive activities, to include the collections database program; implements the collections management policy; responsible for ensuring the safety and security of History Division facilities.
Responsible for the effective supervision and administration of the History Division budget; prepares and monitors expenditures, staff development and training, performance management, prioritizing and assigning work and related activities; also works as part of a team for exhibition and program planning and development, as well as grant writing.
Answers inquiries from researchers, and the general public; assists and supervises researchers wishing to consult museum collections and archives; prepares various reports for the History Division including reports on museum attendance.
Maintains working relationship with officials in the Department of the Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard fifth district, the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, regional museums, city departments and city officials; promotes and represents the Portsmouth museums and the city of Portsmouth through oral presentations to the public, tourism bureaus, civic and business organizations.
Provides interpretation of museum exhibits; manages cultural events, exhibit openings and other activities as required; serves as the liaison to the Naval Shipyard Museum’s non-profit foundation and may serve on various history committees and advisory boards.
Performs other duties as assigned. Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department needs.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Knowledge of Job:
Has considerable knowledge of the policies, procedures, organization and functions of the History Division of the Department of Museums and Tourism. Has considerable knowledge of the archives, exhibits, cultural events and historical artifacts held at the museum. Has considerable knowledge or experience implementing museum programming. Has general knowledge of modern office practices, procedures, and equipment. Has general knowledge of modern accounting and bookkeeping methods and policies. Has general knowledge of the principles and practices of supervision and organization. Has general knowledge of resources available from the city for the operation of the museum system. Is skilled in the operation of computer equipment. Is able to utilize computer software packages, designed for basic office needs. Is able to interpret city and museum policy and procedural guidelines and to resolve problems and questions. Is able to maintain a variety of moderately complex records and compile reports from such records. Is able to communicate effectively in oral and written form. Is able to exercise independent judgment, discretion and initiative. Is able to exercise tact and courtesy in frequent contact with patrons, local museums; national art and history organizations, civic groups, other city employees and the general public. Is able to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
Quality of Work: Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high quality communication and interacts with all co-workers and the general public.
Quantity of Work: Maintains effective and efficient output of all duties and responsibilities as described under "Essential Functions."
Dependability: Assumes responsibility for doing assigned work and for meeting deadlines. Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, city policy, standards and prescribed procedures. Accepts accountability for meeting assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas.
Attendance: Attends work regularly and adheres to city policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and time-off requests.
Initiative and Enthusiasm: Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant and self-starting approach to meet job responsibilities and accountabilities. Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiates proper and acceptable direction for the completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction.
Judgment: Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or situations as they occur and specifies decision objectives. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations. Implements decisions in accordance with prescribed and effective policies and procedures and with a minimum of errors. Seeks expert or experienced advice and research problems, situations and alternatives before exercising judgment.
Cooperation: Accepts supervisory instruction and direction and strives to meet the goals and objectives of same. Questions such instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences are justified i.e., poor communications, variance with city policy or procedures, etc.
Relationships with Others: Shares knowledge with supervisor for mutual and city benefit. Contributes to maintaining high morale among all city employees. Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with department employees, staffers and managers in other departments, to project a good city image. Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons in order to maintain good will within the city. Emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive image within the city. Interacts effectively with fellow employees, supervisor, professionals and the general public.
Coordination of Work: Plans and organizes daily work routine. Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology. Avoids duplication of effort. Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly. Attends meetings, planning sessions and discussions on time. Implements work activity in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules. Maintains a calendar for meetings and deadlines.
Safety and Housekeeping: Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established by the city and various regulatory agencies. Sees that the standards are not violated. Maintains a clean and orderly workplace.
Education, Experience & Special Requirements
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
Requires a master’s degree in History, Museum Studies, or a related field, and at least two years of demonstrated experience or training in museum practices and standards, museum administration, collections management and documentation, exhibition and program development or curatorial experience, or a related field. 1 - 2 years of supervisory experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Knowledge of U.S. history, local history and maritime history preferred. Must have writing, research, interpersonal skills, and the ability to conduct primary source research.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
May be asked to submit a writing sample.
Experience with museum cataloging software, such as Past Perfect, and proficiency with Microsoft Office preferred.
Must be able to work a schedule that includes weekends, holidays and evenings.
An acceptable general background check to include a local and state criminal history check and sex offender registry check.
Individuals in this position cannot be listed as having a founded child abuse or neglect complaint.
Physical Demands
Physical Requirements:
Must be physically able to operate a variety of automated office machines which include a computer. Must be able to exert up to 35 pounds of force occasionally and/or 10 pounds of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Physical requirements are for Light to Medium Work.
Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
Interpersonal Communications: Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving assignments and/or directions to subordinates or assistants.
Language Ability: Requires the ability to read texts and resources for use in the preparation of museum exhibits. Additionally, the ability to read time sheets, attendance reports, policy manuals, printing proofs etc. as required. Requires the ability to prepare memoranda, Curator's reports, newspaper guides, oral and written advertisements, correspondence, budget requests, etc. Must be able to speak with poise, voice control and confidence, and to articulate information to others.
Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages including curatorial, history and museum terminology.
Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages and compute discount, interest, profit and loss, ratio and proportion.
Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.
Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using automated office equipment.
Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, office equipment, works of art, artifacts, etc. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
Color Discrimination: Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.
Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress when confronted with deadlines, staffing difficulties and people who are under stress.
Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and/or hear: (talking - expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing - perceiving nature of sounds by ear).
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) REQUIREMENTS
The City of Portsmouth is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the city to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.
This is a class description and not an individual position description. A class specification defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification but is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.
FLSA Status: Exempt
EEO Cat: 2
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