The Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport Maine seeks a full-time education/interpretation intern for the 2022 season (May-October). This internship will provide hands-on work experience in the daily operations of a medium-sized museum. The intern will actively participate in the Museum’s front line, including spending 3-5 days each week staffing buildings and leadings tours and demonstrations as a member of the interpretive staff. This internship will include professional development field trips to four other Maine museums (in-person or online) and participation in an intern cohort. Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Participate in the intern cohort

• • Assist with and lead programming (in-person and/or online)

  • Submit articles for enews

  • Conduct evaluations with visitors

  • Contribute posts and videos to social media

  • Assist with projects in different museum departments

  • Attend weekly intern meetings and intern field trips to other museums

• Engage with visitors

• • Welcome visitors to an exhibit 

  • Check for admission stickers and tactfully referring visitors to the admissions desk if needed 

  • Give visitors an introduction about what to expect in the exhibit 

  • Learn written guided tours and lead scheduled guided tours of the campus or exhibits

  • Answer visitor questions 

  • Be knowledgeable about and able to refer visitors to the correct exhibit buildings in the museum, museum staff, and daily and upcoming activities, programs, and events

  • Walk through the exhibit on a regular basis to check on visitors and monitor artifact safety 

  • Lead groups of children (scouts, field trips, etc.) or adults through exhibits 

  • Assist or lead children’s crafts or programs 

• Contribute to a positive, safe, and tidy work environment

• • Work as part of a team and staffing buildings/giving presentations solo. 

  • Respond to security and/or safety concerns

  • Perform minor housekeeping in exhibit buildings, including sweeping, vacuuming, and monitoring pests, as needed 

• Become familiar with the museum’s campus and activities

• • Attend all training sessions at the beginning of the season and additional training as needed 

  • Attend daily front-line staff meetings on scheduled work days 

  • Become familiar with the artifacts in the exhibits 

• During time when there are no visitors in the exhibit

• • Keep alert and welcoming

  • Study materials related to the exhibit and the Museum 

  • Conduct inventories of artifacts in the exhibits 

  • Prep craft materials for museum activities 

  • Conduct light gardening

  • Other tasks as assigned

• Additional duties may include 

• • Covering for other interpreters during breaks and busy times

  • Covering the gift shop, including selling admissions, gift shop sales, and answering the phone 

  • Conducting research 

  • Developing talks or tours on specific exhibits or artifacts 

  • Other duties as assigned 

During each shift, all interpreters will rotate between staffing buildings and leading activities such as tours, children’s crafts, and demonstrations. Within the interpretive staff, there are 4 distinct positions and each interpreter will work at least 1 day each week in each position.

Internship Length and Dates:

• 5 months

• May 5 – October 15, 2022

• • First few weeks are not full time and can be remote

• July 4^th is a work day

• Work some nights and most weekends

• Usually scheduled 35-40 hours/week

Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from an undergraduate program or graduate program in museum studies, history, public history, education, material culture, or related field

• Coursework in history and/or education preferred

• Interest in museums and/or maritime history

• Experience working with children

• Experience working with the public

• Excellent computer skills

• Familiarity with Microsoft Office, Gmail, Facebook, Zoom, YouTube, and Instagram

• Familiarity with PastPerfect a plus, training available

Compensation

• $14.00/hour paid biweekly 

• PMM will provide on-site housing for a small fee

Review of applicants will begin February 15th, 2022 and will continue until the position is filled. Please submit cover letter, resume, writing sample, transcripts (official or unofficial) and one letter of recommendation as .pdfs to Jeana Ganskop at jganskop@pmm-maine.org.