Gallery & Volunteer Coordinator

Position Description

The Gallery Coordinator fills a critical role in the daily operation of the Historical Society of Long Beach’s (HSLB) museum, archive, and research center. The development of a community supportive of the HSLB starts with a visitors’ first interaction with an HSLB representative. The Gallery Coordinator will often be the first point of contact, thus a professional demeanor and appearance is required. The position requires someone who is cordial and gracious. This demeanor must continue when working with board members, volunteers, and other staff members. Communicating clearly and effectively is imperative. A successful employee is: Flexible and able to change priorities when needed to effectively carryout projects; Willing to learn about the history of Long Beach; Productive with a minimal amount of supervision; Effective as a member of a team; Understands the significance of historical collections. This is a full-time, hourly position.

Primary Responsibilities Include:

Photographic Reproduction Sales—all aspects of photographic sales fulfillment; digitizing historical photographs and other materials; printing for resale and exhibitions; creation of rights and reproduction agreements; soliciting and facilitating photos sales business.

Volunteer Coordinator—developing volunteer program; recruiting, training, and orienting volunteers including interns; developing projects; organizing volunteers for events / programs; managing volunteer projects and schedules.

Graphic Design—Develops promotional materials utilizing copy and direction from the Executive Director.

Collections Management—assists in identifying collection priorities; participate in the development of cataloging projects; organizes volunteer projects.

Exhibitions—assists in developing exhibition plan and design; executes exhibition plan; assisting in researching and selecting exhibit items; digitizing and uploading imagery for reproduction; frame and install exhibition; participates in all logistics.

Development Support—help develop income sources including grants, sales, and soliciting individual and corporate contributions and sponsorships.

Project Coordination—coordinates programs, events projects which include volunteer staffing, refreshments, set up, and all aspects of logistics.

Office Management—ordering office supplies; maintaining shared office calendar; answering telephone; checking voice mail, returning calls, and distributing messages; coordinating activities; organizing and developing systems for workflow; providing administrative assistance to the Executive Director.

Shared Responsibilities:

Visitor Services—greeting and talking with visitors about the HSLB and our services; encouraging membership; assessing visitor needs; assisting visiting researchers; accepting new contributions of historical materials to the HSLB’s collection; talking about exhibitions; solely responsible for staffing the facility on Saturdays and rotating First Fridays with volunteer support.

Maintaining Gallery and Retail Sales Area—maintaining a supply of HSLB literature and sale items in the gallery; light housekeeping in the gallery and storefront.

Social Media—promoting HSLB programs.

Shared tasks—taking out garbage; housekeeping; other duties as assigned. Education & Experience Bachelor’s degree Experience working with volunteers Knowledge of nonprofit environments HSLB Mission The Historical Society of Long Beach collects, preserves and presents local history. Through historical collections, exhibits, and programs we connect people to the past and to the place they live. We present an inclusive community narrative and help create greater understanding of our neighborhoods, the city and its place in the larger world. Through our programs, exhibitions, and collections we engage the community in thinking about what makes Long Beach unique. The HSLB is staffed by a one day a week bookkeeper, a half time membership coordinator, a full time gallery coordinator, an executive director, and many volunteers. To apply send a cover letter, resume, and a writing sample to julieb@hslb.org. Your writing sample should be a 1-page letter persuading a local business to support an HSLB program. Apply by September 19, 2015.