Job Title: Museum and Archives Technician
Pay/Hours/Benefits: This is a full-time term-limited contract for one year, with the possibility to extend on an annual basis for a total of three, one-year terms. The position pays $27.50 per hour.
Institution/Working Address: The main work location will be at the C&O Canal National Historical Park’s headquarters in Williamsport, Maryland. Some travel to the Museum Resource Center in North Englewood, Maryland, and some locations throughout the park will be required. The C&O Canal includes 184.5 miles along the Potomac River and touches many communities. Mileage reimbursements are offered.
Application Deadline: For priority consideration all application materials must be submitted by May 22nd, 2026. However, applications will be considered until the position is filled so applications will be accepted past the aforementioned deadline as long as the position is open.
Brief Description:
The Museum and Archives Technician will assist the C&O Canal’s Museum Curator in managing a collection of approximately 170,000 items. All work follows National Park Service standards outlined in the NPS Museum Handbook, Vols. I– III, American Alliance of Museums standards, and applicable federal policies. The position reports to the C&O Canal Cultural Resources Program Manager, with the Museum Curator serving as the onsite technical advisor.
The C&O Canal preserves and interprets the story of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, one of the 19th century’s most significant engineering achievements. Constructed between 1828 and 1850, the canal runs 184.5 miles from Georgetown in Washington, D.C., to Cumberland, Maryland, passing through urban neighborhoods, small towns, farmland, and undeveloped landscapes.
Primary Duties:
● Assess, arrange, process, catalog, and store archival materials; prepare finding aids
● Distinguish and separate materials that fall under Records Management and not museum archives
● Conduct cleanup and reconciliation of data migrated to the newly implemented Collections
Management System (CMS)
● Resolve legacy cataloging issues, including vocabulary consistency, terminology accuracy, and spelling
● Assist with image file management, metadata creation, and migration to the new Digital Asset
Management System (DAMS)
● Identify, catalog, and properly rehouse archeological documentation
● Process uncataloged museum objects and enter new records into the CMS
● Digitize museum objects through photography, scanning, and metadata application
● Participate in cross-divisional teams to support online exhibit development
● Conduct annual inventory of museum collections
● Perform basic conservation and integrated pest management duties
● Follow all safety protocols and environmental monitoring procedures
● Other duties as assigned, based on park needs and the technician’s expertise
Contact Info/Link to Online Application:
Museum and Archives Technician | National Council on Public History
Required application materials are as listed:
● Statement of interest (up to 1,000 words) describing your interest in museum and archival
work and your qualifications
● Resume including educational background, professional experience, and relevant skills
● Contact information for three professional references
