About the Toronto Holocaust Museum& the Ontario Jewish Archives

In its new state-of-the-art facility, the Toronto Holocaust Museum is a space for education and dialogue about the Holocaust and its ongoing relevance. Through its programs and experiences, it deepens public understanding and inspires visitors to make connections between the Holocaust, world events, and contemporary Canadian life.

As a non-collecting institution, the THM works closely with the Ontario Jewish Archives (OJA), Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre. Founded in 1973, the OJA is the largest repository of Jewish life in Canada. The OJA acquires, preserves, and makes accessible the records that chronicle Ontarios Jewish history including the experiences of the survivor community.

Since the Museums opening in 2023, the OJA has acquired Holocaust-related objects on the THMs behalf a responsibility that typically falls outside the scope of archival work. This collaboration presents a unique opportunity to develop and implement integrated collections practices that bridge both archival and museum standards. The Collections Specialist will support this project.

About UJA Federation of Greater Toronto

At UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, our vision is to lead the most vibrant Jewish community in North America - a community characterized by its diversity, unity, compassion, generosity and commitment to Jewish values. Together with our philanthropic, volunteer and professional leadership, were changing lives.

As one of North Americas leading Jewish non-profits, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto works to preserve and strengthen the quality of Jewish life in Greater Toronto, Canada, Israel and around the world. UJA advances this mission through fundraising, programs, and research focused on our strategic pillars: fighting poverty and improving well-being, growing Jewish education and identity, countering antisemitism and hate, and strengthening connections with Israel and Jewish communities worldwide.

About the Opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a brand-new state-of-the-art institution and the first Holocaust Museum in Canada designed for the post-survivor period.

The Toronto Holocaust Museum is seeking a Collections Specialist to join the team for a 5-month contract. The successful candidate will have a unique opportunity to support a project focused on improving the care, documentation, and registration of museum artifacts housed within an archival environment. Working under the direction of the THMs Collections Manager and the OJAs Managing Director, the Collections Specialist will conduct a comprehensive analysis of current practices, develop actionable recommendations for improvement, and help implement those changes across both organizations.

Responsibilities:

Conduct an in-depth survey and literature review of GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, Museums) institutions with physically/intellectually integrated collections and work processes. Observe and analyze their policies and practices. This will include one-on-one conversations and possible site visits.

Conduct a thorough assessment of the current workflows at both the OJA and THM, identifying challenges and opportunities.

Analyze findings from the assessment and literature review and deliver actionable recommendations to enhance the THM and OJAs policies and procedures.

Implement the contract conservators recommendations, including rehousing of artifacts, and if time permits, descriptive standards.

Qualifications:

Post-secondary education in museum studies, archival studies, or a related field.

2+ years of experience working with museum and/or archival collections.

Strong understanding of archival principles and theory required to carry out the description of archival records according to recognized standards by the Canadian archival community.

Familiarity with artifact handling, storage standards, and registration procedures and best practices.

Experience working in archival or hybrid museum-archive environments is an asset.

Strong organizational, research, and communication skills, with great attention to detail and the ability to multi-task.

Experience working with archival or museum related collections management software (e.g., InMagic, Past Perfect, MINISIS, or similar) is an asset.

Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

This is a 5-month full-time contract position ($30/hr.) beginning in June 2025. It is funded by a Museum Assistance Program (MAP) grant. Please note that UJAs offices are closed on all Jewish holy days (yom tov) and we support early office closures to observe the Jewish Sabbath (Shabbat).

Commitment to Inclusion and Accessibility:

UJA Federation supports a diverse candidate and employment experience. We are proud of our dynamic professional team, which reflects the diversity of the Jewish community and general community alike in Greater Toronto. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applicants from all communities. We encourage you to follow us to get regular updates on open roles.We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible workplace and believe this is essential to ensure that every member of our team can thrive.

We adhere to barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require Code-protected accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please notify us and we will work with you to meet your needs.