Collections Intern

Filoli is a 654-acre historic site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, located on the San Francisco Bay Peninsula near Woodside, CA, and one of the finest remaining country estates of the early 20th century.  As a team member here, you will be able to connect rich history with a vibrant future through beauty, nature and shared stories.  You have the opportunity to preserve, build upon and share the wonder of this place.

In our daily interaction with guests, we envision a time when all people honor nature, value unique experiences and appreciate beauty in everyday life.  You will also actively play a part in creating a vibrant future through our 2019-2023 Strategic Plan.  Embedding the core principles of Diversity & Inclusivity, Sustainability and Organizational Excellence into each pillar of the plan, we are focusing on five main pillars of our organization:   People & Culture, Fundraising & Financial Strength, Infrastructure Investments, Visibility & Branding and Engagement & Education.  We welcome and appreciate your contributions to Filoli.

SUMMARY

Filoli’s Internship program offers college students an introduction to a career in horticulture, public gardens, museums, and nonprofit administration. During the 10-week summer program, interns are welcomed as part of the Filoli community -- collaborating with staff and their supervisor to accomplish projects, interact with Filoli visitors, and regularly meet with their summer intern cohorts. In addition to the duties specific to their daily work, interns will interact with visitors during Filoli’s seasonal public programs. All interns will also have the opportunity to learn about nonprofit public garden and museum management and the interrelationship of work between various departments and our visitors.

Filoli is open to all and works tirelessly and collaboratively to create a place that welcomes and respects everyone. Interns are expected to work both collaboratively and independently and are asked to actively participate in group training sessions. The staff that supervise interns are committed to providing constructive feedback and an experience that mutually benefits interns and the community Filoli serves.

This is a full time (30-40 hours, flexibly scheduled), non-exempt, hourly and seasonal position. Hourly wages are $21.00. The schedule is generally Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm but will require some weekends and evenings so flexibility to meet the needs of the organization is important. Please note that public transportation is not accessible at our location. The dates of the 2023 program are June 12 - August 18. Filoli recognizes that regional college schedules vary, so some adjustments to timing may be made once interns are hired in order to best accommodate all program participants.  
 

Museum Collections Internship

The Museum Collections Internship is an opportunity for students without direct museum experience to learn the “behind the scenes” process of managing museum collections. The internship program is designed to help students gain tangible and meaningful experience in collections preservation, catologing (Proficio), photographing, rehousing and updating databases based on paper files. The intern will work with Filoli’s collections and curation team managing collection objects. They will assist in the installation and deinstallation of exhibits as well as assist in accession and deaccession processes.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Museum object care, cleaning and handling; 

• Museum object photography, sufficient to be entered into electronic database;

• Update electronic database with recently acquired information;

• Effectively and safely house and rehouse museum objects;

• File and update of files in paper database;

• Interact with staff and visitors at public events as a Filoli ambassador.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

An individual must be able to perform each duty listed above and any additional responsibilities as directed as well as satisfy the educational and skill requirements listed below:

Education: 

• High school diploma or GED equivalent;

• Enrollment in a 2 or 4-year college or similar program, including rising freshman.

Experience:

• Some general work, volunteer, or school leadership experience;

• Basic computer skills;

• Museum attendance or appreciation, especially decorative arts.

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong communication skills, both written and in-person;

• Comfort interacting with diverse populations including Filoli visitors, donors, staff, and volunteers;

• Able to accurately enter data on spreadsheets and in databases;

• Proficiency with a 35 mm camera (provided by Filoli);

• Proficiency with email, basic MS Office applications, Google suite, and basic image editing software;

• Comfortable handling museum objects;

• Ability to view racial and cultural differences as assets to the organization and recognize that individuals bring unique backgrounds, beliefs, values, and world-views;

• Take direction, multi-task, and work effectively in a team environment.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

A valid Driver’s License or ID is highly recommended.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job including:

• Essential functions include walking and standing for the majority of the day, walking across uneven terrain, climbing stairs, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, handling and fingering as well as sitting for long periods of time at a computer;

• Strength sufficient to exert force up to 50 lbs. occasionally and/or up to 25 lbs. frequently, and/or up to 10 lbs. constantly to lift, carry, push and pull or otherwise move objects.

HOW TO APPLY

1. Candidates with the above prerequisites are invited to submit their resumes along with a cover letter outlining their interest, related experience, and background to: https://filoli.applicantstack.com/x/apply/a26ons3pvrdz
2. Possession of minimum requirements does not guarantee an interview.
3. Please, no phone calls.
4. Thank you for your interest in Filoli!

Please visit our website for more information: www.filoli.org

Filoli is an equal opportunity employer who values diversity in the workplace.