Lead Preparator and Print Shop Technician

Lead Preparator and Print Shop Technician

Whatcom Museum Foundation

Department:
Exhibitions

Classification:
Non-exempt, hourly, full-time at 30 hours weekly

Bargaining Unit:
Teamsters Local 231

Rate of Pay: $29.11 per hour DOE

Benefits:
Medical, dental, vision, holidays, PTO, SIMPLE IRA Savings Plan

Location:

Onsite at the Whatcom Museum in Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington

Final date to receive applications:
November 1, 2026

The Whatcom Museum serves as a bridge among diverse people, ideas, and traditions by fostering curiosity and joy about our world. We do this through exhibitions, events, educational programs, and collections reflective of the art, nature, Indigenous cultures, and history of our region and beyond. The Whatcom Museum is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), accredited through the American Alliance of Museums, and a Smithsonian Affiliate.

The Whatcom Museum campus includes three buildings in downtown Bellingham's Arts District, holding art, nature, and Northwest history, with over 70,000 visitors annually. The Old City Hall building houses permanent and long-term exhibitions featuring Pacific Northwest industry and local and natural history. The Light catcher Building showcases rotating art exhibitions, The People of the Sea and Cedar gallery, the Family Interactive Gallery, and educational rooms.

The Old Fire Station No. 1 building houses extensive photo archives.

The Whatcom Museum acknowledges that we gather on the traditional territory of the Lhaq'temish (Lummi People) and the Nuxwsá7aq (Nooksack People), who have lived in the Coast Salish region from time immemorial. The Museum honors our relationship with all of our Coast Salish neighbors and our shared responsibilities to their homeland where we all reside today.

The Lead Preparator works within the Exhibitions Department and directly with the museum's Director of Exhibitions and Curator(s) to install and maintain permanent and temporary exhibitions both onsite and off, and develops, installs, and maintains exhibition didactics. This position requires significant building experience; technical knowledge of exhibition execution, A/V installation, and printing; experience developing site-specific exhibition work with artists; and independent judgment to coordinate activities related to the Museum's collections and exhibitions.

Reports to the Director of Exhibitions and works closely with the Director of Collections and corresponding teams. Under the supervision of the Director of Exhibitions, coordinates the activities of work study employees, volunteers, and student interns assigned to exhibition installation. Works independently under the guidance of Museum policies and procedures, adhering to all relevant city, state, and federal rules, regulations, and guidelines.

After 90 days, the Exhibitions and Collections departments will assess supervisory communications and workflow; this may lead to reporting to the Exhibition Coordinator.

• Works with the Director of Exhibitions and within an exhibitions prep team of two to handle and install artwork and cultural artifacts aligned with accredited museum best practices
• Constructs walls, pedestals, object mounts, exhibition environments, interpretive panels, wall text, and didactics
• Installs and deinstalls physical configurations and support systems for exhibition displays, storage, and traveling exhibitions
• Works with the Collections Department to transport, clean, pack, mount, frame, and care for the Museum's collections per best practices
• Works with the Photo Archivist to print orders when needed
• Photographs collection objects and exhibition loans for documentation and publication
• Prepares galleries for installation,…