Organization: The Museum of Jewish Montreal
Job Title: Museum Public Education Assistant
Location: Montreal, QC
Start Date: Monday May 12, 2025
Compensation: $18.75/hr
Commitment: 12-32 hours/week
Application Deadline: Monday March 17, 2025, by 12pm EST

The Museum of Jewish Montreal—an innovative place to connect with Montreal’s diverse Jewish life and heritage through new cultural experiences—is seeking qualified students to join our team as Museum Fellows to work as Museum Public Education Assistants, leading the Museum’s historic walking tours through the Plateau/Mile-End. Beginning on May 12th, and running through early November, the program is designed to help university students interested in pursuing museum careers acquire the skills they need to work successfully in the cultural and heritage sectors.  Participants will gain professional experience in public museum education, intangible culture, interpreting primary research and oral histories, and leading historical walking tours around the city in English and/or French.

Responsibilities will include:

• Interpreting and presenting educational material and answering questions on Montreal’s and Canada’s Jewish history and heritage;
• Leading walking and food tours for audiences through Montreal’s historical Jewish quarter;
• Engaging in research, including archival research, oral history research, as well as secondary source research, and providing writing for new heritage experiences;
• Coordinating with colleagues and local vendors to ensure provisions are secured for the Museum’s walking and food tours;
• Liaising between Museum guests, tour guides, and other operational staff before and during walking tours;
• Animating Museum visits at our welcome desk and in our heritage exhibition space;
• Providing customer service to diverse Museum audiences, including booking tour tickets, introducing visitors to Montreal’s Jewish history, and answering questions about the Museum’s mission and programs;
• Assisting with the set-up, content, and take-down of the Museum’s public programs;
• Working as part of a team within the Museum’s Fellowship program to engage in discussion, learning, and exploration of contemporary museological practices, while managing daily job-related tasks;
• Engaging in weekly seminars designed to further participants’ knowledge of Canadian and Jewish cultural heritage and contemporary museum practices.

The ideal candidate will be excited about exploring and facilitating intercultural dialogue, and undertaking original research, have an interest in leading educational discussions, and enjoy speaking publicly and engaging with diverse museum audiences. Ideal applicants are enrolled in an Undergraduate or Graduate degree, or equivalent program, but we do not require a particular field of study. However, those interested or with a background in Museology or Curatorial Studies, History, Public History, Anthropology, Canadian Studies, Québec Studies, or Jewish Studies may find the position especially rewarding.

Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate an aptitude for public presentation, adaptability, problem-solving, and improvisation in a public-facing environment. Those with experience or a background in theatre, summer camp animation, teaching or leading groups, leading events or programs are encouraged to apply. Candidates should also bring to the position a strong sense of professionalism, diplomacy, time-management, and curiosity. Strong candidates will be those who are excited to engage in learning opportunities, and eager to learn about the following:

• Jewish culture, history, or heritage
• Urbanism and architecture
• Intangible culinary heritage
• Early-20th century civil or political history
• Literature
• Immigrant histories
• Under-represented histories
• Contemporary museum practices

This position will require availability to work some evenings and weekends. Please note, this position requires medium-level physical activity such as leading 2+ hour walking tours outdoors, carrying supplies up stairs, and moving materials weighing up to 30 lbs. Because of the program’s location and responsibilities, applicants must be fluent in either French or English and must possess at least intermediate capabilities in the other language.

In accordance with the Young Canada Works Student Eligibility Criteria, you are only eligible for the Fellowship program if you:

• Are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, or have refugee status in Canada (note: Non Canadian students holding temporary work visas or awaiting permanent status are not eligible);
• Are legally entitled to work in Canada (have a valid social insurance number);
• Are between 16 and 30 years of age inclusively at the start of employment;
• Are a high school, college, CEGEP or university student;
• Meet the eligibility criteria of the program for which you are applying;
• Are registered in the YCW online candidate inventory;
• Are willing to commit to the full duration of the work assignment;

Further details and registration materials are available at https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/funding/young-canada-works/students-graduates/heritage-organizations-students.html.

 

The Museum may also have positions available for candidates who do not fit the YCW criteria, including international students or recent graduates with work permits, as well as non-student Canadians and permanent residents. Please note if you fit any of these categories in your application’s cover letter.

Interested individuals who meet the above criteria may apply directly to the Museum of Jewish Montreal by emailing a CV, cover letter, unofficial transcript, and writing sample to emplois-jobs@imjm.ca with the subject of “MPE Assistant Application.” Applications are due Monday March 17, 2025, by 12pm EST.

The Museum of Jewish Montreal is committed to ensuring that we are an inclusive space and encourage applications from everyone, including but not limited to women, Indigenous peoples, visible minorities, people with disabilities, persons of all cultural and religious backgrounds, as well as persons of all sexual and gender identities.