Career Opportunities
New Bedford Whaling Museum is committed to diversity among its employees and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.
All applicants must submit an application for employment along with their resume and cover letter and follow the “To Apply” instructions noted in job openings below.
Museum Careers
Digital Archivist (Full-time, hourly, non-exempt)
Temporary grant-funded position through September 1, 2026
Salary: $43,700 ($21/hour)
The Digital Archivist will work full-time on site and be tasked with the daily digitization of the New Bedford Whaling Museum’s Whaling Logbook and Journal Collection, the largest collection of its kind in the world. The Digital Archivist will prep catalog record data for logbook and journal digitization, handle individual logbooks/journals, including packing/unpacking and re/shelving, create digital surrogates, and upload them to internal and external platforms. They will identify handling and rehousing needs of particularly fragile materials, add handling specifications to existing catalogue records, and, when applicable, construct new housing for objects with condition issues. This position reports to the Associate Curator of Exhibitions & Collections, joining a team of 12 across curatorial, collections, & museum learning. The museum is a fast-paced, stimulating, and respectful non-profit environment.
For the full Position Description, Qualifications, and Application Instructions click here. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and filed for future projects. No phone calls, please.
Art Handler / Object Preparator / Installation Technician
Contract work on a temporary project basis
Hourly Rate: $15-50/hour, dependent on experience
The New Bedford Whaling Museum seeks contract Art Handlers / Object Preparators / Installation technicians to work on a short-term contract basis for project-based timelines. They will assist in all aspects of preparation, packing, transporting, installation, deinstallation, and storage of works for the museum. The ideal candidate understands that the safety and security of artworks and of fellow team members is critical. This position will move and install valuable art objects in various locations; pack and unpack objects, maintain collections storage areas to ensure the safety of the art; create custom crate interiors for outgoing loans, frame and unframe two-dimensional works, and perform other miscellaneous art handling duties as required. They work closely with curators and other department staff, under the direction of the Chief Curator and the Associate Curator of Exhibitions and Collections to facilitate the safe exhibition of works from the collection. We are looking to have resumes on hand for project-based work throughout the year.
For the full Position Description, Qualifications, and Application Instructions click here. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and filed for future projects. No phone calls, please.
Click here for information on our High School Apprenticeship Program.
