The Greater Kent Historical Society is looking for a full-time museum director.
The position pays $40,000 a year plus benefits. The city of Kent allocated $60,000 in its budget for to cover salary and benefits for the position. The museum is owned by the city but operated by the historical society.
The ideal candidate will have museum management experience, said Tim Clark, president of the historical society.
“We want someone that really cares about the history of Kent,” he said.
Having a full-time museum director is inline with nearby museums, including Auburn and Renton.
The museum had a full-time director about five year ago, but most recently the position was part time. The museum is being overseen by a part-time office manager, while the search for a director continues.
The new director will be responsible for public outreach and the development of programs for the museum, Clark said.
Finding the right person to run the museum is crucial, Clark said.
“This is not an experiment,” he said. “We cannot fail.”
Clark said he hopes to have the position filled in early May.
The museum, in the historic Bereiter House at 855 E. Smith St., is open from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. Admission is by a suggested $2 donation.
“We are only going to be successful if we have people coming through the door,” Clark said. “It really is a treasure house.”
The museum’s mission is more than preserving the culture, Clark said. It is allowing people in the community to share their historical experiences.
“What we are now trying to create is to incorporate many of our silent communities that live among us,” he said.
Kent’s Somalian, Ukrainian and African American communities will give presentations at the museum this spring.
For more information, visit gkhs.org or call 253-854-4330.
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