Museum Assistant - Murney Tower Museum National Historic Site

About Murney Tower Museum

The Murney Tower Museum is a local history museum operated by the Kingston Historical Society in partnership with Parks Canada since 1925. It is located in one of the four Martello Towers of Kingston, Ontario and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Rideau Canal and Kingston Fortifications. It is the oldest operating museum in Kingston and has a collection of domestic and military artifacts that portray 19th-century life in Kingston. It also offers guided tours, audio tours, educational programs, special events, and exhibits.

Job Description

Reporting to the Manager/Curator, the Museum Assistant will play a key role in the day-to-day operations of the museum, including welcoming visitors, delivering guided tours, assisting with onsite procedures, and supporting program, exhibit, and administrative tasks. The Museum Assistant is the first point of contact at the museum and communicate the museum’s role in the cultural and military history of Kingston to a broad range of audiences. As such, they play a pivotal role in the continued success of the museum’s onsite operations and public engagement activities. In addition to operational responsibilities, the Museum Assistant will have the opportunity to contribute to several independent projects and museum initiatives, allowing them to gain practical, hands-on experience across several key areas of museum work, including historical interpretation, educational programming, event coordination, historical research, and digital content creation.

Responsibilities include:

• Greeting visitors, answering inquiries, and delivering guided tours.

• Supporting daily operations, including opening/closing, cleaning, and maintaining a welcoming environment.

• Managing admissions, financial transactions, and gift shop sales.

• Recording and reporting visitor statistics and assist with basic administrative tasks.

• Assisting with educational programs, special events, outreach booths, and exhibit setup.

• Developing independent projects in different areas of museum work (e.g. educational programming, event coordination, historical research, social media, digital content creation).

• Participating in staff meetings, training sessions, and general team coordination.

• Contributing to new museum initiatives and demonstrating professionalism and initiative.

This is a temporary full-time position starting 11 May 2026. The employee will work 35 hours a week from 9:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., with occasional evenings, weekends, or statutory holidays as required. The rate of pay is $18.00/hour.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is an enthusiastic student with a strong interest in museums, local history, and heritage interpretation. They should be a first-, second-, or third-year undergraduate student, or graduate student returning to full-time studies. Preferred fields of study include History, Canadian Studies, Museum Studies, Public History, Anthropology, Archaeology, Education, Art History, Tourism, or Hospitality. Candidates from other disciplines with an interest in museum and heritage work are also encouraged to apply.

Required Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including professional correspondence

• Confidence in public speaking and delivering presentations or tours

• Computer literacy, including proficiency with Google Suite

• Strong research skills

• Strong organizational and time management abilities

• Ability to work independently, remotely, and take initiative

• Ability to collaborate effectively as part of a team

• Previous work or volunteer experience in the heritage or museum sector (asset)

• Knowledge of French (spoken and/or written) or additional languages (asset)

• Experience in customer service, working with children, or coordinating events (asset)

Eligibility

This position is funded by Young Canada Works. Applicants must be:

• A Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, or have been granted refugee status in Canada (non-Canadians holding temporary work visas or awaiting permanent resident status are not eligible);

• Legally entitled to work in Canada (have a valid social insurance number);

• Between 16 and 30 years of age inclusively at the start of employment;

• A high school, college, CEGEP or university student.

A Police Reference Check will be required as a condition of employment for this position.

How to Apply:

To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to Alison Dringenberg at manager@murneytower.com by February 15, 2026. Your cover letter should also indicate how you meet the YCW eligibility requirements. Candidates will be interviewed in person or via Zoom.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Applicants must qualify for Young Canada Works and Canada Summer Jobs programs. All positions are dependent on successful funding through these programs.

The museum is deeply committed to employment equity and diversity, encouraging applications from individuals belonging to equity-seeking groups, including women, racialized/visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and others reflecting the diversity of Canadian society. By embracing diverse perspectives and experiences, the museum continues to grow as an inclusive and welcoming space for all. Should you require any accommodations through the job application process, please do not hesitate to let us know.