Oral History Coordinator - YCW
/Job Title:
Oral History Coordinator - YCW
Organization:
Jewish Museum and Archives of BC
Deadline:
Aug. 31, 2026
Organization Description:
The Jewish Museum and Archives of BC is dedicated to the collecting and sharing of community memories of Jewish life in British Columbia. Through innovative exhibits and programming, the JMABC builds bridges with the diverse communities of BC and heightens awareness of the rich 150 year history of Jews in BC. Founded in 1971 as the Jewish Historical Society of BC, the JMABC now collects and cares for documents, artifacts, photographs and oral histories chronicling all facets of our community’s history. Our archives are housed in dedicated facilities and comprise over 325 linear metres of textual records, 325,000 photographs and 1020 oral history interviews.
Website:
Job Description:
Since 1971 the Jewish Historical Society of British Columbia (JHSBC) has been conducting oral history interviews with community members to ensure that personal histories are collected and preserved for posterity. These interviews are catalogued and indexed, then made available for researchers by request through the Jewish Museum and Archives of British Columbia offices. The JMABC maintains an oral history nominee list comprised of names of community members who have been suggested for future interviews. This list requires constant maintenance and in 2026 is ready for an overhaul to remove, add, and prioritize to be more in keeping with our strategic plan. The first part of this project will be focused on updating this list, by speaking with key stakeholders and conducting research. The second part of this project will contact approximately 20 of the highest priority candidates and conduct interviews. This work will kickstart the Oral History Collection back into active collection, having become dormant in recent years due to a lack of volunteers and capacity. Once updated and organized this project will live on in the continuation and hopeful growth of the program. This position is budgeted for 30 hours/week for a duration of 20 weeks, totalling 600 hours for the contract. There is some schedule flexibility for a successful candidate.
Responsibilities:
The YCW Oral History Coordinator will begin by assessing the existing oral history nominee list as maintained by the JMABC, and add new nominees as suggested by key stakeholders. They will research and coordinate approximately 20 candidates for oral history interviews. This research will take many forms, including: archival research, oral history interviews, and community outreach. Interviews will then be conducted, with guidance from both JMABC staff and board, and the Oral History Coordinator will compose summaries and notations for all interviews. During this process it is also expected that many interviewees will have archival material to be donated, and this material will be processed by the intern.
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate for the Oral History Coordinator at the JMABC will have:
-A demonstrated interest in working in an archival, museum, or heritage institution shown through previous volunteer or paid work experiences and/or an academic background in a related field such as history, anthropology, museum studies, library studies or archival studies. Preferences may be given to recent graduates of Archival Studies programs.
-Basic computer skills and will be comfortable working independently at a computer station. Any experience working with databases or digital imaging software will be considered an asset.
-Excellent English communication skills, both written and verbal.
-An enthusiastic attitude.
In addition to the above qualifications, all candidates must meet the following requirements dictated by the Young Canada Works program:
-Must be a recent graduate of an accredited post-secondary institution. A recent graduate is defined as an individual who has graduated from college or university within the last twenty-four months.
-Must be between 16 and 30 years of age at the start of employment.
-Must be legally entitled to work in Canada.
-Must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or have refugee status in Canada.
-Must be registered in the YCW candidate inventory.
-Must be willing to commit to the full duration of the work assignment.
-Must not have another full-time job (over 30 hours a week) while employed with YCW.
-Must not be receiving Employment Insurance (EI) benefits while employed with YCW.
-Must not have previously participated in or been paid under this or any other Career Focus internship program funded under the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy.
How to Apply:
Candidates will be short-listed for an interview based on how they meet the criteria noted above. Once the successful candidate for the Internship is determined, all other applicants will be notified. Please submit a resume and cover letter by email by the application deadline 9:00 am on Monday August 31st 2026.
Remuneration:
$25/hour
