Temporary Oral History Specialist: MOHAI

Oral History; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 32,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Sick Time

Job summary

MOHAI seeks a Temporary Oral History Specialist to transcribe 35 digitized oral histories and develop a reproducible transcript workflow. You will select histories emphasizing marginalized voices, identify accessible AI tools for rough drafts, and update the transcript editorial guide under supervision.

You will help document procedures for future volunteers and ensure culturally responsive practices aligned with MOHAI’s DEIA commitments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent museum/oral history experience.
• Experience creating transcripts for oral histories.
• Experience with oral histories or archival collections documenting marginalized communities.
• Experience with audio-to-text AI preferred.
• Editorial/documentation experience required.

Responsibilities

• Select oral histories for transcription with managerial support.
• Identify a low/no-cost audio-to-text AI tool for rough drafts.
• Update editorial guide and create 35 final transcripts.
• Document procedures so staff can replicate transcript creation.
• Ensure interactions are inclusive and respectful per MOHAI values.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Clear communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent museum/oral history experience

Tools

Audio-to-text AI tools

Job description

Museum Vision and Mission:
MOHAI is treasured locally and respected nationally as a vibrant resource where history inspires us to build a
better future. To serve our region, we bridge the past, present, and future by collecting, preserving, and sharing
stories through compelling, innovative exhibits and community engagement.

Position Title: Temporary Oral History Specialist
Reports to: Library Collections Manager
Location: MOHAI McQuaid Resource Center at Georgetown
Classification: Temporary; Non-exempt; Part-time; Hourly
Schedule: Weekdays, approx. 15 hours per week
Rate of Pay: $22-$23 per hour
Benefits: Paid Sick and Safe Time in accordance with the City of Seattle ordinance
Employment Period: June – October 2024 (exact start date flexible – maximum 250 hours total)

Position Description:
The Temporary Oral History Specialist will participate in a maximum 250-hour 4Culture-funded project to
transcribe 35 digitized oral histories and will create a procedure to be used during this project and for future
transcripts. The selection of oral histories to be transcribed will prioritize those from identities historically
marginalized in the historic narrative. The procedure includes identifying a text-to-audio AI tool to generate rough drafts and updating MOHAI’s oral history transcript editorial guide. This position reports to the Library Collections Manager and is a member of the Collections Resources department.

Key Responsibilities:

• Select oral histories for transcription, with support from the Library Collections Manager, based on
  institutional priorities for elevating stories of those previously marginalized and founded in community
  evaluation feedback.
• Identify a low or no-cost audio-to-text AI tool to generate rough drafts of transcripts.
• Update MOHAI’s editorial guide for oral history transcripts and apply these guidelines to create 35 final
  transcripts.
• Refine and document the procedures for creating transcripts so that staff working with future volunteers
  can replicate and generate more transcripts.
• Ensure that all interactions are culturally responsive, respectful, and based on a foundation of MOHAI’s
  commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent museum or oral history collection work experience. Position may be
  suitable for current information sciences student nearing graduation or recent graduate; however,
  candidate must have required skills, as position is not an internship.
• Previous experience with creating transcripts for oral histories required; experience with or knowledge of
  current best practices in oral histories preferred.
• Experience working with oral histories or archival collections documenting the stories of historically
  marginalized communities preferred.
• Experience working with audio-to-text AI preferred.
• Previous process documentation and/or editorial experience required.
  860 Terry Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109 | PO Box 80816, Seattle, WA 98108 | 206 324 1126 | mohai.org
• Experience working collaboratively with colleagues.
• Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing.
• Enthusiasm for MOHAI’s exhibits, collections, programs, and mission.

Find yourself checking many of these boxes but doubting whether you should apply? If you meet some of the
requirements and you share MOHAI’s values and support our mission, we encourage you to apply. As part of our
ongoing commitment to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, we’re invested in building teams with a
wide variety of backgrounds, identities, and experiences.

Museum Overview:
For 70 years, MOHAI has been dedicated to enriching lives by preserving, sharing, and teaching the diverse history of Seattle, the Puget Sound region, and the nation. With a collection of nearly 4 million artifacts, photographs, oral histories and archival items, and an expansive schedule of exhibits and programs, MOHAI is the region’s premier history center. MOHAI operates a dramatic and award-winning museum in Seattle’s vibrant South Lake Union neighborhood and a resource center in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood. MOHAI also hosts the Bezos Center for Innovation, focusing on the history and future of innovation in the Puget Sound region. MOHAI is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, and has been selected by USA Today as one of the Top Ten History Museums in the nation. For more information, please visit mohai.org.

MOHAI is a 501(c)(3) organization and an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building a team
and an organizational culture that fosters inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility. We encourage
candidates of color to apply.