Seattle Art Museum Departmental Internship

Fall Quarter 2023

Applications Due: August 11, 2023
Position Start: September 2, 2023
Position End: November 10, 2023

TITLE: Web Design & User Experience Intern
DEPARTMENT/LOCATION: Technology and Marketing & Communications, SAM Downtown
DEPARTMENT STAFF MENTOR: Website Project Manager

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

SAM is dedicated to racial equity and strives for employees, volunteers, and interns who are passionate, qualified, and offer diverse perspectives. SAM prioritizes racial equity in the workplace because we know that people of color are the most impacted when it comes to inequities. We are particularly interested in engaging with historically under-represented groups in the museum field as we strive to be inclusive and equitable. SAM is responsive to cultural communities and experiences, and our strategic plan goals address the role art plays in empowering social justice and structural change to promote equity in our society.

WEB DESIGN & USER EXPERIENCE INTERN
Partnering with SAM’s Website Project Manager, this intern will help tell the story of the museum’s ongoing work and assist in creating a website that is an inclusive environment for all members of our community. There will be two interns hired for the project this Fall, each of whom will:

• Support user experience research by analyzing qualitative and quantitative data.

• Facilitate, document, and analyze usability test of prototypes with research participants.
• Prepare a report on the current website’s accessibility challenges and proposed solutions.

• Work across departments to gather and organize information related to the museum’s website.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Each intern will learn to navigate a multi-department organization, form meaningful professional relationships, and apply their own perspectives and leadership experience to work at the museum. In addition, these interns will:

• Learn to identify and track key performance indicators and effectively participate in the project management process at SAM.
• Analyze data, document findings, and report out to key stakeholders.
• Develop a clear understanding of the how to facilitate UX research sessions.

PAY RANGE: The hourly rate for this role is $18.69 to $18.69.

FSLA STATUS & COMPENSATION:

Each intern will be hired as a temporary, non-exempt employee. Along with the above pay rate, this intern will be eligible for the following benefits:

• SAM Savings & 403(b) Retirement Plan, with Roth option available.
• Paid sick time accrued at a rate of 0.0385 per hour worked, estimated at 5.75 hours total for a 10-week intern.

Fringe benefits include two guest passes to SAM, access to RIC Fitness Center, Tier III AAM membership, discounts for SAM membership, Shop, and MARKET, access to member rates for ticketed events at SAM, and a subsidized ORCA card.

EXPECTED TIME COMMITMENT:

15 hours per week, for 10 weeks. Offices are open on weekdays, 9am-5pm and Wednesday – Friday availability is preferred.

Due to the hands-on nature of this internship, a majority of this position’s work will be on-site. Limited weekly hours for remote work may be available, if flexible scheduling is needed.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Build storyboards to conceptualize designs to convey project plans to stakeholders accurately.
• Manage, execute, and analyze usability sessions with support from other team members.
• Complete a job shadow with frontline volunteers during open hours.
• Compile finished, well-documented research findings to deliver meaningful and actionable insights for SAM’s broader Communications & Design teams.
• Plan, gather, and analyze insights about users through new studies and review of existing data.
• Complete a one-page reflection, blog post, or interview about your internship experience.
• Attend Research Day planning meetings.
• Attend Enrichment Sessions, informational interviews, and check-ins as available.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

• Clear understanding of and ability to discuss concepts related to racial equity, intersectionality, and social justice.
• Familiarity with concepts related to interaction design and information architecture.
• Demonstrated proficiency in general computer use, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and the internet. Proficiency in UX design software (Figma, Optimal Workshop, InVision, etc.) is preferred.
• Ability to adhere to museum policies and support management decisions in a positive, professional manner.
• Ability to work with others professionally and tactfully.
• Strong writing and communication skills, and ability to clearly articulate goals, progress, and outcomes to a professional audience. Experience creating storyboards and user journey graphics is preferred.
• Experience or demonstrated understanding of research methods through various media platforms is required. Prior experience with user surveys, data analytics, or other quantitative and qualitative UX research is strongly recommended.
• Prior experience with UX research or web design is preferred, but not required.
• Ability to ask for help and accept supervision and evaluation of your work.

EDUCATION & REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

Applicants are not required to have previous professional or museum experience. Competitive applicants will have a user experience design focused portfolio or relevant research experience. Class projects are acceptable.

This internship is open to applicants at any stage of their career journey, including certificate program, undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate students. At minimum, a high school diploma or equivalent is required.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Exposure: Work areas are primarily inside, in a climate-controlled environment with light background noise. Work is occasionally performed at other indoor and outdoor sites.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES REQUIRED FOR ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Stationary Work: Approximately 80% of time is spent stationary while working at a desk. Balance of time (approximately 20%) is spent moving around the work area. Occasional extended periods of standing may be required when assisting at Museum events.

Communication: Clear and effective communication with volunteers, donors, members, the public, and co-workers is necessary.

Moving: The ability to move up to twenty pounds on occasion is necessary for moving files, equipment, and supplies. Must be able to regularly position self to access files.

Office Work: Ability to effectively and regularly operate a computer, keyboard, and other office productivity machinery, such as copy machines and printers, and ability to inspect, prepare, and use paperwork, files, equipment, and supplies is necessary.

OTHER EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS

Centering equity, diversity, and inclusion as an organization, and as individuals, Seattle Art Museum (SAM) is committed to ensuring that all employees and volunteers enjoy a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming workplace. SAM is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, caste, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, status as a mother breastfeeding her child, presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability, political ideology, gender identity or expression, genetic information, honorably discharged veteran or military status, use of Section 8 certificate, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or any other class protected by federal, state or local laws.

Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check.

Please be aware that SAM does not sponsor work or study visas for interns at this time.

APPLICATION PROCESS (APPLICATION DEADLINE: AUGUST 11 AT 5 PM)

Applications are only accepted via the online form at https://seattleartmuseum.applytojob.com/apply.

Application materials in PDF format may also be sent to [email protected].

Each application should include:

• How your culture, background, or artistic/professional experiences inform your perspective on museum practice, community, and the arts.
• Two Letters of Recommendation, ideally from teachers, supervisors, or mentors. References should be emailed directly to [email protected], with the applicant name noted in the Subject line.
• How you consider yourself as meeting the specific criteria set out in the job description for this internship.
• (Optional) Portfolio of your previous work in UX research, web design, or similar projects. Materials may be submitted as a website or file share link in the application on SAM’s website, or emailed directly to [email protected].
• A Personal Statement or Cover Letter of no more than 700 words detailing:
  • How your culture, background, or artistic/professional experiences inform your perspective on museum practice, community, and the arts.
  • How questions of equity and inclusion shape your personal and professional goals.
  • What you hope to gain from this experience and how it might enhance your education and career plans.
  • How you consider yourself as meeting the specific criteria set out in the job description for this internship.
  • What specific areas of museum work you are most interested in learning about.
• Application Form (completed online)
• How questions of equity and inclusion shape your personal and professional goals.
• What you hope to gain from this experience and how it might enhance your education and career plans.
• What specific areas of museum work you are most interested in learning about.
• Resume, which describes experiences you believe are relevant to this internship and your professional goals. This may include professional experience, volunteer work, extracurricular activities, community service, and academic projects.

For additional information or to request reasonable accommodations for the application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at (206) 654-3188 or at [email protected].

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