Jun 3

Jobs: Two openings at Densho (Seattle)

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Editor, Online Encyclopedia

Densho is seeking a full-time tech-savvy individual with deep content knowledge in Japanese American history to help create the content for a brand new online encyclopedia about the World War II Japanese American experience. This person will coordinate and oversee the work of writers, proofers, photo editors, and scholars of Japanese American history. The ideal candidate will be an excellent writer and editor, have a strong background in Japanese American history, understand web technology, and possess excellent communication and project management skills. Health, dental, and vision benefits are available. Budgeted starting annual salary is $50,000.

Web Developer

Densho is seeking a full-time web developer to help create the next-generation of Densho websites. The initial project of the web developer will be to design and create a brand new online encyclopedia about the World War II Japanese American experience. This person will incorporate the work of content specialists and graphic designers into a scalable, database-driven website that is easy to update and maintain. Other projects for the web developer include updating Densho’s SQL Server database and the web applications running off of this database. The ideal candidate will have strong project management skills and experience programming in C#, ASP.NET, and SQL or equivalent programming languages. Health, dental, and vision benefits are available. Budgeted starting annual salary is $50,000.

To apply for either of the jobs above, please send your resume (Word, PDF, or Plain Text) and a cover letter describing your interest to jobs@densho.org by Monday, July 12. Please put the title of the position to which you are applying in the Subject field. All applications will be held in confidence.

*All submissions and questions should be sent via email – please no phone inquiries.*

WORKING AT DENSHO

Because big dreams take many minds and hands to complete, we work in teams. At Densho, teams are custom built for each project. For example, you may be leading a team of technologists for a month to design a website upgrade and the next day you might be asked to drive a truck and unload supplies for the fundraising team. Roles are dynamic and fluid at Densho, and each person contributes the best he or she can.

Densho is a non-hierarchical organization with many opportunities for flexibility and autonomy, but with the risk of ambiguity and misunderstandings. For this reason, regardless of what position you have at Densho, it is important that you communicate well and are able and willing to work with others in a generous manner. Everyone at Densho goes the extra step to make sure everything flows.

Finally, at the heart of Densho, we care deeply about social justice issues and the Japanese American community, especially Nisei elders. More than just collecting stories or photos or letters to preserve, we feel we are being entrusted and honored with gifts to share for many generations to come. It becomes natural and assumed that we will do our best to create world-class systems to preserve and share these historically valuable materials for hundreds of years. This is what drives us at Densho. Money is not the motivation because unfortunately we can’t pay a lot or give big bonuses. And yet, without strong financial incentives, people still work so hard. All the staff take great pride in what Densho offers to our growing audiences.

I hope this gives you a clear, more personal glimpse at what it is like to work at Densho. If this is the work environment for you, please consider applying for one of the open positions. There is plenty of good work to go around and we could use help from energetic, fresh thinkers!