Instrument Technician/Music Librarian

Dance, Music, and Theater

Job #550063

First Review Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Open Until Filled

 

At Cal Poly Humboldt, bold hearts and open minds shape the future.

Founded in 1913, Cal Poly Humboldt began as a small college for teachers. Today Humboldt has grown into a comprehensive university with rigorous science and liberal arts programs. Designated a polytechnic in 2022, Cal Poly Humboldt provides hands-on, impactful educational opportunities that lead to meaningful, measurable outcomes for the individual, for the state, and the world.

 

Cal Poly Humboldt is proud to have more than 6,000 students of all backgrounds spread across 61 majors, 13 graduate programs, and 4 credential programs — all of whom contribute passion and creativity within their fields and set the stage for a future grounded in equity and sustainability. Hands-on learning, inspired teaching, ground-breaking research, and thought-provoking creative activity happen daily at Humboldt.

 

Finding a better future is a task for the bold and open, the down-to-earth and visionary. Cal Poly Humboldt strives to cultivate these qualities in leaders, innovators, and scholars in every field.

 

 

 

(Job #550063) Instructional Support Assistant III, Instrument Technician/Music Librarian, Salary Range: $3,278 - $5,566; Hiring Range: $3,771 . This is a full-time, benefited, non-exempt, 12-month pay plan permanent position with a one-year probationary period in Dance, Music and Theater. This position comes with a premium benefits package that includes outstanding vacation, medical, dental, and vision plans, life insurance, voluntary pre-tax health and dependent care reimbursement accounts, a fee waiver education program, membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and 14 paid holidays per year. Additional benefits information can be found at https://hraps.humboldt.edu/employee-benefits.

 

Position Summary:

The person in this position is responsible for the 1) Music department’s band and orchestral instrument collection, with emphasis on instrument check-out and return, inventory, insurance, maintenance, repair, transportation, and storage (including the department’s storage lockers), AND for maintaining the Music Department Ensemble Library according to Music Department library policies with emphasis on cataloging new acquisitions, overseeing circulation of music library materials, repairing damaged materials, planning for replacement of missing materials, and regularly shelf-reading the collection. 

 

Key Responsibilities:

Oversight and accountability for all musical instruments – 20%

1. Prepares and issues all musical instruments and accessories to students and faculty.
2. Maintains computerized database inventory of instruments and accessories.
3. Performs periodic inventory review to meet insurance requirements. 
4. Ensures that instruments and equipment are returned.
5. Requests charges to students’ accounts if items are not returned or when instruments are checked out over breaks.

 

Oversight and accountability for locker usage – 5%

1. Maintains locker inventory, repairs, and/or modifies lockers to accommodate special storage needs. 
2. Assigns locks and lockers to students based on instrument need.
3. Prepares locker lists in support of numerous summer workshops.

 

Instrument repair – 15%

1. Completes minor repairs of wind, percussion, and string instruments.
2. Performs periodic evaluations of the state of maintenance of instruments.  Repairs instruments that are not in playing condition or consults with faculty and program leaders to make plans for needed off-campus repair.
3. Oversees transportation of instruments to outside repairers.   
4. As part of annual inventory, presents information to program leader about needs for replacement of worn-out instruments and cases, etc. 
5. Maintains inventory of specialized repair tools, replacement parts, and instrument accessories. 
6. Prepares annual budget and purchasing requests for consumable instrument accessories (such as strings, reeds, rosin, cork grease, cleaning cloths, valve oil, shoulder pads, etc.)
7. At the request of faculty, design, fabricate, and/or modify custom musical instruments or equipment to support instructional programs.

 

Support for performers and facilities – 10%

1. In consultation with the program leader, evaluates requests by on and off campus groups (Cal Poly Humboldt Presents and others) for instrument or equipment use.  Select appropriate instruments and provide preparation in accordance with specific artist’s needs.
2. Assist the Piano Technician in moving upright and grand pianos, and other large instruments, between buildings or off campus as instructional needs require. 
3. Assist in moving equipment (chairs, music stands, instruments, etc.) for special events such as IdeaFest, All-County, NorCal Honor Ensembles, etc. 
4. Repair and redesign for specific needs, classroom equipment such as music stands, chairs, and stools as needed.
5. As needed, assist the recording technician in adjusting recital hall lighting, recording, and video systems. 
6. As needed, maintains audio playback systems in classrooms, working with other department and university staff as needed.

 

Music Library Circulation – 20%

1. check out music from the library to faculty, qualified students, and community members in accord with department policy.
2. Check, organize (in score order), repair, and re-shelve returned scores and parts.
3. Remind faculty and student borrowers to return materials.  Request charges to student and community borrowers if items are not returned.
4. Research rental music information, fielding music reference questions, searching the main library catalog and internet.

 

Music Library Maintenance – 25%

1. Maintain, update, and revise as needed, a searchable database (available online to all music faculty) of the Ensemble Library Holdings.
2. Catalog, prepare, and file all new acquisitions
3. Shelf-read the collection.  Identify damaged and/or missing music, and in consultation with faculty plan for replacement of damaged/missing music.
4. In consultation with faculty, weed the collection as appropriate.
5. In consultation with faculty, evaluate donations of new music and determine what should be added to the collection.

 

Other support – 5%

1. Other duties as assigned

 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Associated with this Position Include:

As listed in Classification Standards:

• Knowledge of the procedures and practices related to providing musical instrument and ensemble librarian support services. 
• Knowledge of procedures and practices related to ordering, issuing, and inventory.
• Ability to learn quickly the names, uses, and care of band and orchestral musical instruments. 
• Ability to learn quickly the care of sheet music, sources of sheet music, and score order.
• Ability to plan, organize, and follow a schedule of activities.
• Ability to learn to operate equipment and adjust.
• Ability to maintain records and project needs.
• Ability to correctly perform simple arithmetic calculations.
• Ability to read and write at a level suitable for performance on the job. 

 

As related to the major responsibilities for this position:

• Organizational skills and the ability to create and maintain computerized records relating to a physical inventory of sheet music. (i.e. cataloging, instruments, accessories, and tools.
• Organizational skills relating to checkout, return, and maintenance of the department’s inventory of sheet music, instruments, and accessories.
• Ability to relate well to faculty, students, and the community.
• Ability to work independently and balance the need to take the initiative to get tasks completed with the need to consult with faculty and the department chair.
• Ability to quickly learn to make minor repairs to woodwind, brass, and string instruments.
• Ability to quickly learn basic skills in wood and metal working including the ability to safely use tools such as a metal lathe, buffing wheel, band saw, drill press, table saw, soldering/brazing/welding equipment, etc. 
• Knowledge of music terminology and composers.
• Knowledge of repertoire for choral and instrumental ensembles, large and chamber ensembles. 
• Knowledge of instruments used in compositions for large ensembles.

 

Minimum Qualifications:

Experience equivalent to one year performing instrument support services for an instructional program and involving activities such as inventorying, evaluating, preparing, repairing, dispensing, storing, and moving musical instruments and experience equivalent to one year performing music librarian services for an instructional program or community musical ensemble, involving activities such as inventorying, evaluating, preparing, repairing, dispensing, and storing sheet music. 

OR

Experience Equivalent to two years of college with 16 semester units in courses involving extensive use of musical instruments and sheet music. 

OR

Experience equivalent to one year of experience in ordering, purchasing, accounting, or in work related to musical instruments and sheet music 

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to maintain and repair musical instruments (especially orchestral wind, percussion, and string instruments) and related equipment.
• Ability to play orchestral instruments sufficiently to determine that they function correctly.
• Thorough knowledge of specialized tools, techniques, and materials used in the repair and fabrication of musical instruments. 
• Skills in wood and metal working including the ability to safely use tools such as a metal lathe, buffing wheel, band saw, drill press, table saw, soldering/brazing/welding equipment, etc. 
• Knowledge of languages used in music, particularly German, French, and Italian.
• Knowledge of instruments, including unusual instruments, used in compositions for large ensembles.
• Knowledge of cataloging and inventorying, including use of computerized cataloging/inventorying systems.
• Knowledge of acquisitions, including knowledge of publishers and distributors of music.
• Knowledge of conservation/preservation techniques for repair of damaged music.
• Knowledge of effective approaches for circulation/checkout/return of instruments and sheet music.
• Ability to assist users in finding appropriate music for their ensemble. 
• Ability to use musical notation software to re-create missing parts.
• Bachelor’s degree in music
• Formal Training in Instrument Repair
• Formal Training in Library Science
• Experience organizing and maintaining large volumes of sheet music
• Ability to read musical notation fluently

Application Procedure: To apply, qualified candidates must electronically submit the following materials by clicking the Apply Now button:

• Letter of Interest
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Contact information for at least three professional references

Application Deadline: The deadline to submit application materials before first review is 11:55 p.m. on Monday, October 20, 2025.

Any inquiries about this recruitment can be directed to careers@humboldt.edu or Cal Poly Humboldt’s Human Resources Office at (707) 826-3626.

We acknowledge that Cal Poly Humboldt is located on the unceded lands of the Wiyot people, where they have resided from time immemorial. We encourage all to gain a deeper understanding of their history and thriving culture. As an expression of our gratitude we are genuinely committed to developing trusting, reciprocal, and long lasting partnerships with the Wiyot people as well as all of our neighboring tribes. Cal Poly Humboldt was the first campus in the California State University system to offer a stand-alone major in Native American Studies.

Cal Poly Humboldt is committed to enriching its educational environment and its culture through the diversity of its staff, faculty, and administration. Persons with interest and experience in helping organizations set and achieve goals relative to diversity and inclusion are especially encouraged to apply.

Working in the state of California is a condition of employment for this position. Even if part or all of an employee's assignment can be performed remotely, the employee must maintain a permanent residence in the state of California. The employee must be able to accept on-campus work assignment, as assigned, and come to campus when needed.

CSU strongly recommends that all individuals who access any in-person program or activity (on- or off-campus) operated or controlled by the University follow COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications and comply with other safety measure established by each campus. The systemwide policy can be found at CSU Vaccination Policy and any questions you have may be submitted to hr@humboldt.edu.

Cal Poly Humboldt hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States. This position may be considered a “Campus Security Authority”, pursuant to the Clery Act, and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1107 a condition of employment.

CAL POLY HUMBOLDT IS NOT A SPONSORING AGENCY FOR STAFF OR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS (e.g. H1-B VISAS)

Evidence of required degree(s), certification(s), or license(s) is required prior to the appointment date. Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check, employment verification, and education verification) is required for employment. Cal Poly Humboldt will issue a contingent offer of employment to the selected candidate, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or if it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information.  Certain positions may also require a credit check, motor vehicle report, and/or fingerprinting through Live Scan service. Failure to satisfactorily complete or adverse findings from a background check may affect the employment status of candidates or continued employment of current CSU employees who are being considered for the position.

All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, the Cal Poly Humboldt provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly Humboldt complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.  Cal Poly Humboldt is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At Cal Poly Humboldt, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.

 

Additionally, all CSU staff and faculty receive training annually on their obligations in responding to and reporting incidents of sexual harassment and sexual violence. You will be notified by email when you are required to take this mandated training.

Class Code: 1579
Publication Date: 9/30/2025