Collections Manager

About the role

The Collections Manager is responsible for the maintenance and oversight of the museum's storage areas and ensures the organization and safe storage of loans to the museum, its permanent collections and any artwork entrusted to our care. This position is heavily involved in coordinating all permanent collection installations, scheduling movement of artwork within the museum, drafting and implementing departmental procedures related to handling, storage, installation and more.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate permanent gallery installations and rotations.
• Work closely with the Exhibitions department to generate the annual permanent collection gallery rotation schedule.
• Ensure that each facet of all installations are prepared and ready to install as scheduled, including coordinating and scheduling mock-ups and verifying mounts, cases, pedestals, platforms, labels, and other production materials with the relevant parties to include: Curatorial, Conservation, and Design/Production departments.
• Work with Registrar for Loans and curatorial staff to schedule and support loan rotations in permanent galleries.
• With the Art Handler Supervisor, oversee the Art Handling Team. Together, schedule art handlers for all art movement, permanent collection and special exhibition installations, and shipments.
• Utilize museum database to track and document movement of artwork within the museum. Generate movement, installation, art viewing, photography, and inventory orders. Update artwork locations and process and complete all movement requests in an accurate and timely manner.
• Daily monitoring of database for new/urgent art movement requests.
• Generate customized weekly movement reports for Collections Management staff, Museum Director, Curatorial staff and Senior Management.
• Implement and maintain procedures for collections care, data entry, inventory management, art handling, movement and storage in accordance with collection management principals consistent with American Alliance of Museums (AAM) guidelines.
• Responsible for the systems, overall condition, cleanliness, layout, and organization of all museum storage areas. Schedule regular physical inventories of all museum storage areas.
• Provide hands on training and oversight of archival rehousing projects in storage. Consult with conservation on current materials and rehousing strategies as needed.
• Serve as principal contact for physical access to collections for museum staff and visiting scholars.
• Aid Registrars with exhibitions and shipments as needed.
• Prepare and manage portions of the department budget as assigned.

Requirements and Key Competencies

• Bachelor's degree (B. A.) from four-year college or university and preferably an MA in Art History or Museum Studies; 8-10 years museum registration/collection management experience with an emphasis on teamwork and collaboration or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) and familiarity with database usage in a museum setting.
• Sound knowledge of museum registration methods, cataloguing, conservation and storage practices.
• Self-motivated and possesses strong organizational, interpersonal, and written and verbal communication skills.
• Flexible, able to multi-task and work well under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Prior knowledge of art history and experience in handling art is required.
• Prior successful managerial experience leading a team to meet departmental and company goals and objectives.
• A flexible mindset and professional demeanor are critical to this role as the employee interacts with all levels of museum staff and the public.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree (B. A.) from four-year college or university and preferably an MA in Art History or Museum Studies; 8-10 years museum registration/collection management experience with an emphasis on teamwork and collaboration or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience: Bachelor's degree (B. A.) from four-year college or university and preferably an MA in Art History or Museum Studies; 8-10 years museum registration/collection management experience with an emphasis on teamwork and collaboration or equivalent combination of education and experience.