Curatorial Assistant (temp)

About the role

The Harvard Art Museums seeks a highly organized and dynamic temporary assistant to support the collections of the Division of European and American Art for short-term coverage of an employee on leave. The assistant, who will report to the division’s Curator of the Collection, will perform a variety of administrative duties including updating the Museums’ database (TMS) and object files, responding to collection inquiries, coordinating collection photography, and conducting library research.

Responsibilities

• Organizes and implements administrative systems and procedures. Maintains files and an orderly office environment.
• Maintains and updates curatorial records in collections database and physical object files.
• Responds to inquiries and composes correspondence related to the collection.
• Coordinates Division photography requests.
• Schedules and compiles lists for Art Study Center appointments for staff and external requests.
• Supports divisional staff in a wide variety of assigned project-based work associated with divisional exhibitions, publications, lectures, and special projects.

Qualifications

• Basic Qualifications: Minimum of 3 years of related administrative support experience. Education may count toward experience.
• Additional Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree strongly preferred. Outstanding organizational skills, attention to detail, and adaptability will be essential to success in this position. Ability to multi-task and maintain positive, helpful attitude. Interest in museums, art, and art history helpful. Proficiency in relevant software applications (i.e. MS Office). Familiarity with The Museum System (TMS) helpful. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Knowledge of a European language can be helpful but is not required.

Pay

This position is non-benefitted, with an hourly wage of $25-30, depending on experience.

Schedule

The position is primarily onsite in Cambridge, with the possibility of some flexibility for remote work.

About the organization

The Fogg Museum collection comprises Western art from the Middle Ages to the present; the Busch-Reisinger Museum is dedicated to the study of art from the German-speaking countries of central and northern Europe, and is the only one of its kind in North America; and the Arthur M. Sackler Museum collection is focused on Asian, ancient, and Islamic and later Indian Art. Together, the collections include approximately 250,000 objects in all media.