Supervisory Museum Specialist (Collections Management)

About the role

This position is located in the Cultural Resource Center (CRC), National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), Smithsonian Institution (SI). The Supervisory Collections Manager oversees all aspects of storage, access, care, use, and disaster management planning for NMAI's collection in all three NMAI facilities including NMAI-DC, NMAI-NY, and NMAI CRC.

Responsibilities

• Supervises object movement tracking for collections using barcode scanner technology linked to the collections information system (KE EMu), oversees the environmental monitoring and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs at the Cultural Resource Center (CRC), NMAIDC, and NMAI-NY;
• Works closely with the Office of the Registrar and Conservation to oversee procedures and techniques to pack, unpack, and ship objects to and from the NMAI CRC, NMAI-DC, NMAI-NY, and non-NMAI facilities;
• Purchases, tracks, and maintains appropriate collections-related equipment and supplies and ensures the cleanliness and safety of collections areas;
• Participates in the development and fulfillment of partnerships with tribal museums and Native communities for a variety of purposes;
• Maintains the strong focus of NMAI collection care policies based on the combination of Native and museum standards of preservation and access, and helps to locate, encourage, and resolve sometimes divergent opinions regarding the proper care and access for the NMAI collections;
• Supervises and schedules the work of Museum Technicians and Specialists, interns, fellows, and volunteers in the Collections Management Unit;
• Plans work to be accomplished by Collections Management staff, sets and adjusts short-term priorities, prepares schedules for completion of work, and establishes and monitors work schedules and priorities.

Requirements

• Experience managing Native American collections in a museum, cultural or historic organization;
• Knowledge of accepted techniques, standards, and practices related to collections-based programs to include stewardship of collections, automated collections information systems, integrated pest management, security for collections storage and exhibits, collections movement and handling techniques, installation and de-installation of museum exhibits, and the provision of access to and the support of researchers and other users of collections;
• Knowledge of a wide range of concepts, principles, standards, methodology, and practices related to the care, storage, handling, shipping, receiving, packing, unpacking, internal movement, and shelving of a museum collection of contemporary, ethnographic and archaeological material as well as storage-support-making techniques and archival materials appropriate to a museum collection of contemporary art, ethnographic, and archaeological material;
• Knowledge and experience in managing and supervising staff, contractors, fellows, interns, and volunteers; prepares budgets, procures resources, sets work expectations and schedules, assesses and improve workflows and processes, and evaluates and reports on results in the federal government environment.