Title Curatorial Assistant Posting Number S01404JP Department Arctic Museum Arctic Studies Job Summary Under the direction of the Director and Curator, the Curatorial Assistant is responsible for (1) encouraging and facilitating K-12 school groups’ use of the Arctic Museum exhibits and helping manage docent-led tours; (2) undertaking a major project related to one of the Arctic Museum’s initiatives; and (3) maintaining the Arctic Museum’s social media presence. In addition, the Curatorial Assistant will perform routine tasks throughout the museum, including assisting with exhibition installations, docent training, routine collection care, community outreach, and research support.
This is an entry-level, two-year post-baccalaureate appointment.Education/Skills Requirements Experience Requirements and/or Equivalents Standard Work Days and Hours The hourly range for this position is expected to be: $20.50 –$21.50/per hour. Compensation based on your skills and experience.
BENEFITS AND PERKS
- A variety of health insurance plans (Medical – effective date of hire, Vision, Dental)
- Generous Retirement Plan – 10.12% annual compensation contribution (Eligible after 1 year of service and age 26), no match or vesting required!
- Life and Disability Insurance
- Paid Time Off: 10 days of vacation (1st year), 15 days (2nd year), 12 days of personal/sick time (PTO accruals based on hours worked).
- Paid Holidays and Special Days Off: https://www.bowdoin.edu/hr/our-workplace/college-holidays-and-special-days-off.html
- Paid Parental Leave (Available after one year of service)
- Access to many of the College’s facilities including the gym and pool (Including household members)
- Free fitness and wellness classes!
- And more: https://www.bowdoin.edu/hr/benefits-perks/index.html
About Bowdoin We encourage applications from candidates committed to the support of an inclusive campus community and those who will enrich and contribute to the College’s multifaceted diversity. We value a community in which individuals of all backgrounds are warmly welcomed and encouraged to succeed.
Founded in 1794, Bowdoin has maintained its commitment to the liberal arts for well over 200 years. Bowdoin’s reputation as a preeminent liberal arts college rests on the excellence of its faculty, students, and staff; intimate size; strong sense of community; and connections to the people, history, and natural beauty of Maine.
Bowdoin’s campus is situated in a beautiful natural setting. Located in Brunswick, Maine, a town of approximately 20,000, the College is a short drive from the Maine coast, twenty-five miles from Portland and 120 miles from Boston.
Shift Employment Category Full Time Year Round FTE 0.94 Benefits Eligible Yes Pay Type Hourly Background Check Package Requirements Support Staff + MVR Is driving a vehicle (e.g. Bowdoin vehicle or off road vehicle, rental car, personal car) an essential function of this job? Yes Is a pre-placement physical required for this position? No Posting Date 04/04/2025 Applications Accepted Until Open Until Filled No Type of Posting Internal/External Special Instructions to Applicants EEO Information
Position Announcement: Research Associate, Native American Art, The Met
Description
About the Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Met presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy. The Museum lives in two iconic sites in New York City—The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters. Millions of people also take part in The Met experience online.
Since its founding in 1870, The Met has always aspired to be more than a treasury of rare and beautiful objects. We are committed to fostering a collaborative and respectful work environment with a staff as diverse as the audiences we engage. Our staff members are art lovers who are passionate about working toward a common goal: creating the most dynamic and inspiring art museum in the world.
At The Met, every staff member – from security officers to researchers to scientists and beyond – lives by our core values of respect, inclusivity, collaboration, excellence, and integrity.
Respect: Engage one another with collegiality, empathy, and kindness, always.
Inclusivity: Ensure that all are and feel welcome and valued.
Collaboration: Reach across boundaries to exchange ideas and work together toward our shared mission.
Excellence: Lead the cultural world in quality and expertise—and inspire curiosity and creativity.
Integrity: Hold ourselves to the highest moral standards, admit when we fall short, and then evolve.
About the DepartmentFounded in 1924, the American Wing is the only western collecting area of The Met’s seventeen curatorial departments to regularly blend art and design in our more than 75 galleries. With a collection of roughly 20,000 works by African American, Asian American, Euro-American, Latin American, and Native American makers—ranging primarily from the mid-17th to early -20th century, with select contemporary expressions—the American Wing represents one of the largest and most comprehensive holdings of North American artistic expression in the world. These dynamic collections include paintings, sculptures, drawings, furniture, textiles, regalia, ceramics, basketry, glass, silver, metalwork, jewelry, as well as historic interiors and architectural fragments, produced by highly trained staff and self-taught artists, both identified and unrecorded, comprising an expansively defined American art department housed within a global museum.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES
As the Research Associate for Native American art, you will support the Associate Curator of Native American Art in the research and documentation of The Met’s Native American holdings. You will contribute to ongoing collection and exhibition development as well as assist with various related administrative duties, including bibliography and database work. You will also collaborate with the American Wing’s NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act) Coordinator and Community Liaison to assist in planning community visits and related activities.
This is a position with an established end-date or time frame. Time frames will begin upon hire: 1 Year, with the possibility of renewal.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES
Curatorial
- Investigate and document diverse works to be featured in loan exhibitions and collection installations, including provenance, bibliography, and exhibition-history research
- Create and maintain checklists and associated files
- Draft and edit content for exhibitions and publications in collaboration with curator
- Assist curator in interfacing with various Museum departments involved in project development and realization, including Exhibitions, Registration, Conservation, Design, Digital, Editorial, Communications, Development, and Education
- Assist curator with provenance research for potential purchase and gift acquisitions, as well as incoming and outgoing loans for exhibitions
- Prepare PowerPoint materials for lectures in support of projects; deliver gallery talks and tours as needed
- Coordinate and assist with procurement of rights for images, video, music, and other content for exhibitions and related publications
- Assist with on-site gallery installations
- Other duties as assigned
NAGPRA-Related
- Assist NAGPRA Coordinator & Community Liaison with provenance research as needed
- Assist with logistics of community visits and repatriation arrangements as needed
- Assist with data entry of information resulting from consultations, community visits, and other communications as needed
REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS
- M.A. in Native American Art History, Native/Indigenous Studies, Museum Studies, or Anthropology
- Advanced knowledge of Native American art and culture
- Familiarity with NAGPRA compliance and repatriation protocols, also the Duty of Care under new regulations published on Jan. 12, 2024
- Past experience in curatorial museum work
- Familiarity with research resources
- Familiarity with relational databases for museum collections management, TMS preferred
- Highly organized and detail-oriented
- Independent research skills
- Past experience working with Native American Nations, Tribes, Pueblos, Organizations, and communities
- Demonstrated commitment to ethical stewardship of Native American and Indigenous communities
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
- Proven ability to work well both independently and as a member of a team
COMPENSATION RANGE:
- Pay Range: $72,000.00 – $74,000.00 / Annually
- The advertised pay scale reflects the good faith minimum and maximum salary range for this role. The advertised pay scale is not a promise of a particular wage for any specific employee. The specific compensation offered to a candidate may be dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, education, special licensing or qualifications, and other factors.
Position Announcement: Eugene and Clare Thaw Curator of American Indian Art, Fenimore Art Museum
Description
Fenimore Art Museum, located in Cooperstown, New York, is seeking an experienced and highly motivated candidate for the full-time position of Eugene and Clare Thaw Curator of American Indian Art. The curator will be responsible for the research, curation, development, and management of the collection as well as Native American Graves and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) requirements. This position is endowed through the Eugene and Clare Thaw Curator Endowment Fund and reports to the President & CEO.
About the collection
The Eugene and Clare Thaw Collection of American Indian Art is comprised of almost 900 objects housed in a gallery specifically designed for the art. Each object reaffirms the Thaws’ and the museum’s commitment to the beauty and artistry of American Indian art. The art was collected from across North America: The Northeast, the Plains, California & the Great Basin, the Southwest, and the Northwest Coast. The curator will be responsible for the display in the main American Indian art gallery, maintaining the open storage gallery, and contributing to other exhibitions as appropriate. In addition to the pieces in the Thaw Collection, there are approximately 100 works of American Indian Art in the collections of Fenimore Art Museum and Fenimore Farm. The curator will also be responsible for those pieces.
Duties and Responsibilities
Conduct research on permanent collections to populate database entries on each work. In the course of work, develop an in-depth understanding of the objects and their place in American Indian art in a wider context.
Use knowledge of collections and museum exhibitions to locate and organize information for incorporation into popular publications and articles.
Work with curatorial and exhibitions staff to develop exhibition topics. Participate in the preparation and staging of exhibitions and exhibition catalogs.
Manage NAGPRA research and consultations in accordance with the law.
Serve, on occasion, as Fenimore Art Museum liaison to guest curators, lenders, and outside institutions for the purpose of coordinating the preparation, staging and touring of exhibitions.
Serve on the Collections Advisory Committee and advise the President & CEO on matters pertaining to the collection.
Review loan requests for artworks in the collection and present same to the Collections Advisory Committee.
Identify and present potential acquisitions of historic or contemporary American Indian Art.
Examine collections for conditions requiring conservation and perform cataloging of collections.
Present gallery talks and lectures related to the Museum collections. Respond to routine inquiries from the public.
Prepare reports on activities for the Museum and Library Committee of the Board of Trustees.
Manage a departmental budget.
Supervise, on occasion, interns and research fellows working with the collection.
Represent Fenimore Art Museum and the Thaw Collection at conferences and other gatherings\.
Maintain cordial and productive relationships with Native communities, particularly the Haudenosaunee.
Travel may be necessary and is funded through the endowment.
Requirements
Qualification Requirements
Candidates will be knowledgeable in the field of American Indian art history and will further specialize in one or more areas of expertise within that field.
Experience with the principles and methods of art historical research and the organization and preparation of exhibitions and publications.
Candidates will be familiar with the basics of museum practice and understand the interrelationships between museum offices and responsibilities.
Candidates will show evidence of excellent writing and public speaking skills.
Candidates will understand the requirements of NAGPRA. Experience with tribal consultations is preferred.
An MA in a relevant field and five years of experience preferred.
Experience with The Museum System (TMS), preferred.
Position Announcement: Administration Specialist/Program Coordinator, Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian
OVERVIEW: Come join a mission driven institution and be a central contributor to the Department of Conservation at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI). The NMAI seeks a Program Coordinator to support the Andrew W. Mellon fellowship and NMAI Conservation internship programs. NMAI Conservation is dedicated to advancing conservation exposure and training through the implementation of NMAI’s mission through developing and supporting conservation collaborations and partnerships with Native and Indigenous communities and allied organizations.
This position is located at the NMAI in the Cultural Resources Center in Suitland, MD. Occasional travel to other NMAI locations or partnering institutions and Indigenous communities may be required.
Please note, this is a trust position and applications are not through USA Jobs; an uploaded CV or resume and cover letter are required at the job application website. Your cover letter should address how your resume and experience connect to the requirements of the position. A resume can be more than two pages given that it should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job, starting and ending dates of job (month and year), and average number of hours worked per week.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provides scheduling, coordination, and other administrative support for fellowship and internship program activities.
- Assists in maintaining and tracking program budgets.
- Establishes and maintains systems to organize program correspondence and files.
- Leads and refines communication and documentation strategies for fellowship and internship programs
- Conceptualize, propose, implement, document, and evaluate outreach and engagement projects and programs and takes on projects as assigned by the supervisor of the Conservation Department
- Works collaboratively with other staff in the Conservation Department and cross-departmentally to host artist, community members and Tribal Museum/Cultural Center partners virtually and in person.
- Supports procurement and invitational travel to host Indigenous communities and community members at the museum.
- Assist with documenting collaborative engagements in the Collections Information and Digital Asset Management systems.
- Works collaboratively to create and implement a digital strategy for conservation through sharing digital conservation resources and outreach through social media.
- Help organize and conduct conservation workshops.
- Serve as a resource for fellows/Interns in navigating SI and federal systems and professional development.
- Coordinate department activities with other collections departments, internally and externally.
- Assists on an as-needed basis the work of the Conservation Department.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Required Qualifications and Experience
- Experience in engagement with Indigenous community members and/or tribal institutions.
- Excellent writing, communication, and organizational skills.
- Ability to interact with diverse peoples with tact and diplomacy.
- Ability to plan, coordinate, and prioritize multiple projects independently and with a high degree of efficiency and accuracy.
- Experience in administrative practices and procedures such as establishing and maintaining systems to organize information and communications, project and financial tracking, meeting facilitation, and scheduling.
- The ability to work independently and in a team; the incumbent will support the Conservation Department in service of the Mellon Fellowship/Internships and community engagement activity.
Preferred Qualifications and Experience
- Proficiency in the functions of Microsoft Office software, including Excel, Word, Power Point, and virtual meeting platforms with the ability to learn new automated systems.
- Knowledge of Indigenous perspectives on museums and the collections in their care.
- Working proficiency in a second language (Indigenous, Spanish, etc.).
Applicants, who wish to qualify based on education completed outside the United States, must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.
Information and how to apply at the website: Administration Specialist – Suitland, MD | National Museum of the American Indian Careers
Share stories about the impact of NEH funding with the National Humanities Alliance
The National Humanities Alliance is collecting information about the impact of NEH funding: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5et0sDZaQQNaaCvoerItU5s-XFWhWTS9CxeeWQRL0fc84fg/viewform
2025 Council for Museum Anthropology Awards
AAA Town Hall: Defending Anthropology: Strategies for Sustaining Our Departments
- 5/6/2025 3:00 PM EDT
- 5/6/2025 5:00 PM EDT
Anthropology departments across the country are facing unprecedented challenges—from budget-driven closures and mergers to increasing threats to academic freedom. Now more than ever, faculty, students, and advocates must come together to protect the future of our discipline.
Join us for a critical Town Hall focused on equipping our community with the tools and strategies needed to push back against these pressures.
This interactive session will feature:
- Expert insights on navigating institutional challenges
- Advocacy and strategies to protect anthropology programs
- Action planning to mobilize faculty, students, and professional organizations
We will also introduce the newly developed Anthropology Department Crisis Toolkit—a comprehensive resource offering guidance on legal advocacy, policy engagement, and faculty organizing.
Your voice and participation are essential. Let’s build a collective strategy to defend anthropology together.
CMA Advocacy Statement in Support of the Institute for Museum and Library Services and its Staff
Advocacy Statement in Support of the Institute for Museum and Library Services and its Staff
2025-03-31
The Council for Museum Anthropology (CMA) stands in support of strong and continued funding for IMLS. We are deeply concerned about recent federal actions directing drastic and abrupt cuts to IMLS. These cuts threaten essential grant programs and resources that benefit museums of all sizes across the country. They come only two months after IMLS launched the first-ever National Museum Survey to document the scope and scale of museums’ presence and reach within the United States.
IMLS is the only federal agency providing dedicated support for museums and libraries. It provides critical funding to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement, as well as collections care at US institutions. When museums and libraries flourish, so do our communities.
Using only .0046% of the federal budget, IMLS funds projects through many high-impact programs like Save America’s Treasures; The 21st Century Museum Professional (21MP) program; Collections Assessment for Preservation (CAP); Connecting to Collections Care training (C2C Care); Sustainability Tools in Cultural Heritage (STiCH); and the Museums for America program, which supports US museums of all sizes and disciplines in strategic, project-based efforts to serve the public. These resources may disappear if IMLS’s non-statutory functions are eliminated.
CMA offers this statement as one of high priority for museum and heritage professionals, scholars, community partners, and local, state, and federal governments. We urge our members and supporters to learn more and take immediate action to share their views and raise awareness.
- IMLS is funded through the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education (Address: H-307 The Capitol, Washington, DC 20515; Chair: Rep. Robert B. Aderholt (AL), Ranking Member: Rep. Rosa DeLauro (CT)); and the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education (Address: S-128 The Capitol, Washington, DC 20510; Chair: Sen. Tammy Baldwin (WI); Ranking Member: Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (WV)).
- Contact your members of Congress: Share personal stories of how IMLS funding has supported your work, institution, and local community. Customized messages have a stronger impact. The American Alliance of Museums has templates and more here: https://www.aam-us.org/2025/03/17/urgent-act-now-to-save-imls/ ; https://www.congressweb.com/aam/94/.
- Reach out to state and local officials: Inform them about the potential consequences of IMLS funding cuts on local institutions and their services.
- Reach out to your institutional leadership and board members to make them aware of this threat and ways to share support.
- Additional resources: The American Alliance of Museums and American Libraries Association are leading national efforts on this topic: https://www.aam-us.org/2025/03/17/urgent-act-now-to-save-imls/; https://www.ala.org/faq-executive-order-targeting-imls; https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/science-research-policy/2025/03/20/trump-order-threatens-university-libraries
By advocating together, we can help protect the essential role of IMLS in sustaining museums and their contributions to society.
—CMA Executive Board
This statement represents the view of members of the Council for Museum Anthropology. It should not be construed as representing the American Anthropological Association as a whole. The American Anthropological Association is a voluntary, non-profit, scholarly association. Membership is worldwide. It has diverse sections representing specialized interests within the field.
Position Announcement: Collections Manager & Registrar, The Wheelwright Museum,
The Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian is the oldest independent non-profit museum in New Mexico. It was founded by Mary Cabot Wheelwright (1878–1958) in collaboration with the respected Diné singer Hastiin Klah (1867–1937). The building is recognized as a historic landmark and has been open to the public since 1938. The Wheelwright is an accredited museum with a permanent gallery, contemporary exhibition spaces, and lively public programs. The Wheelwright aims to work in partnership and actively collaborates with Indigenous artists, trustees, curators, and archivists since its founding.
JOB TITLE: Collections Manager & Registrar
EFFECTIVE DATE: June 2025
Reports to: Director
Works directly with: Director and Curatorial Teams; contractors
Works indirectly with: Case Trading Post; Business Office
Supervises: Interns and Volunteers as needed
FLSA Classification: non exemptJOB SUMMARY: This is a responsible position, whose central task is the management of collections with registrar functions. This position is part of the Collections and Curatorial staff, which includes two curators, an archivist, installation staff, and interns; it is a small team responsible for delivering the exhibition program and working collaboratively on the permanent collection of ca. 12,000 objects and their documentation. The position is primarily responsible for the care of the collection, including assessing conservation status, monitoring gallery and storage needs/conditions, undertaking inventory and rehousing work, implementing integrated pest management principles, and maintaining documentation to the proper professional standards. The postholder will lead on ensuring the overall security and well-being of the collections and will maintain documentation and inventories with curatorial and collections staff. This position oversees transportation, packing, and shipping of collections in compliance with insurance regulations and the highest standards of professional practice. The position also supports the Collections Committee, ensuring all paperwork for accessions, de-accessions, and loans are maintained.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
• Bachelor’s degree
• Master’s degree in Museum Studies or proven equivalent professional experience
• A minimum of 2 years of experience working in collections management in a museum or gallery
context, including museum display, handling, accessioning, data retrieval, provenance research,
assessing storage requirements, condition reporting and fine art shipping,
• Background in, and experience of, working with contemporary or historic Indigenous North American
collections,
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word suite including Teams and Adobe Photoshop
• Familiarity and comfort with collections management databases including Proficio/Rediscovery.SKILLS:
The skills required are those of being able to work independently and in collaboration, exercising sound judgement and a practical approach to risk management, and familiarity with the best practices of collections management in the context of small museums or tribal/cultural institutions. It includes, but is not limited to:
• Demonstrated understanding of professional museum practices and standards, including registration methods, loans paperwork, safe object handling, conservation, packing and shipping of objects,
• Demonstrated experience of working on exhibitions and exhibition preparation including condition reporting, handling and mounting,
• Demonstrated ability to show responsiveness and consideration for the documentation of collections, their preservation and care,
• Demonstrated ability to undertake strategic assessment of collections and work within museum collection policies,
• Demonstrated understanding of security of collection and climate conditions in storage and exhibits, including daily monitoring of galleries,
• Good understanding of photography and photographic potential of collections,
• Knowledge of conservation practices and art preparation,
• Demonstrated ability to plan, problem-solve and deliver in accordance with deadlines,
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with others to achieve Museum’s overall goals and
objectives,
• Strong written skills, including ability to write reports, summarize issues, and conduct professional
correspondence,
• An eye for detail and commitment to accuracy.ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Maintains and monitors safety and security of collections in accordance with established professional standards, including responsibility for environmental conditions, integrated pest management, and security of collections; this includes maintaining a clean working environment and organized digital files and paper records,
• Oversight of the database: revise and evaluate registration and catalog system to maintain applicability, consistency, and operation,
• Oversight and processing of all incoming and outgoing collections for loans, donations, deaccessioned items, and exhibitions including shipping, security, insurance, and packing,
• Ensuring all legal and ethical issues regarding loans are addressed,
• Works with those inside and outside the Museum to support NAGPRA processes and compliance,
• Works in collaboration with Curatorial and Collections staff in the maintenance of the museum’s
collection database, and in the generation of all paperwork to do with pre- and post- acquisition
process, including supporting the Collections Committee,
• Works with Curatorial and Collections staff in planning and installation of exhibits, especially in
preparing collections and advising on conversation needs,
• Management and oversight of the collection database; review and evaluate registration and catalog
system to maintain applicability, consistency, and operation,
• Recommends changes in recordkeeping procedures to achieve maximum accessibility to and
efficient retrieval of collection objects,
• Schedules and facilitates research by scholars and other visitors,
• Part of the emergency planning team,
• Contributes and supports public programs and access initiatives,
• Other duties as assigned.ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Exercises supervision over assigned volunteers or internsPHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
• Ability to lift, carry and otherwise move up to 20 pounds on a regular basis;
• Ability to sit, stand, bend, kneel, reach, push, pull, or walk for various lengths of time throughout the day;
• Ability to utilize computer equipment to complete daily work responsibilities, and other technologies consistent with current office environment;
• Ability to use manual and light-duty power tools.BENEFITS:
We offer a competitive benefits package.EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT:
The Wheelwright Museum is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity. It is our policy to encourage and support equal employment opportunity for all associates and applicants without regard to age, sex, race, color, ancestry, religious creed, national origin, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, individual genetic information, disabled veteran or Vietnam Era Veteran Status.AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT:
Applicants as well as employees who are, or become, disabled must be able to perform the essential job functions either unaided or with reasonable accommodation. The organization shall determine reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis in accordance with applicable law.JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
The above statements reflect the general duties and responsibilities considered necessary to perform the essential functions of the job. This document should not be considered a fully detailed description of all the work requirements of the position. The Wheelwright Museum may change the specific job duties with or without prior notice based on the needs of the organization.APPLICATION:
Send CV with covering letter detailing experience addressing qualifications, skills and responsibilities and contact details for three references to director@wheelwright.org , cc info@wheelwright.org. Review of applications will begin April 14 2025.For more information about the post, please contact dslaney@wheelwright.org.
Position Announcement: Ethnology Collection Manager, Sam Noble Museum, University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus
CURATOR/ARCHIVIST IJob Number: 250603Organization: Okla Museum of Natural HistoryJob Location: Oklahoma-Norman-Norman CampusSchedule: Full-timeWork Schedule: Monday-Friday 8-5Work Type: OnsiteSalary Range: Targeted salary $18.26/hr based on experienceBenefits Provided: YesRequired Attachments: Resume, Cover LetterJob DescriptionThe Molly Shi Boren Ethnology Collection at the Sam Noble Museum, University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus, is seeking a full-time Collection Manager to be responsible for the daily operations and management of the museum’s ethnology, classical archaeology and Native American and natural history fine art collections. The Collection Manager also supports the research and exhibition program of the Curator of Ethnology and is responsible for interfacing with the public, supervising and training students, interns and volunteers and helping visitors make use of the collections.
Essential Duties:
- Provides care of the collections, date and records management
- Identifies, prepares, labels, and catalogs objects for new and existing collections
- Meets with visitors to the collection, filling patron requests remotely and in person and giving tours to the public
- Assists in grant proposal preparation
- Maintains centralized computer and/or manual records of collections
- Assists with the supervision of assistants, interns, and volunteers
- Assists with exhibitions through collection-related activities
- Provides curatorial care for collections including incoming and outgoing loans
- Assists in and conducts collection-related research as directed
- Handles special projects such as exhibit content preparation, storage and catalog improvements
- Coordinates outreach programs and participants in educational activities as appropriate
- May give division tours, present lectures, or assist with collection-related topics
- Performs various dues as needed to successfully fulfill the function of the position
- Performing databasing and image and records management, including processing existing accessions (reformatting, metadata, data management, writing finding aids, etc.)
- Preparing new collections for accessioning, including providing institutional metadata, securing permissions and working with the museum registrar to complete accession paperwork
- Assisting and supporting the research program of the Curator of Ethnology
- Assisting with development and implementation of exhibitions based on Ethnology collection
- Training and supervising student, volunteers and interns in collection management tasks
- Working with external tribal and non-tribal entities regarding objects, records, loans/acquisitions, exhibitions, etc.
- Assisting the Exhibit Department with installation/strike/maintenance and condition reporting of temporary and permanent exhibitions
- Supporting public service programs and educational and outreach activities as appropriate
Job RequirementsRequired Education: Bachelor’s degree
Equivalency/Substitution: Will accept 48 months of museum-related work experience in lieu of the Bachelor’s degree.
Skills:
- Able to communicate well and build rapport quickly with students, faculty and staff
- Good presentation skills (verbal and written)
- Demonstrated knowledge of acceptable museum practices and standards for collection care, collection management, documentation, conservation and registration methods for collections
- Ability to work independently and in teams
- Must use established occupational health and safety practices
- Knowledge of best practices for the preservation and exhibition of physical objects and their data (e.g., metadata standards, data management, etc.)
- Familiarity with and adherence to ethical conduct with respect to Native peoples and materials
- Interpersonal skills commensurate with representing the collection in one-on-one and group settings.
- Excellent skills in organization
Required Working Conditions
- Required to be mobile, agile, bend, stoop, squat, climb, lift (15-44 pounds) and carry
- Ability to engage in repetitive motions. Able to read handwritten documents.
- Frequent exposure to safety hazards from chemicals and onerous odors
- Ability to move archival boxes between shelves and collection areas (up to ~15lbs each)
Departmental Preferences:
- M.A./M.S. degree in anthropology, folklore, museum studies, art history, conservation or related field
- Prior supervisory and photographic/multi-media experience
- Bachelor Degree in anthropology, folklore, museum studies, art history, conservation or related field AND: 0-24 months of collection-related experience