Collections Manager at the Asian Art Museum
Job Title: Collections Manager
Job Status: Full-time
Location: San Francisco, CA
Salary: $29.35 – $35.13/hr
POSITION SUMMARY
Under the supervision of the Head of Registration, the Collections Manager (CM) oversees the daily management and related activities of the permanent collections and art storage areas that includes maintenance, housing, accessions, de-accessions, tracking, and inventorying the museum’s collections. This position collaborates alongside curatorial and various museums services departments to implement museum collections best practices. The CM regularly engages with staff, vendors, colleagues, individuals from other museums, donors, and members of the public regarding collections related issues in a personable and professional manner.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Oversees and adheres to best practices for collection management museum wide.
- Oversees the maintenance, cleanliness, necessary supplies, equipment, and organization of art storage areas.
- Ensures proper storage for new acquisitions and assists in arrangements for shipping, packing and/or crating of collection works as needed.
- Monitors location of collection works stored at off-site facilities, arranging shipment of collection works to/from offsite storage locations, and processing invoices related to off-site storage expenses.
- Assists with install/de-install, rotations, acquisitions unpacking and storage related logistics.
- Initiates and assists with collections-based projects and proposes solutions to achieve complete data accuracy as needed.
- Assists with the collections inventory projects and with the annual audit.
- Enters data and assists with coordination of art move tracking and logistics in The Museum System (TMS) while ensuring the safekeeping of collection records.
- Oversees scheduling of art movement for photography in consultation with Images Services Department relating to acquisitions, rotations/exhibitions, exhibition catalogues, and other collections related projects.
- Transports art to and from the photography studio, including art handling during photography sessions as needed.
- Establishes and nurtures strong working relationships with museum staff, colleagues from other institutions, consultants, and vendors.
- Perform other duties and projects as assigned.
Requirements
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Proven knowledge of current registration practices and principles of collections management and database management. Strong knowledge and experience with art handling techniques and preventive conservation methods.
- Comfort with data-driven decision making to implement changes and growth.
- Exceptional organizational skills, good judgment, and professional initiative.
- Excellent interpersonal, written and communication skills to implement workflows.
- Excellent computer skills and experience with relational database management programs for museum collections.
- Strong interpersonal, planning, calendar scheduling, and written and oral communication skills; effective problem solving and conflict resolution skills.
- Ability to handle delicate and valuable works of art with extreme care.
- Ability to handle pallet jack and utilize dollies; transporting crates, artwork on carts and tables; adjusting shelving in storage cabinets as needed.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Three (3) years of professional registration experience in a museum or similar institution, or an equivalent combination of academic qualifications and work experience.
- Degree in Art, Art History, Museum Studies, Museum Administration or closely related field from an accredited college or university.
- Previous knowledge of working with archaeological artifacts and Asian art.
- Experience with TMS.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Standard collections and office environment.
- Sitting, standing, squatting, bending, pulling, and lifting to 40lbs.
- Accessing storage areas by climbing ladders, lifting, standing for longer periods of time.
- Computer, tablet, and phone use.
All museum team members must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment (to be fully vaccinated, 14 days must have passed since the final dose of a two-shot vaccine, or a single dose of a one-shot vaccine was received) and provide proof, absent qualifying exemptions in accordance with applicable laws. Individuals receiving a conditional offer of employment from the museum will be provided a copy of the vaccination policy. For questions regarding this requirement, please e-mail: humanresourcesdepartment@asianart.org
COMPENSATION
$29.25 – $35.13/hr. per hour with excellent benefits package*
Please note new hires start at the beginning of the salary range and this position is represented by SEIU 1021
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Please note that internal candidates will be considered during the 1st 7 days since the initial posting date.
ABOUT US
Located in the heart of San Francisco, the museum is home to one of the world’s finest collections of Asian art, boasting more than 18,000 awe-inspiring artworks ranging from ancient jades and ceramics to contemporary video installations. Dynamic special exhibitions, cultural celebrations and public programs for all ages provide rich art experiences that unlock the past and spark questions about the future.