Collections Registrar at the Tang Museum at Skidmore College
Job Title: Collections Registrar
Job Status: Full-time
Location: Saratoga Springs, NY
Salary: $29.18 – $30.22/hr
Description
The Collections Registrar (CR) has broad responsibilities for the preservation and care of all Tang collection objects, and serves as a key staff member supporting the academic use of the collection in teaching. The CR maintains extensive records pertaining to objects in the Tang’s Collection. The CR works closely with the Senior Museum Registrar on matters of mutual concern, including the care and storage of objects in the museum and the hiring and supervision of student registrarial assistants (work study/interns), providing teaching and mentoring in museum work, collections research, and other museum activities that support the Tang’s teaching mission at the College. The position works directly with faculty and students to provide access to the Tang collection for teaching and research purposes. Additionally, the CR spearheads efforts to establish complete records of all objects: digitization, establishing provenance, conducting research and creating electronic records on a museum collection database.
The CR supervises the Student Art Loan Coordinator (SALC), and the on-call Collections Assistant. This position also serves as sole Museum Registrar in absence of the Senior Registrar. The CR is the liaison for the museum to Advancement Office with regard to gifts of art (Gifts In Kind) to the Tang and is responsible for all associated gift paperwork. The CR manages the art handler crew in all aspects of moving and maintaining collections. Under the administrative review of the Dayton Director of the Tang Museum and the Assistant Director for Curatorial Affairs/Malloy Curator, the CR has responsibility for all objects on loan to the Museum or from the Museum’s collection on view or on loan to other institutions, including the care, packing and transportation, conservation, exhibition, record management, and documentation, as well as planning risk management strategies and logistics.
Requirements
Education: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, including but not limited to studio art, art history, museum studies; a Master’s degree in art history, museum studies, or another field relevant to the Tang’s academic mission or equivalent work experience preferred.
Preferred Qualifications
- Must have practical knowledge of object/art handling and storage techniques.
- Knowledge of art history and knowledge and appreciation for contemporary art.
- Ability to work both independently and also cooperatively with others in a fast-paced, team environment.
- Strong verbal and editing skills, detail-oriented, and highly organized.
- Ability to speak in front of groups and work with students, faculty, museum colleagues and community members.
- Ability to assist faculty in collection-based assignments and the development of curricula related to the Tang collection.
- Enthusiasm for collaboration and team-based work.
- Working knowledge of museum digitization processes and storage/retrieval of data key.
- Must be able to work a flexible schedule during peaks and valleys of collection use and exhibition preparation, work well under tight deadlines, and interact effectively with diverse constituencies.
- Familiarity with EmbArk, Aperture, Excel, scanning applications and digital photography a plus.
- Must demonstrate a commitment to museum work.