Collections Manager at the University of New Mexico Art Museum
Job Title: Collections Manager
Job Status: Full-time
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Salary: $55,000- $66,664
Summary
The University of New Mexico Art Museum (UNMAM) is seeking applicants for a full-time Collections Manager. The ideal candidate will join a team of 7 full-time staff, 1 part-time staff and 10-15 student employees.
The Collections Manager is a knowledgeable and experienced art museum professional who leads and implements the highest stewardship standards for works of art entrusted to the University of New Mexico Art Museum. They will manage the collection’s documentation, digitization, archives, conservation, storage, image reproduction rights and copyright, security, database management, insurance and environmental monitoring of facilities and objects, as well loans and other collections-related paperwork. The Collections Manager will join UNMAM at a pivotal time in its institutional history and oversee the migration to a new database, TMS (The Museum System). The successful candidate will be excited to work alongside and mentor University students through the UNM Art Museum’s Museum Assistant Program.
Located in Albuquerque, the largest city in New Mexico, the University of New Mexico is a Carnegie Very High Research University, a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, and the state’s flagship institution of higher learning. As a department of the University, UNMAM reports to the Dean of the College of Fine Arts and works alongside the UNM Foundation for development, fundraising, and donor relations support.
Founded in 1963, UNMAM is New Mexico’s foremost teaching museum. It holds the largest visual arts collection in the state, with over 30,000 objects. UNMAM collects, preserves, exhibits, and interprets original works of art, encouraging an understanding and appreciation of art and its multiple roles in society.
Housed in the Center for the Arts, the museum occupies three floors of exhibition space, totaling 7,280 ft2, and 7,500 ft2of art collections storage. A core component of the museum’s operations is the Beaumont Newhall Study Room, which serves over 1,300 visitors per year.
The museum’s collection strengths are works on paper that include 10,000+ prints, 10,000 photographs and early cased objects, and nearly 1,500 drawings. Other notable parts of the collection include the Tamarind Archive Collection (over 6,000 lithographs), and the Raymond Jonson Collection (over 2,400 works by Jonson and other artists). The museum also holds the archives of Van Deren Coke and Raymond Jonson.
As a teaching museum, UNMAM is committed to offering students professional development and mentorship opportunities as well as access to the largest collection of artworks in New Mexico. The Collections Manager is integral to promoting a welcoming environment where students are empowered to be an active part of the museum’s operations.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Manages all aspects of collections care, following and implementing accepted museum professional standards and practices. Directly manages the collection’s documentation, archives, conservation, storage, database management, insurance, and environmental monitoring of facilities and objects.
Supports exhibition logistics, including incoming/outgoing/campus loan agreements, shipping, receiving, packing, condition reports, certificates of insurance, and object security.
Manages copyright permissions for collections, exhibitions and archives for internal and external publication requests.
Manages the storage and preservation of collections objects including coordinating conservation treatments.
Manages database development for all collections materials and serves as the point of contact with Gallery Systems. Responsible for database user permissions, accession records, digitization of collection, metadata development, and search capabilities.
Will train and supervise student employees and interns for collections-related work and projects.
Performs research on collection materials in coordination with museum staff.
Communicates with donors, artists, galleries, and other patrons regarding acquisitions to the collection.
Serves as the point of contact for other UNM departments, such as the UNM Foundation, Risk Management, Facilities Management, in matters relating to the collection.
Coordinate outside services related to collections care and management, including contracts for collection photography, conservation, packing, crating, and shipping.
Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.
Requirements
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree; at least 5 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.
Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience working in an academic museum preferred.
- Broad-based knowledge of art and art history.
- Experience with works on paper and photographs.
- Knowledge of art museums and collections best practices, including conservation and preservation techniques, art handling and transportation, art preparation, and database management.
- High emotional intelligence and proven ability to forge mutually respectful, trusting, and effective relationships with a diverse group of staff, students, donors, artists, collectors, scholars, museum and gallery colleagues, community leaders, and decision makers.
- Ability to supervise and train student employees, to include organizing, prioritizing, and scheduling work assignments.
- Expertise in museum digitization processes.
- Proficiency in TMS (The Museum System).
- Knowledge of federal and state policies and procedures relating to collections and exhibition ethics and legal regulations relating to the collection.
- Ability to gather data, compile information, and prepare reports.
- Ability to foster a cooperative work environment.
- Employee development and performance management skills.
- Knowledge of research methodology, principles and procedures.
- Ability to analyze and assess risk, and to communicate options.
To Apply