Collections Specialist at Intrepid Museum Foundation
Job Title: Collections Specialist
Job Status: Full-time
Location: New York, NY
Salary: $52,000 – $55,000
Description
The Intrepid Museum seeks a highly skilled, detail oriented and motivated individual to fill the full-time position of Collections Specialist. This person will report to the Senior Archivist, and work closely with the Director of Collections and larger Exhibitions Department to ensure the thoughtful care and preservation of the Intrepid Museum’s collections. The Collections Specialist will support all aspects of the Museum’s collecting activities, with special focus on the artifact collection. Major responsibilities include processing and cataloging new acquisitions, documentary photography of artifacts, scanning photographs and other media, rehousing artifacts, inventorying and maintaining item’s storage location, and assisting with exhibit install and artifact display. The Collections Specialist will also take an active role in other departmental projects and activities as assigned.
Requirements
Responsibilities and Duties
• Assist with day-to-day collections tasks including, but not limited to: cataloging and inventorying new acquisitions, physically handling and rehousing artifacts according to preservation standards, maintaining proper collections storage environment.
• Maintain clear, consistent documentation of artifacts in the collection.
• Participate in the photography, scanning and digitization of artifacts, documents, and photographs.
• Create detailed and descriptive condition reports for artifacts and perform general preventative conservation care duties.
• Enter detailed, appropriate, and accurate data into the Museum’s database, TMS, with particular emphasis on adding descriptive and accessible information.
• Review database records so that they can be shared with the public via eMuseum website.
• Participate in monthly Collections Committee meetings; collaborate with other Museum departments and staff.
• Assist with creation and documentation of social media posts.
• Participate in regular environmental and IPM monitoring.
Skills and Qualifications
• Knowledge and understanding of ethical collections management principles and practices, including:
o Accessioning new acquisitions
o Updating catalog records
o Conducting a collections inventory
o Photographing/scanning materials
o Rehousing items in museum grade storage
o Safely moving, storing and exhibiting materials
o General conservation guidelines
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with ability to communicate with supervisors, other staff, and Museum visitors professionally and effectively.
• Ability to complete projects and reports in an accurate and timely manner.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to follow through on commitments; self-motivated, forward thinking and comfortable working independently.
• Shows flexibility and creativity in support of all Intrepid Museum activities.
• Ability to work occasional overtime/weekend/holiday shifts as needed.
Qualified candidates will have a Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred) in History, Museum Studies, or a related field. Minimum 3 or more year’s collections management and/or museum registration experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. Must be proficient in Microsoft Office products and collections management software (TMS preferred). Experience operating a DSLR camera and photographing objects is a plus. Experience scanning photographs and archival documents, and processing resulting files is also preferred.