Associate Registrar at the Yale Center for British Art (YCBA)
Job Title: Associate Registrar
Job Status: Full-time
Location: New Haven, CT
Salary: $60,400 – $96,000
Position Focus
Supervises and assists in a broad range of museum registrar duties including: collection management, insurance, handling, security, transportation, inventory and storage to ensure the safety and long-term preservation of the permanent collection and incoming and outgoing loans for the museum.
The Associate Registrar is responsible for assisting in the implementation of all policies and procedures relating to the care of the art collections of the Yale Center for British Art (YCBA), as well as works of art from other collections on loan. Reporting to the Chief Registrar, and working closely with the Senior Associate Registrar, the position is responsible for record-keeping and documentation of the collections, arrangements for acquisitions, incoming and outgoing loans, exhibitions, deaccessions, storage, packing and shipping, security of objects in transit, insurance policies, and risk management. The position works closely with stakeholders across the institution, including Installation, Conservation, and Curatorial, to coordinate movement of works for projects. This position takes primary responsibility for campus loans and shipping of art to and from YCBA’s offsite storage facilities. In addition, the position assists with incoming loan coordination for an active exhibitions program.
All members of the Registrar’s Office are responsible for the overall security and well-being of the collections, including monitoring and practicing proper handling and transport; being present and alert in collection areas; knowing and following museum policy and procedures regarding security of the premises and collections; and being available for after-hours emergencies. Understand and comply fully with museum’s Collection Management Policy and ensure legal, ethical, and professional standards for the collection. Act as principal point of contact for campus loans. Receive and process all communication with campus loan representatives. Oversee all documentation, logistical planning and installation. Provide updates on campus locations, process new requests, object recalls, loan documentation renewals; arrange annual inspections and installation supervision. Coordinate, receive, and release shipments of collection objects between the museum and YCBA’s off-site storage areas. Assist in managing all aspects of exhibition related lender negotiations; arranging packing, shipping, insurance, security, and handling for incoming loans; managing loan documentation. Advise curators and preparators of handling, mounting, environmental, and security requirements for loans; assist with exhibition installation and deinstallation. Liaise with other Yale collections to coordinate shipping and logistical planning for shared storage areas. Update and maintain records in the records management system (TMS). Work with IT to maintain and update TMS. Assist with on-going barcoding and inventory of the collection. Assist in managing risk for the collections. Occasionally travel as courier and museum representative.
Essential Duties
- Carries out registrarial activities to maintain the collection, incoming and outgoing loans and to ensure the special care, security, and proper handling. 2. Coordinates with curatorial, conservation, exhibition, and collections departments for the successful completion of handling, packing, shipping & insurance, storage, installations, and exhibitions. 3. Oversees incoming and out-going long-term loan program related to the permanent collection. 4. Inventories collections and documentation; edits or amends the museum’s database following guidelines and museum standards. 5. Responds to collections inquiries by researching the history of ownership and origin of collections. 6. Manages budget for inventory, packing/unpacking, move and organization of collections, including product research, purchasing, and funds management. 7. Develops and implements handling and packing strategies to ensure safety and legal standards of collections in transit. 8. Ensures legal, ethical, and professional standards for the collection by reviewing paperwork, advising staff, and addressing Museum policies and procedures as needed. 9. Fully or partially supervises a staff of non-exempt employees, students and volunteers. 10. May perform other duties as assigned.
Required Education And Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Art History, Anthropology, Archeology, Museum Studies, or related field and three years of collection management and/or registration experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
Required Skill/Ability 1
Demonstrate excellent organizational skills and attention to detail; strong computer skills including the full Microsoft suite; demonstrable experience and excellence in the standards and practice of art museum registration.
Required Skill/Ability 2
Proven ability to accommodate the needs of a busy loans and exhibitions schedule including flexibility to work as needed during weekends and evenings to send/receive art shipments; ability and willingness to accommodate occasional travel necessary to courier art shipments both domestically and internationally.
Required Skill/Ability 3
Proven Ability to work independently and effectively manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
Required Skill/Ability 4
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with all members of the museum staff, general public, and donors; proven ability to communicate effectively with two or more of the following: couriers from lending institutions, transport agents, shipping agencies, and officials from the Transportation Safety Authority (TSA).
Required Skill/Ability 5
Previous demonstrated ability in working closely with art handlers and conservators; previous demonstrated ability in the standards of art preparation and movement; proven demonstrated ability in preparing condition reports for works of art.
Preferred Education, Experience And Skills
Previous experience using The Museum System (TMS) database.