(P/T, Temp) Permanent Collection Documentation Assistant at The Whitney Museum of American Art
Job Title: Permanent Collection Documentation Assistant
Job Status: Part-time, Temporary
Location: New York, NY
Salary: $30/hour
The Permanent Collection Documentation Assistant supports the mission of the Permanent Collection Documentation Office through undertaking administrative tasks related to permanent collection works’ documentation. This position reports to the Senior Manager, Permanent Collection Documentation, and Manager, Permanent Collection Information and Time-Based Media Acquisitions, and engages with Whitney staff and interns, artists, galleries, and external researchers.
Responsibilities:
- Assist with processing completed acquisition paperwork
- Generate, send, receive, and process object and questionnaires
- Assist with reviewing and revising museum-wide content standards, known as the Content Standard Element Sets (CSES), for cataloguing and describing works of art
- Following the CSES, complete data entry and data cleanup for object and artist records in the collection management database, The Museum System (TMS)
- Assist with records management of hardcopy and digital object files.
- Filing of hardcopy acquisition documents and correspondence
- Field internal and external requests for collection information
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Art History, Museum Studies, or Information Sciences
- Familiarity with and interest in modern and contemporary art
- Experience working with art collections in a museum setting with focus on documentation, cataloguing, or registration
- Proficiency with TMS preferred
- Strong organizational skills and sharp attention to detail
- Ability to work independently
- Excellent time management including the ability to prioritize various responsibilities to ensure tasks are completed in a timely and organized fashion
- Professional verbal and written communication skills and clear writing ability
Hours and position duration:
This position is for two days per week and will continue through June 2025. Priority will be given to applicants who are able to commit to staying in the position for its full duration.
Compensation:
- This is a part-time temporary position with an hourly wage of $30.
About the Permanent Collection Documentation Office:
The Permanent Collection Documentation Office collects, preserves, and makes accessible records pertaining to the institution’s permanent collection, oversees the Museum’s collection database (TMS), and creates and maintains the Content Standard Element Sets (CSES) for cataloguing and describing works of art in the museum’s jurisdiction. Its primary role is to document the history of the permanent collection and to provide primary source material (located in the object files and artist files) for staff, interns, and visiting researchers seeking further knowledge on the objects and artists in the Museum’s collection.
About the Research Resources Department:
The Research Resources Department supports the research needs of Whitney staff and members of the academic and museum communities by providing access to primary resources, published resources, and other research material relating to the Museum’s history, collections, and programming. Comprising the Research Resources Department are the Permanent Collection Documentation Office, Library, Archives, and Licensing division.
About the Whitney:
The Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, houses the foremost collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States for 86 years. The core of the Whitney’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a steadfast commitment to artists themselves, the Whitney has long been a powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues to help define what is innovative and influential in American art today.
To Apply
Apply via the Whitney Careers page.
EEO Statement:
The Whitney Museum of American Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate because of age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, partnership status, veteran status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, or any other factor prohibited by law. The Museum hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled. The Museum encourages all qualified candidates to apply for vacant positions at all levels. This description shall not be construed as a contract of any sort for a specific period of employment.
Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? Research shows that men apply for jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Yet, women and other people who are systematically marginalized tend to only apply if they meet every requirement. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you’re new to arts and culture administration, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or take the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest in the arts and culture space and what you hope to bring to this role.