Collections Manager at The Bruce Museum

Job Title: Collections Manager 

Job Status: Full-time

Location: Greenwich, CT

Salary: $65,0000 – $75,000

Description

The Bruce seeks a highly skilled museum professional for an integral role in its Collections Management and Registration department. With extensive experience in collections and project management, the Collections Manager is responsible for all aspects of care, preservation, and documentation of the Museum’s permanent collection. Overseeing collections on exhibit and in storage, the Collections Manager will lead a Collections Move team to bring the permanent collection back on site following the recent 43,000 sq ft addition to the Museum, which included the construction of three new permanent collection stores.

Reporting to the Director of Collections Management and Registration, this role is a full-time, benefitted position.

Primary Responsibilities

Collection Care:

  • Ensures compliance with AAM and professional guidelines and codes of ethics for the stewardship of collections, adhering to best practices for museums.
  • Oversees the care of the permanent collection, including the handling, conservation, housing, and documentation of objects in the collection.
  • Performs regular location audits in onsite and offsite storage and organizes conservation surveys, treatment, and appraisals as needed.
  • Collections Move: Project manages return of collections from offsite storage
  • Responsible for maintaining environmental conditions in collections storage spaces and galleries, implementing an IPM program, and contributing to updating Museum Fire Protection Policies and Emergency Preparedness and Recovery Plan for collections.

Documentation and Database Management:

  • Acts as Museum administrator for the collections management system (Proficio by Re:discovery).
  • Evaluates and improves data entry protocols, providing training for staff, and collaborates with Curatorial department on data audit and targeted clean-up.
  • Maintains up-to-date and accurate records of object status, locations, condition, images, display history, and valuations as appropriate.
  • Image Library development, collaborating with Director of IT, Marketing, and Curatorial departments.

Collection Displays and Exhibitions:

  • Assists Curatorial with record research and documentation of collection objects.
  • Facilitates Curatorial access to storage, preparing objects for display, arranging external conservation as needed and coordinating object movements.
  • Collaborates with Curators, Exhibitions Registrar, and Exhibitions department on exhibition planning pertaining to the permanent collection objects, including estimating for collection-related costs.

Acquisitions and Deaccessions:

  • Responsible for arranging transport and insurance for acquisition candidates.
  • Provides Curators with condition information for acquisition candidates, along with estimated costs for conservation, storage, housing, and long-term care.
  • Participates in quarterly Collections Committee meetings, facilitating viewings of acquisition candidates.
  • Creates and maintains accession and deaccession files including letters of acceptance/refusal, signed Deeds of Gifts, and tax forms from donors for works donated to the Museum.
  • Assists Director of Collections Management and Registration to compile Annual Report on acquisitions and deaccessions for inclusion in the annual report to the Town of Greenwich.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

  • Manages the Collections Move process, including recruitment and management of a Senior Collections Move Preparator and an Assistant Registrar.
  • Provides training to staff as appropriate in data entry and CMS use, object handling, and storage protocols.

 

Requirements

  • A minimum of five years previous Collections Management experience with evidence of responsibility for a diverse museum collection.
  • Extensive knowledge of and demonstrable adherence to museum best practices and ethical standards.
  • Command of museum collections management methods relevant to record development, management, and maintenance, as well as knowledge of budgets, object handling, storage, archives, and related areas.
  • Fastidious attention to detail, calendar oriented, punctual, and fiscally responsible. Professional, courteous, highly organized, and should enjoy working on complex projects independently and with other staff in a fast-paced environment.
  • Knowledge of relevant digital office management programs and previous experience creating and maintaining records using collection management software.
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Art, Art History, Science, Anthropology, or related field; Master’s Degree in Museum Studies, Arts Administration, or Collection Management preferred, or equivalent combination of work and education experience.

Apply via AAM