Manager of Collections Operations at Harvard Art Museums
Job Title: Manager of Collections Operations
Job Status: Full-time
Location: Cambridge, MA
Salary: $80,000 – $95,000
Description
Job Summary
The Harvard Art Museums has an exciting management opportunity in their very active Collections Management team. Reporting to the Assistant Director for Collections, the Manager of Collections Operations will provide critical leadership within the department, leading operations of the Harvard Art Museums’ storage and the Art Study Centers located in both Cambridge and Somerville and supervising the staff charged with the care of and access to the collections. The Harvard Art Museums collections are comprised of more than 250,000 objects housed in a state-of-the-art facility. In both the galleries and the Art Study Centers, the collections are widely used by staff, Harvard faculty, students, and visitors for research and study.
Position Description
- Ensure that the Museums’ collections are handled, transported, and stored in a safe and secure manner, facilitating collections care and access according to professional and institutional standards.
- Enhance management of and access to the collection through exploration and expansion of technologies, procedures, and workflows
Art Study Centers:
- Hire and manage staff, delegate and assign tasks to best support smooth and efficient operations.
- Determine appropriate staffing levels to manage each day’s appointments and projects.
- Consistently evaluate and adjust roles and responsibilities as needed to better support operations.
- Train staff on procedures and protocols in all aspects of study room usage and art storage operations. Renew and revise staff training as needed to ensure competency and compliance.
- Provide backup support in all functions of the department’s daily operations.
- Establish and nurture positive relationships with both internal and external constituents.
- Gather data and provide statistical information based on a variety of usage criteria to use as a basis for sound decision-making.
- Support the Assistant Director for Collections with the planning and implementation of Museums initiatives.
- Explore best practice models and industry standards for collections care. Propose recommendations to the Assistant Director for Collections and implement into daily operations for all art viewing facilities.
- May be called upon to monitor and manage evening and weekend events in the Art Study Center.
Collections Storage:
- Assist with quarterly collections audit.
- Monitor storage facilities to ensure an efficient, clean, and optimum environment for the safety of the collections.
- Oversee and collaborate with conservation staff on art storage initiatives. Research and build art storage housings in collaboration with conservation staff.
- Assist with the movement and tracking of works of art in all Harvard Art Museum buildings. Manage the packing and shipping of artwork between museum buildings.
- Oversee the movement of artwork to support the daily conservation and photography schedules as needed.
Perform related duties as needed.
Requirements
Candidates MUST meet the following basic qualifications to be considered for this role:
Minimum of 5 years of experience working with collections in a professionally accredited museum, including a minimum of 2 years of staff supervisory experience. Experience in art handling, storage maintenance, and collections care.
To Apply: