PT Collections Manager for the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art

Job Title: Collections Manager

The Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art provides a platform for artistic exploration through multifaceted queer perspectives. We embrace the power of the arts to inspire, explore, and foster understanding of the rich diversity of LGBTQ+ experiences.

COLLECTIONS MANAGER

Employment type: At-will

Reports to: Chief Curator and Director of Programs

Employment status: Part-Time, non-exempt position, approx. 20 hours per week

ABOUT LLM

Founded in 1969, the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art provides a platform for artistic exploration through multi-faceted queer perspectives. We embrace the power of the arts to inspire, explore, and foster understanding of the rich diversity of LGBTQ+ experiences.

With our first exhibition over 50 years ago in SoHo, our co-founders Charles W. Leslie and Fritz Lohman understood the need to support gay artists, leading to the creation of the first non-profit foundation with the word “gay” in the name back in 1987. In recognition of the Foundation’s unparalleled collection and work to preserve and exhibit LGBTQ+ artworks, the NY State Board of Regents awarded the museum accreditation in May 2016. The Museum holds over 25,000 objects in its holdings, spanning more than three centuries of queer art; our library holds one of the largest collections of volumes on LGBTQ+ art in the country; and we hold files on the work of more than 4,000 LGBTQ+ artists.

Through annual exhibitions, public programs — both online and in-person — educational initiatives including school residencies, artist fellowships, and a journal, the Museum forefronts the interrelationship of art and social justice for LGBTQ+ communities in NYC and around the world.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COLLECTIONS MANAGER

Reporting to the Chief Curator, the Collections Manager will both be responsible for care of LLMA’s collections and lead the Museum’s efforts to make them more digitally accessible to researchers and the public. A major responsibility of the Collections Manager will be to oversee the migration of the Museum’s current collections database to a web-based system, and understand and implement best practices regarding nomenclature and metadata standards in the context of queer art and art history.

The Collections Manager will be responsible for ensuring the overall preservation, maintenance, cataloging, and documentation of all works in LLMA’s holdings, whether on view, in storage, or on loan. Additional duties, along with Collections staff, include receiving, preparing and cataloguing new acquisitions; the creation and maintenance of forms, legal documents, and records associated with collections objects; and the planning and organizing of exhibition-related movement of collections objects, including packing, shipping, and insurance. Together with the Chief Curator, they will train and supervise Collections staff, interns, and volunteers, and collaborate on collections-related initiatives.

The Collections Manager should have a minimum of five years experience in a position of responsibility in museum collections, archives, or special collections. They must thoroughly understand best collections practices, have considerable experience with museum registration, collections management databases, object care and storage, and exhibitions. They should be organized, proactive, and flexible, and have the ability to work productively in a collaborative environment. Strong oral and written communication skills are important. Some physical activity such as climbing ladders, lifting boxes up to 50 pounds, and kneeling is required. This position is part-time, with the possibility of expanding to full-time.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COLLECTIONS MANAGER

• Recommend collection and conservation priorities to strengthen the Collections, ensuring the highest standards of ethical practice are met;

• Oversee all aspects of the Museum’s Collections, including receiving, cataloging and documenting new and existing works of art;

• Train Curatorial staff (including the Museum’s Registrar) in best collections and registrations practices, as well as volunteers and interns working on the collection;

• Create and implement a process to ensure that all works within the Museum’s Collections are correctly inventoried;

• Photographing, scanning, writing condition reports and clearing reproduction rights;

• Oversee and maintain the Museum’s fine art database from which reports are created as needed/requested;

• Order archival supplies for the protection and documentation of the Collections;

• Oversee the execution of all Deeds of Gifts from donors for works of arts donated to the Museum;

• Oversee all arrangements with the separate storage locations for the Collections;

• Maintain the biographical histories of individual artists in the database and the physical documents and ephemera relating to the artists, their art and support material;

• Perform research on objects in the Collections as necessary or directed, including provenance research;

• Accommodate research requests and assist guest researchers to the collections; • Oversee the Museum’s research library;

• Additional duties as assigned. EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE SPECIFICATIONS • Master’s degree (or equivalent experience) in Museum Studies, Library Science, or related field preferred;

• Minimum of 5 years collection management experience required;

• Knowledge of current registration practices and basic conservation procedures required;

• Experience with web-based collections management software;

• Experience with the handling and shipping of museum collection materials, including but not limited to condition reports, insurance and transportation, loan forms, and rights and reproductions required;

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong organizational skills with accuracy and attention to detail, along with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work well with individuals who have diverse backgrounds, interests, and working styles.

The Leslie-Lohman Museum is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. The Leslie-Lohman Museum will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. The Leslie-Lohman Museum encourages applicants of all ages.

How to Apply

Please send a resume along with a brief cover letter detailing salary requirements to jobs@leslielohman.org. All attachments should be in PDF format. All employees (and public museum visitors) are required to present proof of vaccination and wear masks inside. We maintain social distance whenever possible. #LI-DNI