Contract Museum Conservation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Our Mission

The Norman Rockwell Museum illuminates the power of American illustration art to reflect and shape society, and advances the enduring values of kindness, respect, and social equity portrayed by Norman Rockwell.

Equity Goals

NRM embraces the values of diversity, equity, access, and inclusion to create a successful workplace and a more equitable society. Our mission embodies these values. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of identities, experiences, backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the more successful the organization, its employees, and our work in the world will be. Norman Rockwell Museum is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to equity and inclusion. We take affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Norman Rockwell Museum is a drug-free workplace.

The Position 

Reporting to the Chief of Curatorial Affairs, the Registrar is responsible for all aspects of acquisitions, loans, and exhibition travel arrangements. The Registrar also serves a vital role on a team that includes the Archivist and Collections Manager, and the Director of Exhibitions and Collections. Together, this team organizes all aspects of archives and collections care, housing, and conservation needs, as well as the physical movement of any works in the Museum’s care. The Registrar also participates in any object-related aspects of the development and installation of exhibitions including but not limited to condition checks, inventories, and handling. The Registrar also assists in the oversight of rights and reproductions as it relates to collections or exhibition needs. 

The Registrar creates and maintains all legal documents, histories of use and physical histories of permanent collection objects; processes artworks and accessions objects into the permanent collection. The position coordinates and implements standards in the creation and maintenance of the collections management system; disseminates information as needed to museum staff, researchers, and members of the public regarding museum collections. The position also provides oversight and documentation of traveling exhibitions and/or objects. The registrar also initiates and oversees inventory processes, maintains and evaluates insurance for the archives and collections, and establishes and maintains important relationships with shipping vendors, insurance agencies, and legal advisors.

Other Responsibilities Include: 

• Creates and updates computerized records in EMu/IMu. 
• Ensures and oversees safe packing and transport of artworks to and from the Museum, including permanent collections and works on loan. Acts as a courier and oversees others working in that capacity for loaned artworks and traveling exhibitions. Serves as a liaison to couriers and staff from partner organizations.   
• Maintains insurance, appraisal, and other records relating to the collections and exhibitions.
• Organizes necessary conservation interventions for collection and potential loan objects in consultation with the Archives and   Collections Manager.
• Creates and maintains loan agreements for objects on long-term loan to the Museum. Issues certificates of insurance. 
• Conducts regular permanent collection inventories; maintains internal and external records relating to object movement. 
• Assists with all aspects of the Museum’s exhibition and traveling exhibition program and in the arrangement of complex international and domestic loans, as well as overseeing and assisting with packing and shipping of objects on loan, including condition reports. Acts as a courier for objects on loan.
• Oversees image reproduction rights for Museum publications, catalogues, and interactives; works with rights holders and licensees to provide photographic material from the museum collections; works with staff   to schedule and obtain photography of collection objects; maintains records and produces reports.
• Works with the Curatorial team to develop and execute Museum exhibitions and installations of permanent collection objects.  

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed   below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Experience and Education

Must have a B.A. in art history, museum studies, library science, or equivalent, plus a minimum of five years progressively   responsible experience as a registrar in a collecting institutional setting. Familiarity with managing temporary/traveling exhibitions, loan contracts, budget preparation and management, copyright and photo reproduction issues, insurance indemnity, courier duties, shipping, international forwarding and customs, and all aspects of complex international loans and traveling exhibitions. Knowledge of collection automation and database utilities. 

Masters in some aspect of collections management, museum studies, library sciences, or other humanities field preferred. 

Other Factors

MATHEMATICAL and COMPUTER SKILLS

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry. Must be able to understand and use highly technical computer equipment and systems, in particular a variety of databases, and be familiar with Microsoft Office applications including   Outlook, Excel and Word as well as position specific programs such as Silverfish, Adobe Suite of Programs and basic CAD skills. 

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to solve complicated and practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited   standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral diagram, or schedule form. 

COMPETENCIES

Exhibits excellent decision-making skills, judgment and adaptability. Maintains a customer service orientation and is a team player.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Valid driver’s license. 

Physical Demands

Regularly required to talk, hear, stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Frequently lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities include color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Responsibilities include on-call with the ability to respond to various situations essential.

Work schedule includes travel time with occasional nights, weekends, holidays and evenings as needed. 

Work Environment 

Frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.