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Museum Collection Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Field Museum

Mount Shop Supervisor

Chicago, IL · On-site

... management skills with the ability to meet production deadlines. * Experience using collection ... At the Field Museum, we are dedicated to making our career website and recruitment process ...

Field Museum

Mount Shop Supervisor

Chicago, IL · On-site

... management skills with the ability to meet production deadlines. * Experience using collection ... At the Field Museum, we are dedicated to making our career website and recruitment process ...

Field Museum

Mount Shop Supervisor

Chicago, IL · On-site

... management skills with the ability to meet production deadlines. * Experience using collection ... At the Field Museum, we are dedicated to making our career website and recruitment process ...

Field Museum

Mount Shop Preparator I-III

Chicago, IL

$15.50 - $19.50/hr

Coordinates with Conservation, Registration, and Collection Managers as needed to support project ... Museum experience is strongly preferred. * This position requires the completion/passing of ...

Field Museum

Mount Shop Preparator I-III

Chicago, IL · On-site

$15.50 - $19.50/hr

Coordinates with Conservation, Registration, and Collection Managers as needed to support project ... Museum experience is strongly preferred. * This position requires the completion/passing of ...

Field Museum

Mount Shop Preparator I-III

Chicago, IL · On-site

$15.50 - $19.50/hr

Coordinates with Conservation, Registration, and Collection Managers as needed to support project ... Museum experience is strongly preferred. * This position requires the completion/passing of ...

Compass Group

Director of Outside Sales

Chicago, IL

$75K - $85K/yr

... diverse collection of national accounts to include art museums, cultural landmarks, hotels ... This role is not responsible for managing inbound event inquiries generated by the Museum. Key ...

Culinaire

Director of Outside Sales

Chicago, IL · On-site

$75K - $85K/yr

... diverse collection of national accounts to include art museums, cultural landmarks, hotels ... This role is not responsible for managing inbound event inquiries generated by the Museum. Key ...

Compass Group

Director of Outside Sales

Chicago, IL · On-site

$75K - $85K/yr

... diverse collection of national accounts to include art museums, cultural landmarks, hotels ... This role is not responsible for managing inbound event inquiries generated by the Museum. Key ...

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All JobsMuseum Collection JobsMuseum Collection Manager JobsMuseum Collection Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL

Museum Collection Manager information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$31.9K

$60.5K

$112.3K

How much do museum collection manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for museum collection manager in Chicago, IL is $60,492.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $41,700.00 and $67,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a museum collection manager do?

A Museum Collection Manager is responsible for the care, organization, preservation, and documentation of a museum’s collection. They ensure that artifacts are stored properly, maintain accurate records, and oversee handling and transportation. Collection Managers often collaborate with curators, conservators, and researchers to facilitate exhibitions and loans. They also implement policies for conservation, security, and ethical stewardship of objects. Their role is crucial in maintaining the long-term integrity and accessibility of a museum’s collection.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a museum collection manager?

To thrive as a Museum Collection Manager, you need expertise in collections care, art or artifact handling, documentation procedures, and typically a degree in museum studies, art history, or a related field. Familiarity with collection management software (such as TMS or PastPerfect), condition reporting protocols, and conservation standards is essential, and professional certifications like those from the American Alliance of Museums can be an asset. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, effective communication, and problem-solving abilities distinguish standout candidates. These competencies ensure the proper preservation, documentation, and accessibility of objects while supporting museum operations and public engagement.

What are the most commonly searched types of Museum Collection jobs in Chicago, IL?

The most popular types of Museum Collection jobs in Chicago, IL are:

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For Museum Collection Manager jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Museum Collection Manager jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Museum Collection Manager jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Museum Collection Manager jobs?

Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Museum Collection Manager job openings:

Museum Collection Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Museum Collection Manager job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $60,492 per year, or $29.1 per hour.

Archive + Collection Manager

Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago, IL • On-site

Full-time

PTO

Posted 16 days ago

Art Institute Of Chicago rating

5.3

Company rating: 5.3 out of 10

Based on 8 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

25th of 29 rated museums

Job description

About SAIC
For more than 150 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world's most influential artists, designers and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program consistently ranking among the top four graduate fine arts programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago Museum, on-campus galleries and state-of-the-art facilities. SAIC's undergraduate, graduate and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world-as seen through notable alumni and faculty such as Michelle Grabner, David Sedaris, Elizabeth Murray, Richard Hunt, Georgia O'Keeffe, Cynthia Rowley, Nick Cave, and LeRoy Neiman.
About the Department
Founded at SAIC in 1976, Video Data Bank (VDB) is a nationally recognized leader in preserving, distributing, and studying contemporary video and media art. As one of the country's most significant collections of artist-produced video, VDB maintains over 6,000 titles by over 600 artists and supports access to groundbreaking works through education, research, preservation, and distribution.
Position Summary
Founded at SAIC in 1976, the Video Data Bank (VDB) is a leading resource in the United States for video by and about contemporary artists. As part of a collaborative and dynamic team at SAIC's Library + Special Collections, the Archive + Collection Manager of the Video Data Bank (VDB) administers the technical services required to support the curatorial, instructional, access, and distribution functions of VDB. Has oversight for the collection preservation, storage, and management of physical and digital collections, and contributes to collection development and processing. Manages digital assets, and maintains and organizes digital collections to ensure accessibility via the website and streaming platforms. This is an onsite role.
Responsibilities
  • Manages all aspects of collections management, access, and preservation.
  • Maintains intellectual control of the collection through databases and other collection management resources; ensures the storage and maintenance of all equipment and infrastructure related to collections and space storage needs--for both physical and digital collections.
  • Ensures preservation of the collection and migration from obsolete and degrading tape formats; and digitization of analog collections.
  • In coordination with the Distribution Manager works to ensure SAIC faculty and external client orders are fulfilled in a timely manner--this includes both physical and digital formats and processes.
  • Works with colleagues throughout the campus and the external art, library, and archival communities to develop, maintain, and promote our collections and programs, in furtherance of the School's goals and interests.
  • Collaborates with the VDB team and artists to acquire high-quality masters, and process files for distribution; manages the processing and intake of new work into the collection; works with artists to acquire better copies of old masters.
  • Processes digital files for distribution and archival purposes, ensure high-quality access to the VDB's collection.
  • Responsible for creating and providing still images for publication and promotional needs as part of the distribution program
  • Coordinates class visits as well as onsite screening room access for students, researchers, and general public.
  • Ensures information about collections, artists, and artworks are accurate and up-to-date on the VDB website. Creates website pages for artworks.
  • Manages and organizes storage for physical media, VDB promotional materials, equipment, and general office supplies.
  • Oversees facilities needs regarding the VDB office and storage spaces.
  • Oversight of the maintenance and repair schedule and the acquisition and installation of new equipment. Performs basic maintenance and repairs to equipment. Planning acquisition of new equipment.
  • Responsible for recruiting, training, scheduling, and supervision of student workers.
  • Manages paper archives related to the video art collection
  • Contributes to project planning and the development of policies and procedures for the VDB, as needed.
  • Works closely and independently with SAIC faculty and students to support their research and teaching needs.
  • Represents VDB in the external media arts and special collections communities, maintains strong working relationships with colleagues at other specialized resource centers within and outside of the School of Art Institute.
  • Other responsibilities, projects, and tasks as assigned.

Qualifications
  • ALA-accredited graduate degree in Library and/or Information Science or a related field with substantial relevant experience working with media archives
  • Four plus years experience with and knowledge of best practices and (technologies or systems) for digitization, preservation, and reformatting workflows related to media collections.
  • Commitment to the educational mission of the School and demonstrated knowledge of the principles of accessibility, diversity, and inclusion; the ability to work well with diverse populations; and demonstrated level of cultural competence
  • Deep and demonstrable knowledge of preservation theory and practices for all video formats
  • Knowledge of basic metadata and cataloging schema for moving image/video collections
  • Demonstrated knowledge in the identifying, handling, and inspecting video in all formats
  • Experience with digital video editing, file transcoding, and preparing video files for exhibition and screening environments.
  • Experience with maintaining and managing legacy equipment and related supplies.
  • Knowledge of contemporary art practices, especially time-based media work
  • Excellent organization, communication, and presentation skills
  • Proficiency in using standard office software, web services, and networked environments
  • Supervisory experience
  • Degree(s) and/or work experience in an art or design-related field
  • Familiarity with video tape restoration practices including cleaning and baking strategies
  • Experience with Filemaker Pro, Adobe Suite, and command line tools such as ffmpeg and mediainfo.
  • Experience with multiple types of digital storage including LTO (Linear Tape Open) and RAID storage.
  • Experience with editing Drupal websites

Compensation & Benefits
Please click on the links below to view our competitive, comprehensive benefits package:
  • Hiring Range: $53,000 - $63,000 annually

The expected hiring range is an estimated amount for positions based on the grade. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, qualifications and other job-related reasons.
  • Benefits
  • PTO Overview
  • Job Classification: Exempt
  • Employment Category: Full time Staff
  • Grade Level: 7

If you are accessing this listing from a third party, not all links to salary and benefits information may work. Please visit our career page at saic/artic.edu/employment for complete information
Application Instructions
Please submit your resume and cover letter to be considered for this position.
Union
This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by AFSCME Council 31.
Accessibility
If you are a job seeker with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to apply for one of our jobs, you will find the contact information to request the appropriate accommodation by visiting the following page:
Accessibility Accommodation for Applicants
Equal Opportunity Statement
The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals compliant with federal and state laws. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at apply_help@artic.edu.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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