Museum Collections Manager Jobs in Hawaii (NOW HIRING)

Salary Range: $65,000.00 To $75,000.00 Annually

Job Summary:

Under the general direction of the Associate Director of Learning and Engagement, the Lending Collection Manager provides strategic direction and day-to-day management of the museum’s Lending Collection, a key component of the museum’s outreach strategy to communities across the state of Hawaiʻi. This includes overseeing the Lending Collection’s circulation and the curation of hands‑on lending boxes to support tours, self‑guided gallery experiences, studio programs, artmaking, teacher development, and educators. The Lending Collection Manager will also play a central role in developing and later overseeing the operations of HoMA’s Curiosity Hub, a new public‑facing space that invites visitors to explore objects from the Lending Collection.

The Lending Collection Manager is a key member of HoMA’s interpretive team, which is composed of Learning and Engagement professionals, HoMA’s curators, designers, and technology staff. Together, they are charged with developing a cohesive and complementary suite of interpretive materials and resources that support the vision and values of the museum.

This position combines the principles of collections management, library and information sciences, and museum education to expand equitable access to object‑based learning. The ideal candidate is skilled in building systems and workflows and is able to balance collection care needs with the mission of accessibility and education. Above all, they are curious, collaborative, and service‑minded, with a passion for HoMA’s educational mission.

The Honolulu Museum of Art:

Opened in 1927, the Honolulu Museum of Art is a home for art and education created for the benefit of the entire community. Founder Anna Rice Cooke envisioned a museum that would bring people together through the power of art and “the deep intuitions that are common to all.” The museum was conceived of as a place of meaningful exchange and dialogue, celebrating the diverse artistic and cultural traditions of Hawai‘i’s multi‑ethnic population. From this founding intention grew the museum of today, with a world‑class encyclopedic collection of more than 55,000 works of art, representing a stunning breadth of places and eras, from all corners of the globe and from the ancient past to the present day.

• Bachelor’s degree in Museum Studies, Art History, Education, or related fields in liberal arts and social sciences or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3 years of experience in library services, collections management, registration, education, or other relevant experience.
• Enthusiastic about expanding equitable access to museum collections.
• Familiarity with current research and standards in collections management and library and information sciences.
• Familiarity with collections management or integrated library systems software.
• Ability to conduct object‑based research.
• Demonstrated project management skills.
• Strong verbal communication skills, the ability to work collaboratively and professionally with an interdisciplinary team.
• Strong organizational skills are essential.
• Ability to create a sense of belonging across communities and develop and nurture strong relationships with diverse external constituents.
• Intelligent self‑starter who is committed to the museum’s mission.
• Honesty, integrity, and a strong work ethic supported by commitment, enthusiasm, and follow‑through.
• Ability to work within and support a diverse community of visitors, artists, and employees.

Desired Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in library and information sciences, Museum Studies, Art History, or related field.
• Experience managing collections, archives, library collections, or museum objects.
• Familiar with Mandarin Library Automation software.
• Knowledge current museum education, visitor studies, and art history pedagogy and practice
• Knowledge of art history.
• Understanding of and dedication to advancing the Honolulu Museum of Art’s identity, vision, and values.
• Work closely with Associate Director of Learning and Engagement to develop and implement the long‑term vision, policies, and priorities for the lending collection, ensuring alignment with the museum's educational mission and community needs.
• Lead development and administration of collection management system, establishing standards, workflows, and best practices for cataloging, circulation, and collections documentation.
• Oversee statewide lending circulation for educators and nonprofit organizations and serve as primary point of contact for borrowers. This includes generating and managing loan agreements, tracking physical custody, and providing reference and advisory services to help users identify appropriate collection materials.
• Manage the Lending Collection, including policies and procedures for conservation, acquisition, condition reporting, data management, loans and reservations, shipping and returns to neighbor islands, and the lending library website. This includes working with Collections, Facilities, and IT.
• With HoMA’s Collections Department, evaluate objects for donation and work with donors.
• Work with operations to ensure proper environmental conditions for lending collections storage space.
• In collaboration with curatorial and collections staff, develop ethical stewardship practices consistent with applicable federal, state, or institutional requirements.
• Creates self‑guided experiences using the lending collection for community groups and learners of all ages, including educators, pre‑k to adult, English language learners, people with disabilities, and university students.
• Liaises with educators and community organizations to promote and amplify the lending collection’s reach statewide.
• Collaborate with other Learning and Engagement staff to represent the museum and lending collection at in‑community events.
• Support assessment and evaluation of collection use and community impact.
• Collaborates with Learning and Engagement staff to develop curriculum and strategies for learning with objects.
• Collaborate with Learning & Engagement leadership to envision, develop, and launch the Curiosity Hub as a welcoming, community‑centered space for object‑based learning and exploration.
• Oversee the daily operations, stewardship, and presentation of the Curiosity Hub, ensuring the space supports public access, educational programming, and the safe care of collection materials.
• Supervise Curiosity Hub and Lending Collection assistants and volunteers, coordinating schedules, workflows, and shared use of the space across Learning & Engagement programs.
• Assists the Associate Director for Learning and Engagement with grant writing and reporting to support the capacity and reach of the lending collection and manage program budgets.
• Demonstrates a commitment to fostering cultivating, and preserving a culture of inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility through respectful communication and cooperation with others, continuous training, and the modeling of inclusive behaviors.
• In partnership with HR, supports the leadership team in ensuring equitable experiences, strengthening inclusion acumen and promoting a culture of belonging that embraces the contributions of all staff.
• Other duties as assigned.

Compensation:

HoMA is committed to practicing salary transparency. The pay range for this position is $65,000 to $75,000 per annum with final compensation based on experience, education, market date, and internal equity.

Benefits Include:

• Employer paid medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 12 paid holidays
• Vacation: 15 days in Year 1, increasing to 20 days in Year 2
• 15 days of annual sick leave
• Retirement plan with employer matching after Year 1
• Employee discounts (Museum, Shop, Café, and Art School discounts)
• Onsite parking provided.

Working Conditions and Atmosphere:

Work takes place in an office environment. General office hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with flexible scheduling as appropriate. Ability to operate general office equipment including computers, copiers, printers, etc. Ability to lift, carry, push, pull, up to 25 pounds of general office material or equipment. Ability to work some evening and weekend hours.

The employee must be able to fulfill all Essential Duties with or without a reasonable accommodation. This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of all activities, duties, and responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned, at any time with or without notice.

EEOC Statement:

HoMA is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal opportunity for all employees and applicants. HoMA recruits, hires, trains, promotes, compensates, and administers all personnel actions and benefit programs without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, including pregnancy and gender identity and expression, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, reproductive health decisions, marital status, arrest and court record (except as legally applicable), citizenship, credit history, military and veteran service, victim of domestic violence or sexual abuse victim status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

The statements contained herein describe the scope of the responsibilities and essential functions of this position but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work duties and requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including work in other areas to cover absences or relief to equalize peak work periods or otherwise balance the workload.

HoMA maintains a policy of nondiscrimination in all employment practices and decisions, ensuring equal employment opportunities for all qualified individuals. This applies to both HoMA employees and applicants for employment with the Museum. Any form of harassment of any employee because of any protected status is prohibited.

HoMA welcomes people from all backgrounds and walks of life, and this is reflected in our diverse community of employees. We encourage applications from candidates across a wide variety of backgrounds, including, but not limited to, people of all races and ethnicities, people with disabilities, women, veterans, and all members of the LGBTQ+ community.