Entry Level Museum Collection Manager Jobs Near Me

The Collections Manager Manages the Denison Museum Permanent Collection, which comprises ~8,000 objects from Asia, Europe, and North and Central America in various media, including stone, wood, paper, lacquer, metal, and oils. The Collections Manager leads long-range planning efforts and day-to-day activities relative to the care and stewardship of the Permanent Collection. Over the next three to five years, priorities include completing accreditation, working with external scholars on object identification and valuation, and overseeing the acquisitions and deaccession process.

Position Summary

Manage and care for the Denison Museum Permanent Collection, comprising approximately 8,000 objects from Asia, Europe, and North and Central America in a wide range of media including stone, wood, paper, lacquer, metal, textiles, ceramics, and paintings.

Working closely with the Museum Director and Curator, this position supports both the long-term stewardship of the collection and its active use in teaching, exhibitions, and research. Current institutional priorities include continued collections stewardship, accreditation preparation, collections research, acquisitions and deaccessioning, and improving public access to the collection.

Essential Responsibilities

• Identify collections priorities and assist with planning project workflows in coordination with the Museum Director and Curator.

• Supervise and train student employees working on cataloging, rehousing, collections care, and research projects.

• Oversee object preservation, cataloging, acquisitions, and deaccessioning activities.

• Maintain the Museum Collections Management System (CollectorSystems preferred) and public collections interface.

• Generate condition reports, loan agreements, deeds of gift, insurance documentation, and collections records.

• Coordinate object handling, storage, packing, transportation, and installation following museum best practices.

• Assist with facilities management, collections security, environmental monitoring, and risk management.

• Respond to research inquiries, publication requests, and donor communications.

• Collaborate with the Museum Director and Curator to prepare objects for exhibitions, teaching, and public programs.

• Participate in grant writing, budget planning, and museum initiatives as assigned

• Supervises student workers as needed.

Qualifications

Level of Appointment:
This position may be filled at either the Collections Manager or Collections Manager Assistant level, depending on the successful candidate's education, experience, and demonstrated qualifications. Applicants should indicate in their cover letter which level they are seeking and describe how their background aligns with that position. The search committee reserves the right to appoint the successful candidate at the level most appropriate to their qualifications.

Collections Manager

Required

• Master's degree in Museum Studies, Art History, History, Anthropology, or a closely related field.

• Three to five years of progressively responsible museum collections management experience preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience demonstrating the knowledge and skills required for the position.

• Demonstrated experience with museum collections management, including registration, cataloging, object handling, preventive conservation, storage, documentation, and collections database management.

• Experience using museum collections management software (CollectorSystems preferred).

• Knowledge of museum standards, ethics, legal issues, and best practices related to collections stewardship.

• Strong written, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills.

• Experience supervising students, interns, or project teams is preferred.

Collections Manager Assistant

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Museum Studies, Art History, History, Anthropology, or a closely related field.

• One to three years of museum collections experience preferred, including internships, graduate assistantships, or professional positions involving collections management, registration, or collections care.

• Demonstrated experience with object handling, cataloging, collections databases, and museum documentation.

• Working knowledge of museum collections standards and preventive conservation principles.

• Excellent organizational, written, and verbal communication skills.

• Demonstrated ability to learn new systems and work collaboratively in a teaching museum environment.

Preferred

• Master's degree in progress or completed.

• Experience using CollectorSystems or another museum collections management system.

• Experience supporting exhibitions, digitization projects, or collections research.

• Experience supervising student workers or volunteers.

Pay: Up to $29.00 depending on appointment and relevant experience/education.