Description

The collections manager manages, cares for, and preserves the museum's collections of more than 3,500 works of fine and decorative art, together with 27 outdoor sculptures, housed in a historic 1904 mansion. This includes overseeing the acquisition, accessioning, documentation, and exhibition of items, and ensuring their safety and accessibility for public and research purposes. At the Haan Museum, this position carries both collections management and registrar duties. The position is grant-funded and subject to renewal.

Requirements

Collections Management: 

• Inventory, with work-study students.
• Object cataloging, with work-study students.
• Weekly inspections. Routine cleaning.
• Permanent labeling.

Archival Storage:

• Maintaining records and managing the storage and conservation of collections in the museum's care

Documentation:

• Condition reports.
• Provenance research
• Ensuring all collections are thoroughly documented, including documents outlining legal ownership, condition, photographs, correspondence, and provenance.

Acquisition and Accessioning:

• Evaluating potential additions to the collection and managing the acquisition process, with approval by the executive director and the Collections Committee.
• Managing deaccessioning and disposition where the Collections Committee directs it.

Exhibition Planning:

• Collaborating with the executive director to plan exhibitions, assess collection stability, and install and deinstall shows.
• Handling and installing objects.
• Supplying object data for exhibition catalogs.

Loan Management:

• Processing and arranging incoming and outgoing loans, including shipping, couriers, insurance, and lender restrictions.

Risk Management:

• Managing collections facilities, coordinating with administration on building systems.
• Ensuring environmental controls are in place and monitored, that the collection is insured, and that it is housed securely for preservation and access.
• Maintaining collection insurance schedules, with administration holding the museum's policies.

Object Handling:

• Establishing and/or carrying out policies for object handling. Supervising and training work-study students, student interns, and other authorized personnel in object handling.

Research and Accessibility:

• Facilitating access to the collection for research and educational purposes internally and externally, including for education programs and docent training content.

Policy and Procedure Development:

• Developing and implementing policies and procedures related to collections, and recommending revisions to the executive director and the Collections Committee.

Committee Support:

• Staffing the Collections Committee, on which the executive director also serves.