POSITION TITLE:
Head of Collections and Senior Registrar
REPORTS TO:
Museum Director
BASIC FUNCTION:
The Head of Collections and Senior Registrar directs all registration and collections management activities for the Museum and Historic Properties and oversees registration for the Andrew and Betsy Wyeth Collection.
POSITION RELATIONSHIPS:
Reports to the Museum Director and supervises the Registrar’s Office staff; Associate Registrar, Lead Preparator, Assistant Preparator and Preservation Technician for the Historic Properties. Works closely with the Director, Exhibitions Manager and Curators.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Leads Registrar’s Office staff; monitors and evaluates performance annually (and more frequently if necessary). Prioritizes and schedules activities, delegating tasks and projects, as necessary.
- Recommend and implement policies and procedures to ensure compliance with museum standards relating to the care of collections.
- Maintain and carry out activities in the Preservation Plan, with short and long-term preservation goals and action items for collections activities.
- Negotiate and maintain fine arts insurance for the permanent collection and loans.
- Represent Registrar's Office in meetings.
- Participate in the Senior Leadership Team of the organization and Museum Team.
- Participate in quarterly Museum Committee Meetings and present outgoing loans, deaccessions, or other projects as needed.
- Participate and contribute to strategic, operational, and master planning projects; attend meetings, provide information and documentation needed to support those efforts.
- Prepare and monitor all budgets for Registrar's office and contribute in part to budgets for exhibitions, storage moves and other special projects.
- Maintain Registrar’s Office calendar with current activities and collaborate with Exhibitions Manager on overall schedule for exhibition and gallery changeovers.
- Monitors and evaluates performance of Registrar’s staff annually (and more frequently if necessary). Provides training and fosters professional development. Plans, prioritizes, and schedules workload, delegating specific tasks as necessary.
- Direct the creation and/or maintenance of legal and informational documents for the collections and loans, such as receipts, gift and purchase paperwork, and condition reports.
- Oversee the coordination of accessioning procedures, including proper documentation with accurate information and physical numbering of the object for identification.
- Manage framework for deaccessioning; organize object reviews; oversee documentation, research, and disposal.
- Supervise data entry standards and the consistent updating of information in the collections management system, The Museum System (TMS), as well as physical files.
- Oversee internal and external object movement, including packing, shipping, security, insurance and recording of locations and provide internal and external access as needed.
- Develop and implement inventory and storage projects.
- Oversee registrarial details of exhibitions (including permanent collection installations), including traveling exhibition projects organized by the museum. This activity will include but not be limited to reviewing exhibition and artist contracts, preparing loan agreements, arranging insurance and couriers as well as scheduling and supervising packing, shipping and condition reporting and supervising installation and deinstallation.
- Oversee care of historic properties collections both on view and in storage. Work closely with the Director of Facilities and Security staff to ensure the integrity of the structures and care of the collections.
- Collaborate with Development staff to identify grant and funding opportunities for collections projects and assist with preparing grant applications and reports.
- Participate and contribute to strategic, operational, and master planning projects; attend meetings, provide information and documentation to support those efforts.
- Attend meetings related to museum construction projects and monitor renovation or upgrades that affect the collections.
- Act as a courier for traveling exhibitions organized by Brandywine and loans from the collection when necessary.
- Disseminate information on the collection as needed to other departments, researchers, and students.
- Execute contracts for outside services as needed.
- Engage in professional development and seek opportunities to participate in professional associations and attend/present at conferences.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor of Arts, M.A. preferred, art history favored. Minimum of eight years registration experience at a senior level within a major art museum is required.
- Must have demonstrable experience with all aspects of permanent collections stewardship and major international loans and exhibitions, including contracts, budgets, insurance, transportation, governmental regulations, customs regulations, security procedures and U.S. Government indemnification program.
- Must exhibit exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, strong sense of responsibility, and be able to handle multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize workflow.
- Knowledge of current museum techniques, practices and standards relating to special exhibitions, registration methods and collections records.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills are required as well as a keen sense of diplomacy, optimizing effective interaction with a broad range of individuals, both within the institution as well as with outside professionals.
- Familiarity with various collections information management systems; experience with TMS strongly preferred.
SALARY & BENEFITS:
- $75,000–80,000 annually
- Paid time off
- Health and dental insurance
- Retirement benefits or accounts
To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to Connie Scholz at [email protected].
We are an equal opportunity employer and consider all qualified applicants equally without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law. The Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art is committed to building a culturally diverse staff.