Assistant Registrar for Collections

Vassar College

Assistant Registrar for Collections

Department: Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center
Duration of Position: Full year / Full time
Work Schedule:
Employee Type: Administrator
Posting Date: 03/23/2022
Union Representation: Not Applicable
Posting Number: AS201P
Pay Rate:

About Vassar College
Located in the scenic Mid-Hudson Valley, Vassar College is a highly selective, residential, coeducational liberal arts college. Vassar is deeply committed to fostering a community that reflects the values of a liberal arts education and to promoting an environment of equality, diversity and inclusiveness. Vassar seeks to create a pluralistic community for all staff, faculty and students. Vassar College is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity employer, and applications from women, individuals with disabilities and members of historically underrepresented groups are especially encouraged.Vassar College is a smoke-free, tobacco-free campus.Note: Vassar College has a universal vaccination policy requiring a COVID-19 vaccination, including a booster, for all employees except for those exempt for medical or religious reasons.

Position Summary and Responsibilities
One of six members of the collections and exhibitions management team charged with the functional care of 22,000+ works of art and associated intellectual data. The Art Center's collection spans all media ranging in date from antiquity to contemporary. The team is also responsible for the installation/deinstallation of exhibitions (both permanent collection works and loans) as well as the documentation of all transactions and movement of objects according to professional museum standards.

The Assistant Registrar aids in the preservation, documentation and care of the museum's collection, processes new acquisitions, and supports curricular object-based study in the museum. The Assistant Registrar also assists with maintaining accurate up-to-date information in the Art Center's collections management database (TMS), and is responsible for making all objects accessible and for providing proper accounting practices.

Position responsibilities:

• Manage all aspects of incoming new acquisitions (gifts, bequests, purchases, approvals) including processing invoices, legal documents and tax forms, composing donor letters, arranging shipping, condition reporting, numbering, leading quarterly meetings, and generating annual reports.
• Collaborate with Curator of Academic Programs and Preparator to oversee Project Gallery (exhibition space for object-based study) displays, including scheduling, preparation, and installation.
• Liaise with faculty and students on classroom requests and independent projects; coordinates classroom viewings of artworks and occasionally proctor classes.
• Point person to pull and re-house works of art for a variety of purposes (class use, examination, research) and track object movements in TMS; produce object packages and reports as needed; work with database administrator to maintain integrity of data as currently established.
• Manage department shipping calendar and release/receive all non-exhibition-related shipments.
• Conduct inventory of 22,000 objects on a systematic basis (each full inventory is currently a three-year project), as well as quarterly location spot-checks to include all classifications of works of art within a single year.
• Spearhead storage housing and organization projects under the supervision of the Head Registrar.
• Supervise and mentor two or more student employees per semester and consults with Head Registrar to assign meaningful projects.
• Maintain and order departmental supplies.
• Provide support to other collections team members as needed, including assistance with exhibition changeovers, rights and reproduction requests, condition reporting, and occasional courier duties.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
  
  

Qualifications
Required skills and experience:

• Minimum 3-5 years of professional post-graduate registration and/or collections management experience working with an art museum collection or gallery
• Knowledge of art handling best practices and art and artifact collections care in a museum environment
• Prior experience organizing domestic shipping
• Working knowledge of collections management databases—TMS experience preferred
• A high degree of organization and self-motivation, including ability to take initiative, anticipate actions needed, and exercise independent judgment
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate clearly and professionally in verbal and written forms
• Comfortable working on multiple projects at any one time
• Ability to work under pressure independently and in a collaborative team environment
• Ability to work with/mentor part-time work-study students from diverse backgrounds
• Ability to handle art storage boxes and objects up to 30 lbs.; ability to climb ladders and lift materials above head

Education/Certification: BA in art history/BFA required; MA in art history, museum studies or related field preferred

Special Instructions to Applicants
To complete your on-line application, you will be required to attach your resume, cover letter, and contact information for 3 professional references. All attachments must be in PDF format. Review of applications will begin immediately. If you have any questions, please contact Human Resources, 845-437-5820.

For full consideration applicants should apply by:

All applicants must apply online at: https://employment.vassar.edu/postings/2515.

jeid-635cc76647866c459292dd21bfa0065c