Collections Manager

Cairns Historical Society and Cairns Museum; Cairns Regional; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Cairns Historical Society and Cairns Museum invites applications for a Collections Manager to oversee the Cairns Museum and Research Centre. You will lead collections administration, curation, display and story development, while delivering training and partnering with regional societies and museums to expand access for researchers and the public.

This hands-on role requires strong governance, CMS implementation, and the ability to manage a large tropical collection with a team of staff and

Qualifications

• Five years minimum in collections/library/archive management or equivalent experience.
• Museum Studies qualification desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to the Collections team and volunteers.
• Work with Executive Officer to develop yearly unit workplans and align workflows with the Strategic Plan.
• Maintain proactive relationship with the Executive Officer.
• Supervise Archives Officer and Exhibitions Curator, including PDP reviews.
• Oversee CMS implementation and ongoing CMS management.
• Manage all Collection Management processes: Donations, Accessions, Deaccessions, cataloguing, conservation, storage, policies.
• Deliver CMS training to staff and volunteers.
• Provide monthly and annual reports to Executive Officer.

Skills

Leadership & management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Collections management degree or equivalent

Museum Studies

Tools

CMS

Job description

Cairns Historical Society and Cairns Museum – Cairns QLD

The Collections Manager is responsible for managing all operational aspects of the Cairns Historical Society's Collection and Research Centre to manage, protect, promote and grow the collection as well as improve accessibility of the Collection for researchers and members of the public. This is a multifaceted role which takes in administration, collection management, curation, display and story development as well as delivering training and partnering with regional stakeholders including other smaller societies and museums throughout the region. This is a hands on role managing a large collection in a tropical environment.

Key responsibilities

• Provide leadership, professional skills and advice to Executive Management, Team and volunteers as Manager of Collections
• Work with Executive Officer to devise yearly Unit Workplans and align individual staff workflows with the Strategic Plan
• Maintain proactive and transparent relationship with the Executive Officer
• Supervise and support Archives Officer and Exhibitions Curator, including annual PDP reviews
• Manage all BOH workflows and operations including Research Centre, Collections, Edmonton Team and Publishing Team as well as management of displays in Museum
• Manage and deliver implementation of Collection Management System (CMS) and ongoing CMS management in consultation with Executive Officer
• Manage all Collection Management processes: Donations, Accessions, Deaccessions, cataloguing, conservation, storage, policies and procedures
• Review, write and keep up to date the Collection Management suite of documents
• Deliver training to staff and volunteers in CMS database, collection significance, conservation and care, and school group programs
• Provide monthly and annual reports to Executive Officer and additional reports upon request

Tertiary qualifications and or equivalent experience of at least five years in collections/library/archive management or other relevant equivalent experience deemed to be appropriate

Tertiary qualification or equivalent experience in Museum Studies desirable

About Us

The Historical Society Cairns North Queensland Inc. (the Society) makes the history of Far North Queensland accessible for current and future generations to come. The Society is a not-for-profit organisation governed by an elected Board of Directors and managed by staff and volunteers. It manages the Cairns Museum and Cairns Research Centre.