Collections & Exhibitions Registrar Assistant

Association of Academic Museums & Galleries.; Arlington (NY); On-site; USD 62,353 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY seeks an Assistant Registrar for Collections and Exhibitions to preserve, document, and care for the museum’s collection. The role supports curricular object-based study, assists with gallery changeovers, and maintains the collections management database (TMS Collections).

Responsibilities include coordinating exhibitions, imaging processes, and inventory of 24,000 objects, while mentoring a student employee each semester and collaborating with colleagues

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in art history, museum studies or related field.
• Three years of registration and/or collections management experience at an art museum or gallery.
• Strong cataloging, data entry skills, and knowledge of collections management databases.
• Knowledge of art handling best practices and care of art and artifacts in a museum environment.
• Prior experience with condition reporting and organizing domestic shipping.
• Ability to take initiative and exercise independent judgment.
• Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills, with clear written and verbal communication.
• Detail-oriented, collaborative, and able to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to mentor part-time work-study students.

Responsibilities

• Serve as administrator for the Museum’s collection management database (TMS Collections), including user accounts, access, and security.
• Collaborate on Project Gallery displays, scheduling, preparation, and installation; coordinate with faculty and students.
• Assist with exhibition planning and production; manage exhibition data in TMSC and generate reports.
• Coordinate imaging of collection objects, including arranging photography and processing images into derivative files.
• Process rights and reproductions requests for loans and catalogues; maintain catalogue archive and ISBN issuance.
• Enter core cataloguing data and transcribe inscriptions; contribute to subject tagging and relationships in cataloguing.
• Assist with inventory of ~24,000 objects and perform quarterly location spot-checks.
• Lead pull/re-house operations for class use, examination, and research; track object movements.
• Maintain main storage cleanliness and climate/pest control; assist with courier duties as needed.
• Mentor one student employee per semester in consultation with Registrar for Exhibitions.

Skills

Registration experience

Cataloging

Data entry

TMS Collections knowledge

Independent judgment

Interpersonal skills

Written communication

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in art history or museum studies

Graduate degree in art history or museum studies (preferred)

Tools

TMS Collections

Job description

Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY seeks an Assistant Registrar for Collections and Exhibitions to preserve, document, and care for the museum’s collection. The role supports curricular object-based study, assists with gallery changeovers, and maintains the collections management database (TMS Collections).

Responsibilities include coordinating exhibitions, imaging processes, and inventory of 24,000 objects, while mentoring a student employee each semester and collaborating with colleagues