Collections Manager

Midwest Museums; Granville Township (OH); On-site; USD 53,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Denison University seeks a Collections Manager for the Denison Museum to steward the Permanent Collection and oversee documentation, preservation, and access. You will work with the Museum Director and Curator to implement care priorities and support teaching with objects.

Primary duties include managing acquisitions, loans, and deaccessioning, coordinating with external conservators, and guiding student research, exhibitions, and public engagement.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Museum Studies, Art History, Library/Information Science, Conservation, or related field.
• At least three years of professional experience in museum collections management.
• Experience with handling, storage, preservation, documentation, and management of two- and three-dimensional objects.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day care, stewardship, and documentation of the Permanent Collection.
• Oversee accuracy and completeness of collection records and online collections information.
• Coordinate acquisitions, loans, and deaccessioning and related paperwork.

Skills

Strong research, writing, and project‑

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Education

Master’s degree in Museum Studies or related field

3+ years of professional museum collections experience

Tools

Collections management system

Collector Systems (preferred)

Job description

Collections Manager, Denison Museum
Denison University
Administrative Staff Job Description
POSITION: Collections Manager
DEPARTMENT: Museum
STATUS: Full-time 12 months
SALARY RANGE: Grade: ADM-7 (MIN: $58,400-MID: $65,400)

BASIC FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITY
The Collections Manager is responsible for the stewardship, management, documentation, and ongoing development of the Denison Museum Permanent Collection, which comprises approximately 8,000 objects from Asia, Europe, and North and Central America in a wide range of media, including stone, wood, paper, lacquer, metal, textiles, and oil and other painted surfaces.

Working closely with the Museum Director and Curator, the Collections Manager leads the day-to-day management and long-term care of the Permanent Collection and develops and implements projects that strengthen collections documentation, research, preservation, access, and use in teaching and exhibitions.

The Collections Manager plays a key role in advancing the Museum’s collections priorities and accreditation efforts. Major priorities over the next three to five years include strengthening collections documentation and database records; supporting the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) accreditation process; facilitating research and collaboration with external scholars; improving storage, preservation, and risk management practices; and overseeing acquisitions and deaccessioning processes.

The Collections Manager also works with the Museum Director and Curator to make the collection an active teaching and research resource for Denison students, faculty, and visiting scholars.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Collections Stewardship and Preservation

• Manage the day-to-day care, stewardship, and documentation of the Permanent Collection.
• Develop and implement collections care priorities and project workflows in coordination with the Museum Director and Curator.
• Monitor storage conditions, environmental conditions, integrated pest management, security, and other aspects of collections preservation and risk management.
• Coordinate conservation assessments and treatments with qualified conservators and other outside specialists.
• Develop and maintain procedures for the safe handling, movement, storage, installation, packing, and transportation of two- and three-dimensional objects.
• Identify collections care needs and develop short- and long-term projects to address them.
• Maintain and update collections policies, procedures, and documentation in accordance with professional museum standards.

Collections Documentation, Research, and Access

• Manage the Museum’s collections management system and oversee the accuracy, consistency, and completeness of collection records.
• Maintain and develop the Museum’s public-facing collections interface and online collections information.
• Conduct and facilitate object research, including provenance research, identification, attribution, bibliography, and related documentation.
• Work with external scholars, faculty, students, and researchers on collection research and reference inquiries.
• Coordinate photography, imaging, digitization, and other documentation projects as appropriate.
• Respond to publication, image-use, and research requests related to the Permanent Collection.
• Support ongoing efforts to research, document, and assess objects within the collection, including identification and valuation projects.

Acquisitions, Loans, and Deaccessioning

• Manage the operational processes associated with acquisitions, incoming and outgoing loans, and deaccessioning.
• Prepare and maintain deeds of gift, loan agreements, condition reports, insurance schedules, shipping documentation, and other collections records.
• Coordinate the safe receipt, packing, transportation, installation, and return of artwork and cultural materials.
• Work with the Museum Director and Curator on acquisition and deaccession projects and provide relevant collections, condition, documentation, and logistical information.
• Assist with due diligence, provenance research, valuation, and legal and ethical considerations related to acquisitions and deaccessioning.
• Maintain accurate records related to the legal ownership and status of collection objects.

Exhibitions, Teaching, and Public Engagement

• Work with the Museum Director and Curator to select, research, prepare, install, and deinstall objects for exhibitions, curricular use, and public programming.
• Collaborate with faculty to identify appropriate collection objects for teaching and object-based learning.
• Prepare objects and collections materials for classroom visits, exhibitions, public programs, and other educational uses.
• Provide expertise on object handling, condition, installation, display, and collections care.
• Assist with exhibition planning, installation, deinstallation, and related collections logistics.
• Support the Museum’s mission as a teaching museum by facilitating appropriate student access to and engagement with the Permanent Collection.

Student and Intern Research and Professional Development

• Work with the Museum Director and Curator to develop meaningful collections-based research, writing, documentation, and project opportunities for student employees and interns.
• Design and oversee student projects related to collections research, object documentation, cataloging, provenance research, exhibitions, digitization, rehousing, and other collections initiatives.
• Train and supervise student employees and interns in professional museum practices, including object handling, documentation, research methods, collections care, and ethical standards.
• Provide guidance and feedback on student research and writing projects and help students develop professional skills through hands-on engagement with the collection.
• Coordinate student project workflows and ensure that work is documented and incorporated appropriately into Museum records and ongoing collections projects.

Facilities, Risk Management, and Accreditation

• Direct collections-related facilities management, security, emergency preparedness, and risk management procedures in coordination with the Museum Director and appropriate University personnel.
• Participate in emergency planning and response for the Permanent Collection.
• Maintain collections-related records and procedures necessary to meet professional museum standards and institutional requirements.
• Work closely with the Museum Director to prepare for and maintain American Alliance of Museums (AAM) accreditation, including reviewing and updating collections-related policies and procedures, maintaining required documentation and records, preparing materials for accreditation review, coordinating collections-related information and logistics for site visits, and assisting with implementation of recommendations and required changes.
• Partner with the Museum Director in assessing and strengthening Museum policies, procedures, documentation, and collections practices to ensure alignment with current professional standards and AAM accreditation requirements.

Administration and Institutional Support

• Participate in development of the Museum’s annual collections-related budget and monitor expenditures within assigned areas.
• Assist with grant proposals and reports related to collections care, research, conservation, digitization, and related projects.
• Participate in Museum planning, staff meetings, events, and other activities as appropriate.
• Maintain effective communication with donors, faculty, students, University colleagues, scholars, lenders, conservators, and other Museum partners.
• Represent the Museum professionally with external colleagues, scholars, lenders, donors, and museum professionals.

OTHER DUTIES
Perform other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED
Reports to the Museum Director and Curator.

Works closely with the Museum Director and Curator to establish collections priorities, develop projects, and coordinate the use of the Permanent Collection for exhibitions, teaching, research, and public engagement.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED
Supervises and trains student employees and interns working on collections-related projects.

May coordinate the work of external conservators, registrars, scholars, photographers, preparators, or other collections specialists as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS
Required

• Master’s degree in Museum Studies, Art History, Library/Information Science, Conservation, or a related field, plus at least three years of professional experience in museum collections management, or an equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills are acquired.
• Demonstrated professional experience with the handling, storage, preservation, documentation, and management of two- and three-dimensional objects.
• Experience working with a museum collections management system and maintaining accurate collections records. Experience with Collector Systems is preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of museum standards and professional practices related to registration, collections stewardship, preservation, storage, environmental monitoring, security, risk management, and legal and ethical issues affecting collections.
• Experience with acquisitions, loans, and/or deaccessioning of fine art and cultural materials.
• Strong research, writing, organizational, and project management skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, students, faculty, scholars, donors, and external museum professionals.
• Demonstrated ability to train, mentor, and supervise student employees or interns.
• Ability to safely handle and move museum objects and equipment.
• Experience with mounting, hanging, packing, and installing two- and three-dimensional artwork.
• Ability to climb ladders and safely perform physical tasks associated with collections care, storage, and exhibition installation.
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with the Museum Director, Curator, and other University colleagues.

Preferred

• Five to seven years of professional experience in museum collections management.
• Experience working in a small or teaching museum environment.
• Experience with American Alliance of Museums accreditation or collections-related standards and processes.
• Previous experience managing acquisitions and deaccessioning of fine art and cultural materials.
• Experience with provenance research, object identification, valuation, or collections research.
• Experience developing and supervising student or intern research and collections projects.
• Experience with digitization, collections photography, or online collections platforms.
• Experience with grant writing or grant-supported collections projects.
• Experience working with external scholars, conservators, lenders, and other museum professionals.