Collections Manager & Registrar

National Museum of Wildlife Art; Arlington (TX); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Medal of Honor Museum seeks a detail-oriented Collections Manager and Registrar to steward artifacts and archival materials, ensuring proper care, documentation, and access.

This role collaborates with Curatorial and Education teams to advance the museum’s mission and preserve the stories of Medal of Honor recipients for future generations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in history, anthropology, museum studies, American studies, or related field required.
• Master’s degree in History, Museum Studies, Anthropology, Public History, or related program highly preferred.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in collections management, registration, or related museum role.
• Demonstrated experience with object handling, preservation, and collections documentation from acquisition to long-term care.
• Experience working with museum collection management databases.
• Knowledge of American history and the history of the Medal of Honor.

Responsibilities

• Accession artifacts, catalog, maintain inventories, create archival housing, and maintain records (physical and digital).
• Manage storage areas, environmental data analysis, and curatorial housekeeping for preservation.
• Oversee paperwork for incoming/outgoing donations and loan agreements with partners and families.
• Consult with Curatorial and Education teams to identify artifacts needing research or prioritization.
• Increase access through digitization and creation of digital surrogates (scanning/photography).
• Enhance catalog records with contextual, descriptive, and administrative information.
• Represent the Museum at events and participate in curatorial meetings.

Skills

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Initiative / problem solving

Project coordination

Team collaboration

Travel coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree (history / anthropology / museum studies / American studies)

Master’s degree preferred (History / Museum Studies / Anthropology / Public History)

Tools

Museum collection management databases

Job description

Job Summary:

The National Medal of Honor Museum is seeking a detail-oriented and dedicated Collections Manager and Registrar to serve as a critical steward of the Museum’s growing collection of artifacts, archival materials, and objects connected to the stories of Medal of Honor recipients. This position plays an essential role in preserving the physical and historical integrity of the collection while ensuring that each artifact is thoughtfully documented, properly cared for, and accessible for future generations. Through careful collections management, preservation, and stewardship, this position helps safeguard the tangible history entrusted to the Museum by Medal of Honor recipients, their families, donors, and partners.

The Collections Manager and Registrar also plays an important role in advancing the Museum’s mission to educate and inspire by increasing access to the collection and supporting the work of Curatorial, Education, and other Museum teams. They will lead in our continued efforts to transform individual objects into resources that can deepen understanding of the courage, sacrifice, commitment, integrity, citizenship, and patriotism represented by the Medal of Honor. The successful candidate will bring a high level of care, organization, curiosity, and professionalism to the stewardship of these important collections and the stories they represent.

Essential Functions

• Being the caretaker of the museum’s growing artifact collections. This work will include the accessioning of artifacts, cataloging, maintaining inventories, creating archival housing for items, and maintaining both physical and digital records.
• Ensuring proper care and preservation of the museum collections by managing the museum collections storage areas, environmental conditions data and analysis, and curatorial housekeeping.
• Overseeing all paperwork for incoming and outgoing artifact donation and loan agreements with external partners, Medal of Honor recipients, and Medal of Honor families.
• Consulting with Curatorial and Education teams to identify and prioritize artifacts and records that need additional research.
• Increasing access through digitization of the collections according to established procedures, standards, and best practices
• Creating digital surrogates of cataloged items through scanning or photography
• Identifying and flagging objects in need of further attention including condition reports, digitization, housing, or research.
• Enhancing and maintaining existing catalog records to provide additional contextual, descriptive, and administrative information.
• Representing the National Medal of Honor Museum and its collection at key events within the community or during private events as needed.
• Participating in curatorial meetings and activities.
• Other duties and tasks as assigned.

Required Skills & Abilities

• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities, deadlines, relationships, and confidential matters.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft polished correspondence and professional materials.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to establish credibility and positive working relationships across departments
• Ability to anticipate needs, work independently, solve problems, and take initiative without requiring extensive direction.
• Strong project coordination and relationship management skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and related technology.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic nonprofit environment and adapt to changing priorities.
• Ability to travel occasionally to inquire about new artifacts for the collection, foster relationships with industry partners, or to represent the Museum.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required in history, anthropology, museum studies, American studies, or related field required.
• Master’s degree in History, Museum Studies, Anthropology, Public History, or related program highly preferred.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in collections management, registration, or related museum role.
• Demonstrated experience with object handling, preservation, and collections documentation from acquisition to object/archival long-term care
• Experience working with museum collection management databases
• Knowledge of American history and the history of the Medal of Honor

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to attend and support meetings, events, donor engagements, and other Foundation activities that may require extended periods of standing or walking.
• Muse have adequate visual acuity, ability to grasp and handle objects.
• Must be able to lift a minimum of 30 pounds; 50 lbs+ when working with assistance