Collections Specialist

Presidio Trust; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 83,000 - 102,000; Full time

Job summary

The Presidio Trust is seeking a Collections Specialist to join its Historic Compliance team in the Planning and Compliance Department in the San Francisco Bay Area. The role focuses on collections care, documentation, and exhibition support for historic artifacts.

Reporting to the Curator, you will balance preserving objects with providing access for research, education, and displays, while complying with federal regulations and agency policy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in museum studies, anthropology, material culture studies, art history, history, or a related discipline with specialized training in museology.
• At least two years of relevant work experience in collections management and/or exhibition development.
• Strong organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail; ability to manage multiple projects.
• Excellent oral and written communication; ability to document clearly and convey information effectively.
• Proficiency with cross-platform relational databases and Microsoft Office; willingness to learn additional software.

Responsibilities

• Provide collections care including identification, handling, cleaning, cataloging, labeling, condition reporting, and storing objects.
• Create records documenting collections transactions (accessions, loans) and maintain artifact catalogs, lender/shipper files, and insurance documentation.
• Maintain collections database to facilitate access and use of the collections.
• Conduct research on collections and contribute to exhibitions and research projects.
• Assist with exhibition development from concept to installation, including rights management for images/objects.
• Develop curatorial manuals, write finding aids, and synthesize data for professional reports.
• Provide training and accessible information about curatorial activities to staff and the public.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Databases & MS Office

Museology familiarity

Education

Bachelor’s degree in museum studies/related discipline

Tools

Re:discovery software

Relational databases

Digital media software

Job description

The Presidio Trust is seeking a Collections Specialist to join its Historic Compliance team in the Planning and Compliance Department. The Presidio Trust is a unique federal agency that stewards and shares the Presidio, one of the most visited national park sites in America and a place where people live and businesses thrive. The Trust manages the Presidio through a triple bottom line focus: being visited and loved by all, being a model of environmental stewardship, and demonstrating excellence in all our operations.

Reporting to the Curator, the Collections Specialist supports all aspects of curatorial operations, including collections development, documentation, preservation, and use. The Collections Specialist works with a larger team of cultural resource professionals (Curator, Federal Preservation Officer, Archaeologist, etc.) to balance preserving the Trust’s collections while providing access to them for scientific, educational, and other purposes, including exhibition at the Presidio Officers’ Club. The work is performed under the direction of the Curator and in compliance with 36 CFR Part 79, The Curation of Federally-Owned and Administered Archaeological Collections, agency policy, and federal law. Collections include both permanent archaeological collections and borrowed museum objects, with post-contact archaeological materials making up the majority of the collections. Exhibitions include both permanent and temporary installations that explore the Presidio’s history and make collections accessible to a broad audience.

Our ideal candidate is a creative and organized museum professional with a passion for public service, who brings a collaborative, thoughtful, and detail-oriented approach to preserving collections and sharing them with the public.

This is a full-time fixed term position. The position is eligible for all benefits made available to a full-time hire; however, the appointment will end in January 2029. The starting pay range of $82,916 to $102,296, based in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the starting base salary is dependent on the experience and qualifications of the candidate. Applications received by November 6, 2026 will receive first consideration.

Responsibilities

• Provide collections care, including identification, handling, cleaning, cataloging, labeling, condition reporting, and storing objects in the collections. Make recommendations for conservation treatments. Conduct inventories and process uncatalogued collections material. Collaborate with archaeological staff to provide curatorial support for new acquisitions.
• Create records documenting collections transactions (accessions, outgoing and incoming loans) in accordance with established policy and guidelines. Maintain other collections information such as artifact catalogs, identification references, conservation treatments, lender and shipper files, and insurance documentation. Maintain collections database to facilitate access to and use of the collections.
• Conduct research on collections. Assemble collection materials for use in research projects, exhibitions, and other purposes. Serve as a team member on collections committees and participate in committee activities evaluating and reviewing plans for accession, conservation, loan, and other use of collections items.
• Implement preventative conservation and technical maintenance procedures for curation facility and exhibition galleries at the Officers’ Club, including curatorial cleaning and maintenance, environmental and IPM monitoring, and object and record handling and relocation. Work with facility and IPM staff to ensure proper collections environment is maintained and address concerns. Maintain inventory of curatorial furniture, equipment, and supplies.
• To facilitate public access to the Trust’s collections, participate in the exhibition development process, including idea generation and concept development, content development, design development, fabrication, and installation of exhibitions. Contribute to content creation, including selection, development, and installation of collections objects, images, and multimedia; and other tasks for use in communicating information in exhibitions. Create and maintain exhibition documentation such as research briefs, collections object and image lists, permissions, design files, and punch lists. Negotiate rights management in association with collections images and objects used in exhibition, in accordance with the lender and/or owner’s permissions or usage rights policy.
• Assist with the development of curatorial procedural manuals and reporting. Write collections finding aids. Conduct analysis of multiple data sources and synthesize findings in professional reports. Maintain the Trust’s General Facility Report to provide comprehensive facility information for potential lenders to exhibitions at the Officers’ Club.
• Provide accessible information to Trust staff and the public about ongoing curatorial activities pertinent to the park’s cultural resources and themes. Provide instruction and training on curatorial resources and operations for staff, interns, and volunteers.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in museum studies, anthropology, material culture studies, art history, history, or a related discipline with specialized training in museology.
• At least two years of relevant work experience comparable in scope and responsibility, such as, a combination of experience in collections management principles and procedures used in the physical care and record keeping of collections objects; and experience in exhibition development and preventive conservation principles and procedures used in creation and maintenance of collections-based museum experiences.
• Positive, professional demeanor. Ability to form and maintain successful working relationships and work cooperatively with many departments and with community members. Strong organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail. Ability to work simultaneously on multiple projects. Demonstrated creativity and flexibility.
• Skill in oral and written communication in order to ensure that documentation is well written, easily understood, and pertinent information is shared effectively; and that oral presentations are informative, clear, and convey the intended message.
• Strong computer and data management skills, including familiarity with and ability to use various types of cross-platform relational database and digital media software currently being used within the profession for collections management and exhibition development. Ability to learn additional software used in the field of museology and related disciplines. Competency with Microsoft Office applications is required.

Desired Qualifications

• Passion for parks; strong desire to work for the Presidio Trust.
• Familiarity with Re:discovery software.
• Experience working with basic hand tools.

Background Check

This position is subject to an employment background check which shall consist of a review of applicable county, state and Federal criminal and civil records, state bankruptcy indexes, driver’s license, education, and employment history. An individual’s granting of a background check and resulting report is voluntary. However, employment is contingent upon the successful completion of an employment background check. The Presidio Trust may refuse to hire an individual, may rescind an offer of employment to an individual, or may review and terminate the employment of a current employee not successfully completing the background check.