Museum Registrar

Senate; United States; Hybrid; USD 93,000 - 144,000; Full time

Job summary

United States Senate Sergeant at Arms seeks a Museum Registrar to direct the registration and loan program for the Senate Collection. You will develop standards for acquisition, inventory, storage, handling, and movement of artworks and historical objects, and oversee contracts and insurance for loans.

The role requires a master’s degree and several years of museum registration experience, with responsibility for annual inventories and collaboration with Senate offices and curators.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in art or American history, museum studies, or related field.
• Five to eight years of professional museum registration experience.
• Knowledge of current museum registration concepts and standards.

Responsibilities

• Direct registration and loan program management for the Senate Collection.
• Develop and implement policies for acquisition, inventory, storage, handling and movement of artworks.
• Oversee incoming/outgoing loan contracts and insurance requirements.
• Prepare annual inventory reports and decennial catalog updates.
• Provide guidance and supervision to staff and contract personnel.

Skills

Museum registration

Collections management

Information retrieval systems

Disaster planning

Project coordination

Education

Master's degree in art or American history

Tools

Database programs

Job description

Museum Registrar
Organization
Secretary of the Senate

DepartmentOffice of Senate Curator
SALARY RANGE:
SEC-9: $92879-$143956
FEDERAL RELAY SERVICE:
Speech/Hearing impaired persons may text the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8338 TTY.
TELEWORK:
This position is eligible for a partial remote work schedule after an initialintroductory onsite period.
FLSA STATUS:
Exempt
DEADLINE FORAPPLICATIONS:
11/17/2026 at 11:59pm EST
JOB DESCRIPTION:

NATURE OF WORK
This is professional, technical, and administrative work directing the registration and loan program of the Office of Senate Curator on behalf of the Senate Commission on Art (the Commission). Responsibilities include developing, managing, and implementing standards, policies, procedures, and documentation for the acquisition, inventory, safe storage, handling, placement, and movement of works of art and historical objects in the U.S. Senate Collection. In addition, the Registrar oversees management of the incoming and outgoing loan program.

Work is bound by the Commission; Secretary of the Senate policies and procedures; Senate procurement regulations; federal appropriations law; the U.S. Senate Handbook; the Senate Ethics Manual; the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration; the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act; and standards established by the American Alliance of Museums, but requires independent judgment in setting priorities and handling assignments. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Associate Curator.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Manage all aspects of the registration program; plan, review, and implement registration objectives and established policies and procedures; develop and implement policies and procedures to document, organize, and control object, acquisition, and loan information; recommend budgetary requirements for the registration program, including packing and transportation of works of art and historical objects in the collection and on loan.

Direct the incoming and outgoing loan program; research and coordinate loan requests from Senate leadership offices; negotiate loan contracts with museums; create and review legal documents pertaining to loaned works of art; facilitate insurance and security requirements; arrange and coordinate packing and transportation of works of art coming into and leaving the Capitol. Coordinate with senior staff in leadership offices to install loaned works of art and regularly examine their condition per the loan contract.

Direct and oversee the inventory program for the Senate Collection; conduct, prepare, and distribute annual inventory of the collection as part of the Commission’s legal responsibility to demonstrate proper standards of care and oversight for objects in the Senate Collection; oversee the publication of a comprehensive decennial inventory of the Senate’s art and historic objects in accordance with the duties of the Commission (2 U.S.C. § 2104) and coordinate with the Architect of the Capitol and the Senate Sergeant at Arms to prepare and distribute semi-annual updates to the Secretary of the Senate and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration as mandated by legislation. Oversee annual inventory of foreign gifts under the terms of the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act (5 U.S.C. § 7342).

Provide assistance, guidance, and oversight to Collections Specialist; and provide basic input to Associate Curator for performance/merit evaluations.

Serve as a Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), under the general direction of the Associate Curator, for the Office of Senate Curator for select collections management related contracts including professional art handling, art crating, and climate-controlled storage. Develop scopes of work; evaluate proposals; and interview and evaluate vendors. Negotiate contracts and recommend proposals for Curator approval; ensure compliance and payment of contracts and recommend courses of action to Curator; inspect and ensure quality of work and associated deliverables; supervise logistics; coordinate movement of objects with professional art handlers and Senate Offices; notify Curator of progress or concerns.

Administer the Senate Collection Archives and ensure the accuracy of object records through research and documentation; ensure the proper handling, physical security, and inventory of objects; secure legal documentation required for ownership and provenance purposes; and establish standards for maintaining electronic files and managing databases.

Oversee the care, security, and organization of collections and temporary exhibitions; coordinate and direct in-house staff as needed to facilitate safe movement and storage of objects; maintain and care for all art and historic objects to ensure that no object is damaged or compromised; protect objects and records, participate in evaluations of storage conditions, as well as environmental and security issues.

Prepare and present training to relevant Senate Sergeant at Arms and Architect of the Capitol personnel on effective movement of objects in the Capitol building/complex.

Assist with artifact image, text, and design support; provide research and documentation from collections records; and provide direct care, preparation, and documentation of all objects on temporary exhibition.

Lead the office’s disaster planning and preparedness program for all art, historical artifacts, and object records.

Maintain current knowledge of the Curator’s Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and Continuity of Operations (COOP) plan; and participate in periodic exercises and drills.

Provide all customers with the highest level of customer service.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Work is performed in an office environment with exposure to everyday risks and discomforts, and requires the use of normal safety precautions. Work requires frequent visits to project sites, walking, standing, bending, and carrying items 25-50 pounds, as well as regular use of typical office equipment, software programs, and methods of communication such as a computer, email, telephone, and photocopier.

Employee must have the physical dexterity and ability to climb ladders and scaffolding, or crawl under/into spaces in order to review work. Conservation and preservation may expose employee to dust, paint, cleaning solvents, and fumes, which require appropriate safety precautions.

Regular, predictable, and punctual attendance is required for performance of duties. Work also requires physical presence in the office, except as otherwise required by the Office of the Secretary.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Work requires a master’s degree in art or American history, museum studies, or a related field, with five to eight years of professional museum registration experience; and the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Knowledge of current museum registration and collections management concepts, principles, and practices.

Knowledge and experience with information retrieval systems, relevant database programs, and electronic documentation technology.

Knowledge of legal and ethical issues involving art and historic objects.

Basic knowledge of the Senate as an institution preferred, with a desire and willingness to learn more about the legislative process, as well as the history and operation of the Senate.

Knowledge of current museum standards for the display of artifacts and documents, and the ability to safely handle and examine art objects.

Knowledge of disaster response practices related to art, historic objects, and archival records.

Ability to manage and coordinate multiple projects.

Ability to organize data and objects.

Ability to implement operational guidelines and procedures.

Ability to analyze and apply information and formulate recommendations.

Ability to thoroughly research topics and write professional documents for educational purposes.

Ability to deal with others using tact and diplomacy.

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
None.

Accommodations

Applicants needing a reasonable accommodation for the application or interview process should contact Human Resources at [e-mail].

Veteran'sPreference:

Hiring for this position will be governed by the Veterans EmploymentOpportunity Act of 1998 (“VEOA”), as made applicable by the CongressionalAccountability Act of 1995. Pursuant to the VEOA, qualified applicants who arenot current employees of the Office of the Secretary of the Senate and who aredisabled or who have served on active duty in the Armed Forces during certainspecified time periods or in certain military designated campaigns (“veterans”)may be eligible to receive a preference over non-veterans in hiring decisions.Family members of veterans may also be eligible to receive a veterans’preference if the veteran cannot claim his or her veterans’ preference. To be eligible for a veterans’ preference, applicants must meet all of therequirements set forth in the VEOA and applicable regulations. Thoseeligibility requirements are summarized in the Application for Veterans’Preference, which may be obtained by visiting: https://www.senate.gov/employment/resources/pdf/SOS_VeteransPreference.pdf If claiming a veterans’ preference, an applicant must indicate that he/she ispreference eligible on the application or resume and must submit a completedcopy of the Application for Veterans’ Preference along with the supportingdocumentation specified on that form. If the Office of the Secretary of theSenate does not receive the Application for Veterans’ Preference and supportingdocumentation by the closing date, the applicant’s claim for a veterans’preference may be denied. Applicants may obtain a copy of the Office’s Veterans’ Preference inAppointments policy by submitting a written request to [e-mail]. Individuals who are entitled to a veterans’ preference are invited toself-identify voluntarily. This information is intended solely for use inconnection with the Office of the Secretary of the Senate’s obligations andefforts to provide veterans’ preference to preference-eligible applicants inaccordance with the VEOA. An applicant’s status as a disabled veteran and anyinformation regarding an applicant’s disability, including the applicant’smedical condition and history, will be kept confidential and will be collected,maintained and used in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of1990, as made applicable by section 102(a)(3) of the CAA, 2 U.S.C. §1302(a)(3).An applicant who declines to self-identify as a disabled veteran and/or toprovide information and documentation regarding his/her disabled veteran’sstatus will not be subjected to an adverse employment action, but theindividual may be ruled ineligible for a veterans’ preference.