Museum Registrar | SFO Museum

Calmuseums; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Calmuseums in San Francisco seeks a Museum Registrar to manage exhibition programs under the Curator in Charge of Registration. The role involves coordinating with multiple departments and external partners, with occasional supervision of interns.

Responsibilities include exhibition management, loan processing, handling and packing, storage, and environmental monitoring, plus overnight shifts 5–10 times per year for artwork maintenance within the Airport complex.

Responsibilities

• Complete exhibition management needs and meet production due dates for 5–10 exhibitions annually.
• Oversee loan processing including cataloging, object lists, loan agreements, insurance, and record keeping.
• Ensure care and handling for exhibitions, including packing, shipping, environmental monitoring, and storage.
• Maintain storage and housing for objects, including housing materials and environmental controls.
• Collaborate with Registrar on San Francisco Arts Commission duties and Public Art maintenance.
• Coordinate with Permanent Collections, Conservation, Exhibition Design, and Preparation teams.
• Coordinate with museum staff and outside art handlers.
• Maintain records for collections, loans, and exhibitions.
• Oversee movement and security of artworks in transit.
• Supervise and train registration interns as needed.

Job description

Under the direction and supervision of the Curator in Charge of Registration, the 3556 Museum Registrar performs a wide variety of professional registration duties in support of the Museum’s exhibition programs. This position works with all levels of Museum staff, coordinates with various departments within the Airport, and has regular communications with outside individuals and organizations. The position has no direct reports but may supervise department interns on an as‑needed basis.

The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to the following:

• Complete all exhibition management needs and meet all scheduled production due dates for approximately 5 to 10 assigned museum exhibitions annually.
• Oversee all exhibition loan processing for lenders to assigned exhibitions including cataloging and database entry; generation of object lists; loan agreement forms; receipt/release forms; insurance documents; correspondence; mailing; and all record keeping and related filing.
• Implement care and handling requirements for assigned exhibitions, including incoming packing and shipping; receiving; incoming condition reporting; temporary housing and storage; environmental monitoring; liaising with Conservation regarding handling and exhibition design; onsite packing and transportation; regular monitoring and inspection on galleries; de‑installation; outgoing condition reporting; outgoing packing and shipping.
• Maintain art storage and housing requirements for objects in assigned exhibitions including supply and use of approved housing materials, fixtures, and furnishings; tagging/marking; environmental control; seismic event damage protection; cleanliness; and security and loss prevention.
• Work closely with Registrar handling San Francisco Arts Commission duties with regards to Public Art maintenance at the Airport, including occasional overnight shifts 5 to 10 times a year.
• Work closely with Permanent Collections Department, Conservation, Exhibition Design, and Preparation Departments with regards to object handling and exhibition requirements.
• Coordinate work with other SFO Museum staff, representatives of other museums and outside art handling personnel.
• Maintain a variety of computerized and manual records and files regarding collections, loans and exhibitions.
• Accompany valuable objects of art in transit, oversee containerization, security, safety, movement and receipt of shipments.
• Supervise and train Registration Department interns, as assigned.

NOTE: This position requires overnight shifts 5 to 10 times a year for artwork maintenance inside Airport Terminals.