Senior Collections Manager

Cleveland Museum of Natural History; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is seeking a Senior Collections Manager to supervise a team responsible for the care and stewardship of its permanent collection. The role includes managing compliance with legal standards, risk management, and overseeing collections management systems.

An ideal candidate will have 5-7 years of experience in collections management and supervisory roles, with a strong foundation in museum practices. This position is vital for ensuring the museum's dedication to preserving its collections.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of collections management experience required.
• 5-7 years of supervisory experience with strong management skills.
• 3-5 years of relational database experience required.

Responsibilities

• Manage the care of all the Museum’s permanent collections objects.
• Ensure compliance with all legal and professional standards.
• Lead risk management efforts for collections.

Skills

Collections management

Team leadership

Risk management

Database management

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in history, art history, or museum studies

Tools

Collections management system (EMu)

Job description

Cleveland Museum of Natural History Job Description

Job Title

Senior Collections Manager

Summary

The senior collections manager will supervise a team of professional collections management practitioners to oversee the long‑term care and stewardship of the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Members of the collection management team work collaboratively across collections to oversee the day‑to‑day operation, collection access, and maintenance. The senior collections manager will lead risk management efforts, set goals for the collections managers, and ensure compliance with all legal, ethical, and professional standards. They will also oversee maintenance of the collections management system (EMu), collections records, and loans.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in history, art history, museum studies or related field preferred, but not necessary, with demonstrable experience working in collections and/or preventive conservation
• 5-7 years of collections management experience required
• 5-7 years of supervisory experience, with demonstrable strong management skills
• 3-5 years of relational database experience required

Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage the care of all the Museum’s permanent collections objects
• Ensure compliance with all legal, ethical, and professional standards, including accreditation requirements, provenance research, and repatriation regulations
• Lead risk management efforts including environmental monitoring, security, disaster preparedness and response planning
• Oversee maintenance of all collections records, digital and physical
• Supervise collections managers, in addition to recruiting and supervising consistent team of volunteers, interns, and work study students
• Manage acquisition process for relevant collections and prepare collections objects for entry into permanent collection
• Provides leadership, mentorship, and professional development for collections staff
• Performs all duties according to established museum collections, operating, safety, and environmental policies
• Contribute to creation and maintenance of the fiscal year operations budget for the collection department
• Performs other duties as assigned by Director of Collections or senior management, as required

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Comprehensive and current knowledge of standards and best practices for museum collections management care and demonstrable experience of handling, moving, preparing, and rehousing collections objects
• Strong experience supervising, leading, and motivating a team of full‑time staff, as well as volunteers, interns, and work study students
• Experience working across collection types, with a pragmatic approach to problem solving
• Excellent organizational and project management skills with a high degree of attention to detail; an ability to undertake complex and methodical projects to a high level of accuracy
• Excellent IT skills including the ability to check and verify data in documents, spreadsheets, databases, scientific literature, or other sources
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, and interpersonal skills; ability to deal effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, maintaining positive working relationships
• Self‑motivated with a demonstrated ability to work independently, as well as successfully in a team, towards deadline driven projects

Equipment

• Working knowledge of collections equipment and supplies for preventive conservation

Physical Working Conditions

• Indoor/Outdoor, all weather conditions
• Position requires sitting, walking, standing, reaching including stooping, kneeling, and crouching.

Physical Effort Required

• Some physical effort may occasionally be required.
• Must be able to stand or walk for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to climb up and down ladders.
• Must be able to lift 30 lbs.
• Must be able to run or respond to emergency situations.