Temporary Museum Technician | Los Angeles, CA (travel included)

Texas Association of Museums; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 33,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing provided

Job summary

Museum and Collector Resource, LLC is seeking a Museum Technician for a 15-week temporary project in Los Angeles, CA. The role focuses on cataloging, data entry, and documentation of the museum collection, with a team-based environment and independent work expectations.

Qualifications include a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in related fields, plus 6 months to 2 years of experience in cataloging or metadata. Housing is provided for the duration of the assignment, with travel costs covered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university required.
• Master’s degree or graduate certificate in museum studies, museum administration, library science, archival studies, or a related field required.
• 6 months to 2 years of professional experience preferred, with substantial experience in cataloging, metadata, registration, collections documentation, object handling or database management.
• Experience using at least one collections management database required.
• Experience with Artwork Archive a plus.
• Digitization of three dimensional objects a plus.

Responsibilities

• Creates accurate digital and physical records for collection materials.
• Enters and updates data in the collections management database.
• Conducts quality control checks of records.
• Identifies collection materials that may require conservation, specialized care, repair, or further assessment and reports these concerns to the appropriate staff.
• Supports the safe handling, packing, unpacking, movement, and relocation of collection materials.
• Maintains clean, orderly, and secure work areas.
• Makes order out of chaos in sometimes dusty and cluttered conditions.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Excellent communication

Organizational skills

Independent worker

Attention to detail

Computer literacy

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree in museum studies or related field

Tools

Collections Management Database

Artwork Archive

Job description

Temporary Museum Technician | Los Angeles, CA (travel included)

Museum and Collector Resource, LLC (MCR), is seeking a Museum Technician for a 15-week temporary position supporting a museum collection cataloguing project. The position will begin October 26, 2026, and ends February 5, 2027. The position will include approximately one week off during the Christmas holiday period within the 15-week appointment.

Position Summary:

MCR is seeking a Museum Technician to perform cataloging, collections documentation, and data entry in support of a museum cataloguing project. The Technician will be responsible for creating and maintaining accurate collection records, entering and updating collections data, conducting quality control of database records, documenting object locations and conditions, creating and uploading digital images and identifying condition issues.

The primary focus of this position will be cataloging, data entry, and documentation.

The Technician will work as part of a small professional team and will coordinate with MCR staff and client personnel. The ideal candidate will have experience with museum registration or collections management activities, specifically with objects. Experience with structured metadata entry is required. Candidates should be highly organized, extremely detail-oriented, comfortable working independently as well as a member of a team, and able to make order out of complex or incomplete information.

This is a full-time, temporary position for 15 weeks, beginning October 26, 2026, and ending February 5, 2027. Housing will be provided for the duration of the assignment. The cost of traveling to the project location in Los Angeles and back to the successful candidate’s home location will be covered by MCR; food and personal expenses are not included in the compensation.

This work will take place on-site in Los Angeles, CA. The position will require work in both office and collections/storage environments and may include activities in sometimes dusty or cluttered conditions.

Wage: $24-25/hour,depending on level of experience.

Company Overview:

Museum and Collector Resource is a collections management, archives and curatorial consulting firm founded in 1996, which specializes in collections related projects. Clients include museums, libraries, archives, governmental agencies, private collectors and non-profits. Museum and Collector Resource works throughout the United States and its territories. Please visit our website at www.musres.com

Responsibilities:

• Creates accurate digital and physical records for collection materials.
• Enters and updates data in the collections management database.
• Conducts quality control checks of records.
• Identifies collection materials that may require conservation, specialized care, repair, or further assessment and reports these concerns to the appropriate MCR or client staff.
• Supports the safe handling, packing, unpacking, movement, and relocation of collection materials.
• Maintains clean, orderly, and secure work areas.
• Makes order out of chaos in sometimes dusty and cluttered conditions.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university required.
• Master’s degree, graduate certificate in museum studies, museum administration, library science, archival studies, or a related field required.
• 6 months to 2 years of professional experience preferred, with substantial experience in cataloging, metadata, registration, collections documentation, object handling or database management. Experience may be drawn from museum, library, archival, or related collections environments.
• Candidates with less than 1 year of professional experience may be considered with at least 500 hours of substantive, hands-on experience in museum registration, collections management, cataloging, metadata entry, or closely related collections work. This experience may include internships, practicums, student employment, or other supervised professional experience.
• Experience using at least one collections management database required.
• Experience with Artwork Archive a plus.
• Digitization of three dimensional objects a plus

Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office and experience using a collections management database.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with colleagues, clients, board members and volunteers.
• Strong ability to work well independently.
• Strong organizational and planning skills, with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks.
• Extremely accurate and detail oriented.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Effective problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to create and maintain accurate records and documentation.
• Ability to handle delicate, valuable, and culturally significant collection materials with extreme care.

Physical Requirements:

• Physical mobility and manual dexterity are required to work with collections in office, exhibition, and storage environments.
• Ability to lift and move collection materials and supplies weighing up to 40 pounds.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds overhead unaided.
• Ability to bend, reach, stand, and sit for extended periods.
• Ability to climb ladders while handling collection materials when necessary.
• Ability to work in sometimes dusty and cluttered locations.

EEO Statement:

MCR is committed to providing equal opportunity in employment to all applicants and employees regardless of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, military status, veteran status, handicap, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.