Collections Manager (Museum Registrar), IUMAA
Company: Indiana University
Location: Bloomington
Posted on: October 18, 2024
Job Description:
DepartmentIU MUSEUM OF ARCHAEOLOGY & ANT
(BL-MAA-IUBLA)Department InformationThe Indiana University Museum
of Archaeology and Anthropology (IUMAA) is Indiana University's
newest museum. The IUMAA takes aspects of the former museum and the
Laboratory of Archaeology and combines them into 1 cohesive
experience. With an impactful long-term vision focusing on
purposeful storytelling, stewarding collections, and bringing these
items to communities, the IUMAA thoughtfully houses and displays
over 5 million artifacts that span across a broad range of the
human experience. The IUMAA is accessible for research as well as
teaching and is culturally connected to our broader community
through partnerships with Indigenous communities, advisory boards,
and other IUMAA community members.Job SummaryThe Collections
Manager, Ethnography partners interdepartmentally and across
disciplines to manage collections and support research, curation,
the development of collections access policies, repatriation, and
the implementation of shared-stewardship and culturally conscious
conservation models in the ethnographic collections. This position
will work closely with operations, the learning and community
engagement team and with students.This position will bring a
passion and dedication for collections care, ensuring descendant
community requests are honored, respected and integrated collection
management procedures for the associated items.Department-Specific
Responsibilities
- Manages all ethnographic storage areas (on and offsite) at a
high professional standard of safety, cleanliness, artifact
storage, and organization.
- Documents and catalogs ethnographic artifacts using digital
cataloging systems, including detailed descriptions, locations,
dimensions, provenance, and photographs.
- Maintains detailed and accessible records on the Museum's past
and current outreach, notification, consultation, and repatriation
processes with Indigenous communities (Native American Graves
Protection & Repatriation Act ((NAGPRA))
/non-NAGPRA/international).
- Implements policies and procedures for repatriations,
acquisition, deaccessions, cataloging, handling, storage, and
maintenance of ethnographic collections.
- Ensures compliance with ethical and legal standards for the
repatriation, acquisition, and management of cultural
materials.
- Collaborates with curators, conservation specialists,
descendant communities to assess and address the conservation and
stewardship needs of artifacts.
- Develops and implements strategies to mitigate environmental
risks, prevent deterioration, and align with the stewardship
protocols and guidelines indicated by the descendant community - if
applicable.
- Supports the interpretive planning team, curators, exhibit
designers, and educators to develop innovative, engaging, and
dynamic exhibitions and displays as needed.
- Provides access to collections for descendant communities,
tribal consultants, IU NAGPRA, researchers, scholars, and students
in alignment with the goals of the Museum and the collection access
policies.
- Partners with the Museum Registrar to manage the loan of
ethnographic artifacts to internal IU units and externally to other
institutions, ensuring proper documentation, handling, and
transportation.
- Collaborates with other museums, cultural organizations, and
indigenous communities to enhance collections management policies
and procedures.
- Collaborates with the learning and community engagement team to
support scholarly and public engagement by sharing insights on
collections as needed.
- Trains and supervises collections assistants, interns, and
volunteers in all routine collections and curation
activities.General Responsibilities
- Creates and manages the database for collection records which
includes processing, photographing, cataloging, and locating all
incoming exhibits in the museum system.
- Generates reports depending on the need and information
entered. These reports are needed to list object locations for
inventory purposes, to provide the object's information for gift
documentation, to provide collection and statistical data, and
financial information as requested by the budgetary team.
- Oversees arrangements and documentation for new acquisitions
and registration aspects of incoming and outgoing artwork,
artifacts, and collections loans, including working with donors and
lenders and preparing outgoing and incoming loan documentation and
receipts. Provides rights and reproductions documentation when
requested and coordinates with photographers for high-resolution
images. Manages paper and digital files and creates forms as needed
to ensure efficient workflow.
- Assists with budget and strategic planning.
- Coordinates with IT to ensure collections database and
multimedia servers are maintained and ensures staff technology
requirements are satisfied. Oversees collections storage security
by monitoring humidity and temperature fluctuations and ensuring a
secure environment for collections and staff, pest management, HVAC
and cleaning personnel.
- Inventories collections, manages student workers, maintains
statistical data, updates conservation records with conservation
treatment reports provided by independent conservators, attend
training, and trains users. Coordinates with moving and setups and
other collections handlers to ensure the safe transportation of
artwork, artifacts, and collections.
- May provide guidance and delegate administrative tasks to other
museum services staff.
- May make process recommendations for improved operational
efficiency.QualificationsCombinations of related education and
experience may be considered. Education beyond the minimum required
may be substituted for work experience. Work experience beyond the
minimum required may be substituted for education.EDUCATIONRequired
- Bachelor's degree in museum services or other related
field.Preferred
- Master's degree in anthropology, museum studies, collections
management, cultural studies, or related field with a focus on
ethnography.WORK EXPERIENCERequired
- 2 years in museum services or other related field.Preferred
- 4 years in museum collection management, legal documentation
review, repatriation, and management practices.
- 3 years in a museum, library, archive, cultural center, or
similar organization with a focus on collections
management/stewardship and/or repatriation.SKILLSRequired
- Proficient communication skills.
- Maintains a high degree of professionalism.
- Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills.
- Demonstrates a high commitment to quality.
- Possesses flexibility to work in a fast paced, dynamic
environment.
- Seeks to acquire knowledge in area of specialty.
- Highly thorough and dependable.
- Demonstrates a high level of accuracy, even under
pressure.Preferred
- Understanding of U.S. domestic laws relating to museums,
repatriation, museum collections, and/or international repatriation
laws and loan agreements.
- Understanding of the colonial legacy of museums, anthropology,
and academia and the complexity of colonization's impact on
Indigenous communities (domestic and international).
- Understanding of equity, inclusion, access, and
racial/culturally just practices within museums.
- Demonstrates experience and ability to achieve deliverables
while working collaboratively and independently without close
supervision within tight deadlines.
- Collaborative and autonomous approach with a focus on keeping
the entire team updated.
- Demonstrates experience working directly with Indigenous
communities, navigating colonial histories and (re)building
sustainable transparent relationships.
- Demonstrates experience with documentation review and
management practices including a basic understanding of digital
asset management and registration practices.
- Demonstrates experience with collections care, stewardship, and
management of diverse and expansive international ethnographic
collection.
- Experience in assisting with culturally complex, sensitive, or
confidential projects - including a demonstrated ability to listen
and deal empathetically with a wide range of people and cultural
groups.Working Conditions / DemandsThis role requires the ability
to effectively communicate and to operate a computer and other
standard office productivity equipment. The position involves
sedentary work as well as periods of time moving around an office
environment and the campus. The position requires moving up to 40
pounds. The person in this role must be able to perform the
essential functions with or without an accommodation.Work
LocationBloomington, IndianaThis is an in-person
position.Advertised Salary$60,000 per year based on education and
experience.Benefits OverviewFor full-time staff employees, Indiana
University offers a wide array of benefits including:
- Multiple plan options for medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Health Savings Account with generous IU contribution
- Life insurance, LTD, and AD&D options
- Base retirement plan contribution from IU, subject to
vesting
- Additional supplemental retirement plan options
- Tuition benefit for IU classes
- 10 paid holidays per year
- Generous Paid Time Off
- Paid Parental Leave
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)Learn more about our benefits
by reviewing our online Benefits Brochure.Job ClassificationCareer
Level: CareerFLSA: ExemptJob Function: Educational Resources &
TechJob Family: Museum Services Click here to learn more about
Indiana University's Job Framework.Posting DisclaimerThis posting
is scheduled to close at 11:59 pm EST on the advertised Close Date.
This posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the
University, but will remain open for a minimum of 5 business days.
To guarantee full consideration, please submit your application
within 5 business days of the Posted Date.If you wish to include a
cover letter, you may include it with your resume when uploading
attachments.Equal Employment OpportunityIndiana University is an
equal employment and affirmative action employer and a provider of
ADA services. All qualified applicants will receive consideration
for employment based on individual qualifications. Indiana
University prohibits discrimination based on age, ethnicity, color,
race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or
expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin,
disability status or protected veteran status. Indiana University
does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational
programs and activities, including employment and admission, as
required by Title IX. Questions or complaints regarding Title IX
may be referred to the U.S. Department of Education Office for
Civil Rights or the university Title IX Coordinator. See Indiana
University's Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes
contact information.Campus Safety and SecurityThe Annual Security
and Fire Safety Report, containing policy statements, crime and
fire statistics for all Indiana University campuses, is available
online. You may also request a physical copy by emailing IU Public
Safety at iups@iu.edu or by visiting IUPD.Contact UsRequest
SupportTelephone: 812-856-1234
Keywords: Indiana University, Carmel , Collections Manager (Museum Registrar), IUMAA, Executive , Bloomington, Indiana
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