Collections Associate

The University of New Mexico•Taos, NM

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Harwood Museum of Art of the University of New Mexico, based off-campus in Taos, New Mexico, seeks a collaborative and detail-oriented Collections Associate. This key staff member coordinates the stewardship, documentation, preservation, accessibility, and movement of the museum's permanent collection and incoming and outgoing loans in accordance with professional museum standards. Working collaboratively across curatorial, exhibitions, education, and operations, this position supports acquisitions, collections care, conservation, digitization, exhibitions, publications, research, and public access while ensuring the long-term preservation and accurate documentation of the museum's 6,500-object collection. The Collections Associate manages the museum's collections management database and coordinates all aspects of incoming and outgoing loans, object movement, condition reporting, packing and shipping, copyright and image permissions, and collections access. This position also assists with acquisitions, conservation projects, collections research, grant-funded initiatives, and institutional planning related to collections stewardship while helping maintain the museum's commitment to the highest professional and ethical standards of collections care. Under general supervision coordinates and oversees a museum's collections items, acquisitions, documentation, use, preservation, disposition, and maintenance. Receives, prepares, and catalogs new materials; coordinates and organizes exhibition-related movement of objects, including packing, shipping, and insurance for collections, exhibitions, and incoming and outgoing loans. Coordinates access to collection for study, teaching, and research. Coordinates and facilitates maintenance activity reports and other database management. Coordinates publicity and publications related to the collection and exhibitions including copyright permissions and images. May supervise museum personnel, volunteers, and/or students.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree
At least 3 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.
Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of art and art history including identification of specific types of art works.
Ability to coordinate and organize meetings and/or special events.
Ability to analyze project requirements and prepare work estimates.
Knowledge of museum policies, practices, and procedures.
Knowledge of budgeting, cost estimating, and fiscal management principles and procedures.
Skill in budget preparation and fiscal management of project budgets.

Responsibilities

Coordinates the stewardship, documentation, preservation, accessibility, and movement of the museum's permanent collection and incoming and outgoing loans.
Manages the museum's collections management database.
Coordinates all aspects of incoming and outgoing loans, object movement, condition reporting, packing and shipping, copyright and image permissions, and collections access.
Assists with acquisitions, conservation projects, collections research, grant-funded initiatives, and institutional planning related to collections stewardship.
Receives, prepares, and catalogs new materials.
Coordinates and organizes exhibition-related movement of objects, including packing, shipping, and insurance for collections, exhibitions, and incoming and outgoing loans.
Coordinates access to collection for study, teaching, and research.
Coordinates and facilitates maintenance activity reports and other database management.
Coordinates publicity and publications related to the collection and exhibitions including copyright permissions and images.
May supervise museum personnel, volunteers, and/or students.