SHI - Collections & Curatorial Manager

Sealaska/Woocheen Family of Businesses•Juneau, AK

22h•Onsite

About The Position

SHI cares for a collection of about a thousand art and ethnographic objects according to current museum standards and offers high-quality exhibits in the Nathan Jackson Gallery, a 1950 sq ft climate controlled display area. The Collections and Curatorial Manager’s primary role is to steward the acquisition, documentation, conservation and use of the art and ethnographic objects collection, facilitating access for educational, research and art uses, and supporting exhibits.

Requirements

Ability to lead school groups access to collections and increase the overall educational integration of SHI collections into schools.
A proven interest in collections management, conservation, museum studies, or related professions.
Ability to adopt best practice standards for assessing, handling, and moving collections objects including packing and shipping, insurance and storage.
Prior experience in museum collections, such as working with established collections management principles and techniques, conservation, curation, registration documentation, accession records, object numbering, rehousing, and/or cataloging standards.
Knowledge of Northwest Coast Indigenous art, object collections, culture and heritage required.
Demonstrated skill using collection management databases, word processing, web-based technology; experience working with museum electronic databases is strongly desired.
Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication and collaboration skills.
Ability and willingness to maintain high level of accuracy and attention to detail is essential, as is the ability to work well under pressure with a wide variety of museum professionals, vendors, students, and others.
Bachelor’s degree in a related field
Two years of related experience or a combination of education and relevant experience.

Nice To Haves

3 years of related practical experience in museum collections or a combination of education and relevant experience.
Experience with mount making and/or exhibit fabrication and design.
Preference given to a degree in museum studies, conservation, archaeology, anthropology, or a related field, as well as to collections-based training (e.g., participation in a museum internship, MA and/or certificate program in museums) or the equivalent experience with material culture collections.
Preference given to experience with Northwest Coast Indigenous art and object collections.

Responsibilities

Perform registrarial duties related to objects in SHI collections, including preparing condition reports, completing catalogue information for acquisitions, assist with photographic documentation.
Maintain integrated collections database for object collections using Proficio collections management software; modify database when required to improve record-keeping and referencing ability.
Oversee storage, handling, packing, movement, shipping and inspection of all objects entering or leaving establishment, including traveling exhibits, objects acquired by museum through gift, purchase, or loan.
Assist Guest Curators with exhibit logistics by coordinating exhibits and loans, to monitor travel, process loan documents and arrange for packing, crating, shipping and insurance; coordinate contracts as needed; assist with budgeting.
Respond to object inquiries, conduct research and consult experts..
Share responsibility in identifying suitable grants to support objects research, maintenance and use of the objects collection, and exhibits; participate in managing awarded proposals and documenting project metrics.
Support activities related to collections care and preservation, including identifying items in need of and undertaking care, assisting in tracking and upkeep of environmental conditions.
Prepare object containers for storage and mounts for exhibits, monitor objects during exhibition.
Assist in facilitating the repatriation of objects from external institutions.
Liaise with SHI’s Education and Arts Departments to develop educational applications of the objects collection.
Support public and school visits and tours to the collections and exhibits.
Coordinate access to and use of the objects collections by school groups, researchers, artists and community members following established protocols.
Assist with the Sealaska Internship Program in collaboration with Archives and Collections Director.
Oversee the NPS Museum Internship Program.
Liaise with Archives and Collections Director in purchasing supplies to support objects collections and exhibits
Work with Archives and Collections Director to implement the Integrated Pest Management program and to monitor temperature, humidity, and light in storage, conservation and exhibition areas; identify when environmental conditions become detrimental to conservation; notify management of such occurrences; coordinate repairs to storage facility or equipment.
Other duties as assigned.