Collections Inventory Specialist

Strong National Museum • Central Falls, RI

13h

About The Position

The Strong Museum, based in Rochester, NY, is collaborating with Hasbro to create a comprehensive inventory of Hasbro’s product archive which includes toys, dolls, board games, and other historical materials related to play. The collections inventory specialist will be part of a team of four people who perform the inventory over a period of 9 months.

This position requires an energetic and focused individual with experience cataloging and managing historical artifacts. The collections inventory specialist is required to expend such personal efforts as may be needed to keep up with advances in subject matter information related to this position. The employee must learn the constraints within which this job must be performed and work within those limitations.

All Strong Museum staff are expected to cooperate with one another in furthering the museum’s general objectives and in completing museum projects. Similarly, all staff consistently maintain a positive and enthusiastic attitude, act with integrity and in accordance with the highest ethical standards and demonstrate loyalty to the museum in all public contacts. Our colleagues deserve our best efforts every day.

Requirements

• Associate’s or BA degree in history, museum studies, humanities, archives, or related field or equivalent museum or archival experience.
• Working knowledge of playthings and the history of play.
• Demonstrated commitment to principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Museum or Archival Collections Experience: Experience in cataloging, handling, and processing historical artifacts, archives, and/or museum collections.
• Project Management: The employee should be able to develop plans and strategies for the completion of the project as well as manage their daily responsibilities and work independently. This role is located remotely from the museum and therefore requires a degree of daily self-direction toward the completion of the project.
• Process Management: The ability to work well under pressure and focus on the inventory project is fundamental to this role. The employee must be self-motivated, well-organized, and flexible.
• Record-Keeping: Record, enter, store, and maintain thorough and accurate information about artifacts in written and electronic form.
• Interpersonal Tact: Frequent contact with colleagues on the project. Excellent listening skills, a high degree of diplomacy and maturity, and the ability to balance empathy and objectivity.
• Collaboration: We work in a team-oriented environment, so it is vital that our employees maintain effective interpersonal relationships. Team members must be good at active listening, conflict management, cooperation, facilitation, negotiation, and be open to feedback.
• Communication: Our employees should always communicate and act in a respectful manner when working with others, including those from outside the museum. The ability to manage difficult and stressful situations with professional composure is vital for this position. This job requires the ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form using the English language.
• Problem-Solving: Things don’t always go as planned. This job requires skill in using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. The ability to exercise sound judgment in making critical decisions is essential.
• Process Management: The ability to work well under pressure and focus on the inventory project is fundamental to this role. The employee must be self-motivated, well-organized, and flexible.
• Computer Proficiency: This position requires work on a computer, in databases, and with related equipment. A high degree of comfort and proficiency with computer technology and software, especially Microsoft Office, is important. The ability to learn new systems, as needed, is also beneficial.
• Must consent to and pass a drug screen and criminal background check as conditions of employment.

Responsibilities

• Perform work in accordance with best practices and standards, particularly AAM’s Code of Ethics for Museums.
• Inventory historic archival records and drawings on paper from Hasbro and affiliated companies using an established Excel spreadsheet to capture and manage the information.
• Provide a basic condition evaluation for materials as they are examined.
• Maintain excellent organization of artifacts in their storage locations.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree