Museum Registrar, Palmer Museum of Art

The Pennsylvania State University • University Park, FL

10d

About The Position

The Palmer Museum of Art in Penn State’s College of Arts and Architecture is seeking applicants for the position of Museum Registrar . The Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State is the largest art museum collection between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, and the most significant academic art museum in the state of Pennsylvania. The Museum Registrar provides collections management for all objects owned by or on loan to the museum. This involves oversight of management, preservation, and storage of the collection, as well as collections management and registration oversight for all loans entering and leaving the museum. The Museum Registrar works to accomplish the museum's mission and to support its strategic direction as set by the director and senior leadership of the university, maintaining and developing positive relationships with academic units and entities across campus and in the community, as well as with professional organizations.

Requirements

• Applicants must have experience with the following:
• Working in a museum or gallery setting
• Fine art handling
• Collections management systems
• Excellent data and time management skills
• Demonstrated ability to be detailed-oriented
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills
• Master's Degree
• 6+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted

Nice To Haves

• A degree in museum studies, art history, or related discipline is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage on-site and off-site collections, including monitoring storage and display conditions, working closely with art handling, security, and facilities personnel.
• Manage packing and shipping of collections and loans.
• Create and maintain legal documents, histories of use, and physical histories of collection objects.
• Organize and implement inventory projects.
• Monitor conservation needs of collection objects and work with curatorial staff to arrange appropriate treatment.
• Act as courier or designates and trains couriers from the museum; serve as the liaison with incoming couriers.
• Facilitate loan agreements and exhibition contracts for borrowed and traveling exhibitions, manage budgets, and oversee documentation, packing, shipping, and insurance.
• Coordinate object movement and record keeping of in-house exhibitions.
• Develop departmental budget, manage invoices, monitor expenditures, and order equipment and supplies.
• Maintain the museum's general facility report and update collections management policy as needed.
• Manage photographic rights and reproduction services.
• Contract photographers and supervise collection photography.
• Supervise a small group of full-time employees within the Palmer Museum team.
• Recruit, hire, train, and supervise student employees, volunteers, graduate assistants, and interns.
• Assist visiting students and scholars with research and collection access.
• Provide advice and assistance to the public in areas of collection care and conservation.
• Teach relevant sections of museum studies classes as needed.

Benefits

• Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being.
• In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time.
• One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.
• For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page .

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level