Program Assistants

Job Summary The UMFA•Salt Lake, UT

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The UMFA is the state and the University fine arts museum, serving as a vital cultural resource for Utah and the broader region. Established in 1914, the Museum stewards an encyclopedic collection of more than 22,000 objects representing 5,000 years of human creativity across the globe. Through its exhibitions, programs, and collections, the UMFA advances understanding of the visual arts and their role in shaping and reflecting the human experience. The Utah Museum of Fine Arts (UMFA) is looking for a motivated and detail-oriented individual to support the Collections department. This is a 30 hour per week, benefited position reporting to the Director of Collections and working closely with colleagues across the Museum. The Collections Assistant’s primary responsibility is to facilitate access to the Museum’s permanent collection and associated records for staff, faculty, researchers, and other patrons. In addition, the Collections Assistant supports both Conservation and Registration functions, and assists with general collections management tasks, including documentation, storage, and care of objects.

Requirements

1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience (Example: bachelor’s degree = 4 years of directly related work experience).
Requires little to no related experience (for Program Assistant I level).

Responsibilities

Manages and facilitates access to the collection, including coordinating appointments, working with Museum staff and external patrons, preparing object lists from the database, retrieving and assessing objects for suitability, preparing and overseeing appointments, safely moving artwork, and maintaining associated records and data.
Assists with conservation examinations.
Prepares conservation-grade adhesives and materials.
Executes Integrated Pest Management (IPM) functions under the guidance of the Conservator.
Supports preventive care measures and storage improvements.
Participates in regular inventory of the permanent collection.
Assists with managing physical space in collections storage.
Creates safe and appropriate housing for objects.
Supports reorganization projects in the collection storage areas.
Supports recordkeeping through filing, data entry, document preparation, internal research, scanning, and digital file organization.
Handles and transports objects safely within the Museum; assists with installation, deinstallation, packing, and unpacking of artworks.
Contributes to and helps revise collections-related internal procedures, including emergency response plans and collections protocols.
Participates in department meetings and contributes to additional projects and tasks related to collections care, documentation, and access as assigned.