Senior Registrar, Exhibitions

MoMA•Long Island City, NY

About The Position

MoMA PS1 seeks an experienced Senior Registrar to lead registration logistics for its contemporary exhibition program. The role partners with curatorial staff, artists, lenders, and vendors to oversee artwork packing, shipping, couriers, insurance, condition reporting, installation, and ongoing maintenance for temporary exhibitions, site-specific installations, and loans. The Senior Registrar also implements policies and procedures that support the exhibition program and uphold museum best practices. The position reports to the Director of Exhibitions and Programs and collaborates across museum departments and with lenders, conservators, artists, couriers, and other artistic collaborators. It leads a team comprising one Registrar, one Assistant Registrar, and regularly scheduled contract Registrars. In collaboration with the Manager of Installation and Production, the Senior Registrar also guides seasonal gallery installation staff.

Requirements

At least 7 years of registration experience, including logistical oversight of art handling, packing, domestic and international shipping, customs clearance, and courier transit for complex exhibitions.
Thorough knowledge of standard museum loan and registration practices and fine arts insurance.
Demonstrated experience developing and managing registration budgets.
Experience directing and managing skilled installation crews, with creative problem-solving skills for non-standard galleries and a wide range of artistic media.
Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, including diplomatic negotiation and cross-departmental collaboration.
Ability to prioritize, multitask, and meet evolving deadlines with composure in a fast-paced environment.
Flexibility to respond to emergencies and art incidents during off-hours, weekends, and holidays.
Proficiency with museum database systems and experience working in Google environments.

Nice To Haves

Experience with TMS museum database system.

Responsibilities

Direct end-to-end registration logistics for incoming loans, temporary exhibitions, and site-specific commissions, including domestic and international shipping, crating, packing, and customs clearances in compliance with museum standards.
Develop and oversee registration budgets, including preparing initial estimates, processing and tracking expenses, and regularly reporting exhibition-related budgets.
Administer loan agreements and negotiate lender terms and requirements with relevant museum leaders, MoMA Legal, and the insurance broker.
Manage fine art insurance coverage, including policy renewals, special exhibition coverage, certificates of insurance, and broker relations.
Plan installation and deinstallation schedules with the Program Production team, accounting for staffing, contract registrars, artists, couriers, conservators, shipping deadlines, and curatorial priorities.
Establish care, handling, and installation protocols with curators, living artists, lenders, fabricators, and conservators for incoming loans, including unconventional materials and site-specific works.
Manage incoming and outgoing condition reports, maintain archival photographic records, and coordinate daily gallery checks.
Work across museum departments to supervise artwork maintenance, environmental monitoring, and gallery safety throughout exhibitions.
Implement and update registration policies, digital record-keeping standards, and workflow procedures.
Lead the Registrar, Assistant Registrar, and contract Registrars, and guide seasonal gallery installation staff in collaboration with the Manager of Installation and Production.
Respond to emergencies and art incidents during off-hours, weekends, and holidays.