Job: Full Time, Salaried, Exempt

Supervisor: Chief Curator

General Purpose

The Milwaukee Art Museum seeks a knowledgeable, collaborative and experienced candidate to fill the position of Senior Registrar. With a collection of more than 34,000 objects, the Museum hosts a dynamic schedule of temporary exhibitions and permanent collection rotations, and supports an active acquisitions program. Reporting to the Chief Curator, the Senior Registrar is responsible for overseeing the Museum’s Registration department as the direct supervisor of a three-person staff. This position is responsible for maintaining professional standards of care and risk mitigation in transit, display, and storage; documentation; legal issues as it applies to our collections, loans, and exhibitions; helping to shape collection policies, exhibition planning and implementation; and will be a primary contributor to the Museum’s upcoming reaccreditation.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Oversee the care and management of the Museum collections, adhering to current industry standards and best practices

• Plan, organize, direct, and execute the work of the Registrars’ office. Supervise registration staff.

• Develop, maintain, and implement the Collections Management Policy and procedures. Maintain Facilities Report.

• Oversee accessioning, promised and partial gifts, deaccessioning, and work to resolve old loans and undocumented collection objects in accordance with the Collections Management Policy and federal and state laws.

• Maintain fine arts insurance coverage and processes claims.

• Develop, monitor and oversee the registration budget.

• Oversee and implement care, organization, and maintenance of the collection storage areas and storage planning, according to professional museum standards.

• Work with Facilities and Conservation departments on collections-related facility issues and to ensure that environmental standards are maintained.

• Work closely with the Chief Curator and Curatorial staff on forward planning for in-house and touring exhibitions.

• Serve as the principle contact for internal and external colleagues on loan procedures, government indemnities, contracts, and lender negotiations.

• Logistically support the Conservation Department to evaluate and address works in need of conservation treatment.

• In conjunction with Conservation and Facilities staff, monitor environmental conditions and pest management in galleries and vaults.

• Maintain professional relationships within the field.

• CCSF Coordinator for the museum.

• Work on multi-department projects from campus space planning/use to site upkeep.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Art History, Museum Studies, Fine Arts or related field required. Master's degree preferred.

• Minimum of five years experience in museum registration, collections and exhibition management. Art Museum experience strongly preferred.

• Experience supervising registration staff.

• Skills in diplomacy, negotiation and communication.

• Ability to create lasting partnerships with both internal and external stakeholders. Hold a leadership role on museum committees, or museum exhibition project teams.

• Demonstrated ability to perform long-range planning while retaining flexibility within a fast-paced and changing environment; effectively work under pressure amidst shifting priorities; problem-solving and analytical thinking skills.

• Proficiency in collections management database software, TMS preferred, excellent computer skills, including email, word processing and spreadsheet software, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Word and Excel.

Requirements

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Communicate using English language.

• Sit, stand, reach, walk, climb, and lift throughout the workday.

• See and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately so that the requirements of this position can be fully met.

• Stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl upon occasion.

• Able to lift, push, pull, and move equipment, supplies, etc., of up to 25 pounds.

• Able to adapt to and work from various locations so the requirements of this position can be fully met. Able to travel nationally and internationally as needed to represent the Museum.

• Be on call for emergencies that may affect the permanent collection or loans to the museum and as necessary, to work beyond normal working hours, on weekends, and remain accessible when away from the Museum so the requirements of this position can be fully met.

Temperament:

• Demonstrated professional demeanor and proven ability to work on complex projects both as a team leader and major contributor.

• Strong interpersonal skills and a positive, team-oriented outlook. Demonstrated credibility with a track record of working independently, as a leader, and collaboratively as part of a team

• Ability to set and accomplish goals and to meet deadlines by effectively prioritizing.

• Demonstrated ability to perform long-range planning while retaining flexibility within a fast-paced and changing environment; effectively work under pressure amidst shifting priorities; problem-solving and analytical thinking skills.

• Excellent communication, listening, writing and management skills. Detail-oriented and organized.

DEAI Statement

The Milwaukee Art Museum is an equal opportunity employer. The Museum recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, and other protected status as required by applicable law.

We are committed to recruiting, developing, compensating, and retaining professional staff that reflect our community. We aspire to be a diverse workplace where talented people want to come, stay, and do their best work.

We stand committed to the work ahead, informed by our community, which we will support with our best thinking, our deepest empathy, and the courage to embody the convictions shared in our Strategic Direction.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all qualifications, responsibilities, duties and skills required.