SPEED ART MUSEUM Chief Registrar Salary in the United States

Overview

The Speed Art Museum is Kentucky’s largest art museum with a collection that spans 6,000 years of human creativity. An independent museum located on the campus of the University of Louisville, the Speed has recently undergone a multi-phase expansion and renovation that includes a new North Building, state-of-the-art Cinema, Art Park and a public piazza. The Speed Art Museum has repeatedly been voted Kentucky's best museum and is considered one of the top ten sites each Kentuckian should visit. The Speed honors its mission to bring great art to our communities through its distinguished collections and as the Commonwealth's number one venue for international art exhibitions.

The Speed encourages diverse candidates for this and all positions.    

Responsible for all aspects of collections record-keeping for both the permanent collection and for loan materials. Responsible for ensuring the safety of works of art within the building and during transit. Responsible for implementing policies and procedures related to collections management.

 

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• This is a full-time exempt position. This position is NOT eligible for overtime pay.
• Willing, as necessary, to work beyond normal working hours, on weekends, and remains accessible when away from the Museum so the requirements of this position can be fully met. 

Job Skills / Requirements

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Oversees the care, management, receipt, accessioning, cataloguing, labeling, and documentation of objects acquired for the Museum’s collections, adhering to current industry standards and best practices. Ensures the safe handling and security of the collection by overseeing and managing the movement, storage, and disposition of art objects. Conducts regular inventories of the collection according to the Collection Management Policy.
2. Manages all details regarding incoming and outgoing loans and temporary exhibitions, including contractual arrangements, loan agreements, adherence to exhibition contracts, condition reports, photo and archival documentation, and related cataloguing information. Schedules and oversees all shipping arrangements, including the coordination of packing, unpacking, and crating of objects. Designates and coordinates couriers from the Museum, lending, and borrowing institutions. Determines courier assignments and trains couriers as required.
3. Works to ensure the Museum has clear title to works in its collection, maintains customs and international import documentation, processes abandoned loans according to Kentucky state law, facilitates repatriation claims, and ensures compliance with State, Federal, and International laws and treaties.
4. Manages fine arts insurance liability, negotiates insurance renewals, and maintains insurance coverage. Supervises and administers the coordination of insurance on incoming and outgoing loans, including collaborating with Curator(s) and Foundation & Grants Manager to execute applications for federal indemnification for international exhibitions. Processes liability and damage claims. Maintains up-to-date valuation of objects in the collection. Maintains regular cooperative contact with shipping, insurance, and customs brokers.
5. Oversees and manages TMS, the computerized collections management system for the Museum. Serves as systems administrator. Ensures the accuracy and completeness of collections records by reviewing, updating, implementing, and enforcing adherence to data standards. Oversees systems upgrades and maintains user licenses.
6. Manages registration staff. Supervises, evaluates, hires, and trains registration staff and interns as required. Plans, organizes, directs, and executes the work of the Registrars’ office.
7. Develops, monitors, projects, and oversees the registration budget
8. Coordinates identification photography for all newly accessioned objects and incoming loans and ensures that all new photography is uploaded to TMS and is stored on the server. Works with Curators to prioritize and coordinate professional photography of the collection. Researches, develops budget, and makes recommendations regarding Digital Assets Management system. Oversees rights and reproduction permissions for the collection.
9. Working with Curators, oversees deaccessioning of selected works from the collection according to the Collections Management Policy as required. Documents all aspects of the deaccessioning process, including but not limited to justifications, Board of Trustee approval, and sale or transfer of works of art. Coordinates disposition of deaccessioned works of art. Coordinates sale and disposition of unaccessioned works of art as required.
10. Advises the Museum on legal and tax matters relating to bequests and gifts of art, accessions, estate planning, and co-ownership agreements of works in the collection. Advises the museum on ethical and risk-management issues.
11. Advises the Museum on collections-related facility issues. Works with Facilities to ensure that environmental standards are maintained. Provides for proper storage of artworks in the Museum’s care according to professional museum standards. Makes recommendations for storage planning, taking into consideration promised gifts and an anticipated 5% collection growth.
12. Participates in the development of policies and procedures related to collections management and care. Develops, maintains, and implements the Collections Management Policy and procedures and ensures that the Policy reflects up-to-date professional museum practices and standards. Produces and revises collections management procedures. Drafts, maintains, and implements registration documents, legal forms, and acknowledgements. Maintains up-to-date Facilities Report. Works with Facilities Manager to develop, maintain, and implement Integrated Pest Management Policy. Works with Security Director to develop, maintain, and implement Disaster Preparedness Plan.
13. Participates in the planning and organization of installation schedules for temporary and permanent installations and art movement in consultation with Curators, Preparators, and Exhibition and Project Coordinator.
14. Performs related work as required.

Qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s Degree in Museum Administration, Art History, History, or related field with a minimum of seven years of experience in museum registration or equivalent experience preferred.
2. Art Museum experience strongly preferred.
3. Experience organizing and supervising domestic and international art shipments required.
4. Proficiency with collections management systems, preferably TMS, required.
5. Must have a valid Driver’s License and Real ID and be able to work in the U.S. and travel internationally.
6. Supervisory experience strongly preferred.

Essential Skills:

1. Extensive knowledge of current standards and best practices in museum registration and collections management.
2. Knowledge of current best practices and trends in collections management technology
3. Highly organized and team-oriented with positive outlook.
4. Proven supervisory and project management experience.
5. Ability to manage multiple complex projects with strict deadlines.
6. Ability to organize, motivate, and manage registrars, volunteers, and interns.
7. Ability to work well with staff, board members, donors, volunteers, and the public.
8. Good verbal and written communication and clerical skills.
9. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
10. Ability to function independently and be flexible for interruptions and changing priorities.
11. Proficiency in TMS (or similar collection management database) required, with working knowledge of SQL desirable.
12. Knowledge of Museum Ethics, published by the American Association of Museums, and Professional Practices in Art Museums, published by the Association of Art Museum Directors.

Physical Demands

1. Extensive use of telephone and computer throughout the workday.
2. Sits, reaches and lifts intermittently throughout the workday.
3. Communicates using English language so that the requirements of this position can be fully met.
4. Sees and hears or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately so that the requirements of this position can be fully met.
5. Able to lift, push, pull, and move equipment, supplies, etc., of fifty (50) pounds throughout the workday.
6. 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.
7. Access to reliable transportation so the requirements of this position can be fully met. 

Additional Information / Benefits APPLICATION DEADLINE: For consideration all qualified internal and external candidates must submit application and resume through this Internet portal. Your interest in the Speed Art Museum is appreciated however; only candidates selected for interview process will be notified. The Speed Art Museum prohibits discrimination in employment, programs, and activities on the basis of race, national origin, color, creed, religion, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or associational preference. The Speed Art Museum also affirms its commitment to providing equal opportunities and equal access to museum facilities. Benefits: Medical Insurance, Life Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Paid Vacation, Paid Sick Days, Paid Holidays, Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, 401K/403b Plan, Pension/Retirement, Educational Assistance Screening Requirements: Criminal Background Check