Senior Registrar (Museum Registrar)

IU MUSEUM OF ARCHAEOLOGY & ANT (BL-MAA-IUBLA)

Department Information

The IU Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (IUMAA) is Indiana University’s newest museum. The IUMAA takes aspects of the former museum and the Laboratory of Archaeology and combines them into 1 cohesive experience. With an impactful long-term vision focusing on purposeful storytelling, stewarding collections, and bringing these items to communities, the IUMAA thoughtfully houses and displays over 5 million artifacts that span across a broad range of the human experience. The IUMAA is accessible for research as well as teaching and is culturally connected to our broader community through partnerships with Indigenous communities, advisory boards, and other IUMAA community members.

Job Summary

The Senior Registrar (Sr. Registrar) is a key member of the Collections and Curatorial team and reports directly to the Director of Curatorial Affairs. The Sr. Registrar position is the supervisor of the collections team (archaeology and cultural anthropology), and oversees the policies, procedures, loans for all collections at IU Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (IUMAA).

Department Specific Responsibilities

• Supervises, mentors, and/or trains collections team, part-time workers, and contracted conservators.
• Prepares collections related budgets in partnership with the collections team; working in close collaboration with Director of Curatorial Affairs, performs monthly/bi-monthly forecasts to ensure performance aligns to budget.
• Registers, systematizes, and tracks IUMAA’s Collection and associated documentation which including legal paperwork (custody and transfer, loan contracts, copyright/licensing, NAGPRA reporting)
• Works in partnership with the Director of Curatorial Affairs, curators, and the Associate Director of Research in review of internal and external requests for access to and facilitates the use of collections ensuring all museum and community access protocols are adhered to while coordinating these efforts with staff as needed.
• Manage potential risks to IUMAA (legal issues, insurance, environmental, physical housing of artifacts). Make certain the museum¿s staff is aware of and adheres to laws and regulations that affect the collections and temporary holdings while mitigating potential risks.
• Maintains or attains legal custody and copyright of collections donated, purchased, or transferred to the IUMAA and oversee creation of all associated documents, files, and electronic records
• Oversees packing, shipping, processing, generation of contracts, tracking, documentation of condition, insurance, and care of all artifact loans to and from the IUMAA.
• Manages all documentation for loans, insurance, and ensure that the collections are properly handled and cared for according to with museum’s collections care policies, share-stewardship practices, and Indigenous stewardship protocols.
• Develops long-term and short-term documentation improvement and registration planning.
• Interfaces with Office of Insurance, Loss Control and Claims and take a leadership role in mitigating risk to both the collections and the institution.
• Serves as a key partner and thought leader in the enhancement of IUMAA collections management policies and procedures, to include shared-stewardship models and Indigenous stewardship protocols.
• Updates and maintains detailed and accessible collections records on the Museum¿s past and current outreach, notification, consultation, and repatriation processes with Indigenous communities (NAGPRA/domestic non-NAGPRA/international)
• Works in partnership the Museum collections team and with IU NAGPRA to enable transparent consultations, repatriations, and sustainable relationships with tribal/Indigenous communities
• Works with department staff and IUNAGPRA as necessary to create procedures that maintain ethical standards and intellectual control of this information.
• Examines databases and documentation systems for consistency, accuracy, and completeness. Conduct periodic audits
• Oversees a rotating and continual inventory of IUMAA collections and collaborate with the collections team to determine the priority of areas based upon needs and shared-stewardship protocols
• Collaborates in planning grant applications to support collections needs, storage improvements, new equipment, etc
• Adheres to the Museum¿s policies around public media interviews, presentations, social media postings, and other external communications that pertain to the Museum projects, procedures, content, initiatives, grants, and/or collections
• Collaborates with the Grant Writer and External Communications team around grant research, data tracking, deliverables, and reporting
• Serves on committees and working groups as assigned
• Works in partnership on other initiatives and provide other support as assigned

General Responsibilities

• Creates and manages the database for collection records which includes processing, photographing, cataloging, and locating all incoming exhibits in the museum system.
• Generates reports depending on the need and information entered. These reports are needed to list object locations for inventory purposes, to provide the object’s information for gift documentation, to provide collection and statistical data, and financial information as requested by the budgetary team.
• Oversees arrangements and documentation for new acquisitions and registration aspects of incoming and outgoing artwork, artifacts, and collections loans, including working with donors and lenders and preparing outgoing and incoming loan documentation and receipts. Provides rights and reproductions documentation when requested and coordinates with photographers for high-resolution images. Manages paper and digital files and creates forms as needed to ensure efficient workflow.
• Assists with budget and strategic planning.
• Coordinates with IT to ensure collections database and multimedia servers are maintained and ensures staff technology requirements are satisfied. Oversees collections storage security by monitoring humidity and temperature fluctuations and ensuring a secure environment for collections and staff, pest management, HVAC and cleaning personnel.
• Inventories collections, manages student workers, maintains statistical data, updates conservation records with conservation treatment reports provided by independent conservators, attend training, and trains users. Coordinates with moving and setups and other collections handlers to ensure the safe transportation of artwork, artifacts, and collections.
• May provide guidance and delegate administrative tasks to other museum services staff.
• May make process recommendations for improved operational efficiency.

Qualifications

Combinations of related education and experience may be considered. Education beyond the minimum required may be substituted for work experience. Work experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted for education.

EDUCATION

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in museum services or other related field

Preferred

• Master’s degree museum studies, anthropology, history or other related fields

WORK EXPERIENCE

Required

• 2 years in museum services or other related field

Preferred

• 4 years experience in museum registration, legal documentation review, repatriation, and management practices
• 3 years experience in a museum, library, archive, cultural center, or similar organization with a focus on collections management/stewardship

SKILLS

Required

• Proficient communication skills
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism
• Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality
• Possesses flexibility to work in a fast paced, dynamic environment
• Seeks to acquire knowledge in area of specialty
• Highly thorough and dependable
• Demonstrates a high level of accuracy, even under pressure

Working Conditions / Demands

This role requires the ability to effectively communicate and to operate a computer and other standard office productivity equipment. The position involves sedentary work as well as periods of time moving around an office environment and the campus. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.

Work Location

Bloomington, Indiana

This is an in-person position.

Advertised Salary

Up to $75,000 per year based on education and experience

Benefits Overview

For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:

• Multiple plan options for medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Health Savings Account with generous IU contribution
• Life insurance, LTD, and AD&D options
• Base retirement plan contribution from IU, subject to vesting
• Additional supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition benefit for IU classes
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Learn more about our benefits by reviewing our online Benefits Brochure.

Job Classification

Career Level: Career

FLSA: Exempt

Job Function: Educational Resources & Tech

Job Family: Museum Services

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Posting Disclaimer

This posting is scheduled to close at 11:59 pm EST on the advertised Close Date. This posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University, but will remain open for a minimum of 5 business days. To guarantee full consideration, please submit your application within 5 business days of the Posted Date.

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Equal Employment Opportunity

Indiana University is an equal employment and affirmative action employer and a provider of ADA services. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment based on individual qualifications. Indiana University prohibits discrimination based on age, ethnicity, color, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status. Indiana University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational programs and activities, including employment and admission, as required by Title IX. Questions or complaints regarding Title IX may be referred to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights or the university Title IX Coordinator. See Indiana University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information.

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