Job Description

The Portland Art Museum (referred to as Museum) invites applications for the position of Associate Registrar for Collections. The Associate Registrar for Collections will assist in the stewardship of permanent collections, new acquisitions, and associated documentation. This role will work closely with the Curatorial and Collections staff to coordinate special, in-house, and outgoing loans and exhibitions.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Assist in care, maintenance, and preservation of the Portland Art Museum’s permanent collections
• Assist Collections Manager in onsite and offsite collections storage maintenance
• Manage the correspondence and preparation of outgoing artwork loans
• Work closely with collections manager, registrars, conservators, preparators, curators, and security to ensure safe and secure transportation and presentation of artworks
• Coordinate and collaborate with collections manager, conservators, and curators to prepare artwork for in-house exhibitions
• Coordinate logistics including packing, shipping, receiving, unpacking, installation and storage for permanent collections and new acquisitions
• Be comfortable performing incoming and outgoing condition reports when needed and coordinate any required treatments with conservation. Maintain incident reports for permanent collection objects
• Responsible for documentation and data entry in Collections database (Mimsy XG), and in object collection files. Update physical locations of permanent collection objects
• Administer and maintain outgoing loan files

Secondary or Additional Responsibilities

• Manage Rights & Reproduction requests and associated email inbox
• Assist with collection inventories and annual collection audit
• Collaborate with the conservation department on Integrated Pest Management.
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Supervisory Responsibilities

• No supervisory responsibility

Institutional Responsibilities

• Support the Museum’s mission, vision and core values of creativity, connection, equity, learning, accessibility and accountability
• Contribute to and support the PAM strategic plan, annual priorities, and institutional initiatives such as diversity, equity, inclusion and access
• Contribute to a positive organizational culture based on mutual respect, a spirit of collegiality, cooperation, and openness to many perspectives
• Participate in a culture of ongoing learning, collaboration, innovation, creativity, and community engagement
• Promote equity and inclusion goals and have a “people first” mindset

Required Knowledge & Skills

If you have any questions along the way including wanting to talk about a non traditional career background, please reach out to HR.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Experience with working collaboratively in a team environment, or independently
• Knowledge of museum standards and practices of registration, art handling, conservation, and collections storage requirements and procedures
• Experience overseeing Rights & Reproduction requests, and basic knowledge of copyright laws preferred
• Discreet in managing confidential information

Education, Formal & Informal Experience, Training Required, Certification, Etc.

• Bachelor’s degree in Museum Studies, Arts Administration, or Art History with 4 years of registrarial experience or equivalent education and experience
• Prior experience with collections management standards and procedures
• Demonstrable proficiency in computer systems, Microsoft Office Suite, Google, and museum collections databases

Job Conditions

• Non-Exempt/Full-Time
• Schedule/Hour: 35 hours per week, Monday through Friday
• Onsite with Occasional Work From Home Flexibility
• Occasional travel required at times
• Occasional overtime
• Occasional evening hours
• On-call status
• Extensive computer work
• Work with chemicals

Physical Activities

• Frequently communicates with team members or clients
• Occasionally lift/push/pull up to 50lbs
• Frequently sitting, standing, and walking
• Continuously operates a computer and other office equipment, such as a copy machine, phone, and printer
• Continuous repetitive motions of hands, wrist, and fingers
• This is not a complete representation of all physical requirements
  

Company Description

COVID-19

The Museum has adopted a policy where all employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment, except employees who work exclusively from home or outdoors. Employees may request an exception from vaccination because of a disability or sincerely held religious beliefs. Exceptions to the vaccine mandate require additional safety parameters such as weekly testing. For new employees, requests for exemption must occur before beginning employment to hr@pam.org. New employees must submit proof of vaccination or a valid exception request to the HR department before their first day of work.

Equal Opportunity & Accessibility

The Museum is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our hiring practices and in our Museum employee experiences. We strive to foster a mindful and respectful environment in which everyone can be their authentic selves at work and experience a culture free of harassment, racism, and discrimination.

The Museum is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including age, sex, color, race, creed, national origin, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, political belief, disability or any other legally protected status. We are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. This commitment ensures that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to participate in the application, interview, and hiring process. Alternative formats of this application are available upon request. If reasonable accommodation or an alternative form of this application is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and/or receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Human Resources at hr@pam.org or 503.276.4358.

About the Portland Art Museum and PAM CUT // Center for an Untold Tomorrow

The seventh oldest museum in the United States, the Portland Art Museum is internationally recognized for its permanent collection and ambitious special exhibitions drawn from the Museum’s holdings and the world’s finest public and private collections. The Museum’s collection of more than 50,000 objects, displayed in 112,000 square feet of galleries, reflects the history of art from ancient times to today. The collection is distinguished for its holdings of arts of the native peoples of North America, English silver, and the graphic arts. An active collecting institution dedicated to preserving great art for the enrichment of future generations, the Museum devotes 90 percent of its galleries to its permanent collection.

The Museum’s campus of landmark buildings, a cornerstone of Portland’s cultural district, includes the Jubitz Center for Modern and Contemporary Art, the Gilkey Center for Graphic Arts, the Schnitzer Center for Northwest Art, PAM CUT, and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Center for Native American Art. With a membership of more than 22,000 households and serving more than 350,000 visitors annually, the Museum is a premier venue for education in the visual arts. For information on exhibitions and programs, call 503-226-2811 or visit portlandartmuseum.org.

PAM CUT // Center for an Untold Tomorrow was established in 1971 as the Northwest Film Center. It is an extension of the Museum and a year-round organization where artists and audiences explore our region and the world through cinematic storytelling in all its forms—including film, television, new media, audio storytelling, gaming, and immersive arts. PAM CUT’s mission is to change for whom, by whom, and how cinematic stories are told. Through our “cinema unbound” approach to exhibition, education, artist services, and special programs, we embrace audiences and artists working at the intersection of art and cinema who are not content to be contained.

Shared knowledge around art and film enriches our communities and helps all thrive and engage in a global society. Equity, diversity, and access to art, film, and education are critical to the ongoing work of the Portland Art Museum and PAM CUT. Learn more about the Museum’s commitment to equity at portlandartmuseum.org/equity.

The Portland Art Museum and PAM CUT welcome all visitors and affirm their commitment to making their programs and collections accessible to everyone. The Museum and PAM CUT offer a variety of programs and services to ensure a quality experience and a safe, inclusive environment for every member of our diverse community. Learn more at portlandartmuseum.org/access.

Benefits

• This role is non-exempt/hourly, full-time status
• Budgeted compensation is within pay grade F ($20.74 min - $23.82 mid - $26.97 max), depending on experience
• $50 per month phone reimbursement
• Shift differentials, for hourly/non-exempt staff, for hours worked onsite within:
  • Evening hours (6:00pm-12:00am) will be paid an additional $1.00 per hour
  • Night hours (12:01am-6:00am) will be paid an additional $2.00 per hour
• Healthcare package: medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, 401K match, and flexible spending accounts
• Paid time off: 6 paid holidays, 2 floating holidays, vacation, sick, and bereavement leave
• Transportation benefits: TriMet / C-Tran / parking pass discount or bike to work enrollment
• Museum admission & lectures, programs, and gift shop discounts
• R.E.A.P (Reciprocal Employee Attraction Pass), providing free general admission to local destinations
  

Application Process for Associate Registrar for Collections

Apply online at: www.portlandartmuseum.org/careers, to create a profile.

In order to be considered eligible, submissions require a resume, cover letter, four references, and all application questions answered. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by December 13, 2022. Applications may still be continued to be accepted after the full consideration date, until a sufficient applicant pool has been achieved or the position is filled. The closing date is subject to change without notice to applicants.