Description:
We have an opening for a Senior Registrar of Collections to support the Collections & Exhibitions department at MCA Chicago. Reporting to the Director of Collections and Exhibitions Management, the Senior Registrar oversees the care, documentation and maintenance of the MCA’s permanent collection on and off-site; organizes, executes, and documents in-house collections exhibitions; works directly with the Museum’s donors of art to the collection as well as lenders to exhibitions; and researches, recommends, and implements TMS protocols to support the MCA’s permanent collection needs, with minimal oversight from the Director of Collections and Exhibitions. The position supervises the Collections Preparator and collections intern as assigned. To be successful in this role, you must:
- Lead assigned collections exhibitions, tasks including, but not limited to: correspondence and agreements with lenders and vendors to arrange, document and meet requirements for packing, shipping, insurance, and conservation; condition reports; courier arrangements; security and billing related to assigned projects; and attend associated meetings. Assigned exhibitions will focus on collections with special attention to the Calder collection and time-based media works.
- Work closely with Preparators to successfully install and deinstall exhibitions; hire, schedule, and oversee contract registrars and/or conservators when needed during exhibition turnovers or for special collections projects.
- Supervise, mentor, train, and oversee direct reports on a day-to-day basis, including oversight of special projects and staff management to ensure the effective and efficient operation of all assigned activities and responsibilities and accountability for results; facilitate strong performance and achievement of key metrics; and provide on-going feedback to assigned direct reports to address, resolve, and/or encourage performance and/or engagement-related matters.
- Collaborate with Senior Preparator to determine priorities for an assign projects to the Collection Preparator..
- Collaborate with Senior Registrar for Loans and Exhibitions on advising on outgoing loan needs including conservation, condition reports, and/or packing and crating.
- Collaborate with the Registrar for Exhibitions on database research, report generation, and development of the TMS exhibition module.
- Create and closely monitor budgets for each assigned exhibition including collecting estimates, tracking costs, flagging potential overages and offering solutions to stay within budget.
- Coordinate with Visual Arts to prepare all new works for each Collections Committee Meeting including their legal documentation; document, catalog and number new accessions, partial gifts and promised gifts; compile Collections statistics annually for insurance, audit and annual report purposes.
- Administer the Permanent Collection Funds in concert with the Director of Collections and Exhibitions Management and Finance and Accounting.
- Complete tri-annual inventory of the collection in conjunction with Collections Preparator.
- Collaborate with Development and Visual Arts on the Emerge program and manage object-related logistics including packing and shipping, documentation, installation and return of works the MCA does not acquire.
- Develop and update best practices in art handling in concert with all C&E staff.
- Determine collection conservation priorities with Director of Collections and Exhibitions Management; monitor budget for conservation projects and hire and supervise conservators for said projects.
- Oversee art storage on and off site with Senior Preparator and Collections Preparator
- Serve as international and domestic courier for MCA collection works and MCA exhibitions as assigned.
- Interview, hire, and supervise collections intern as assigned.
Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Bachelor’s Degree in art, art history, or related field or equivalent experience.
- 7-10 years’ registration experience managing collections and exhibitions.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- General knowledge of post-1945 art and familiarity with artists' materials as well as experience working with living artists.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Reading knowledge of a foreign language.
- Adept at TMS/Gallery Systems and Microsoft Office Suite.
- Frequent stooping, kneeling, and bending.
- Good vision.
- Ability to perform light lifting and moving of art works.
- Ability to participate in transportation of artworks and to withstand various temperatures during the loading and unloading of works of art.
- Ability to stand for long periods of time.