Job Title: Senior Registrar

Job Classification: Full-time/Exempt

Reports to: Chief Curator & Director of Curatorial Affairs & Programs

Works Closely with: Registrars, Curators, Head of Installation Design, Art Preparators, Facilities, Security, and Special Events staff; lenders, members of the art community, institutional partners and colleagues.

Oversees:  Registrars, Archivist/Librarian, Collections volunteers and interns                                      

Job Summary

The Reporting to the Chief Curator & Director of Curatorial Affairs and Programs, the Senior Registrar plays a key role in overseeing the Palm Springs Art Museum’s 12,000+ object collection and its art-related operations in our three facilities (Museum Drive, The Galen in Palm Desert, and the Architecture + Design Center).  The position oversees the policies and procedures for the permanent collection, including the archive and the library holdings, as well as loans to the Museum and loans out of the museum. The position is charged with the care, preservation and risk management of the Museum’s collections and with ensuring that the collections are available for current and future visitors.

The Senior Registrar oversees the installation schedule relating to art movements and staffing related to exhibitions, installations, and special events for collection and loaned objects in museum buildings and other sites.  This position oversees the Registrars and works in close collaboration with the Head of Installation and art preparators, organizing the work schedule for the team on a weekly basis as well as long term planning. This installation and work schedules are to be coordinated with the overall Exhibition Schedule and budget, which are overseen by the Chief Curator & Director of Curatorial Affairs and Programs. This position will work closely with Chief Curator on forward planning, forecasting, and management of resources.

The Senior Registrar works in close collaboration with the Chief Curator and Curatorial staff to realize exhibitions and installations of works from the collection, as well as loan and touring exhibitions, including the securing of loans, and the coordination of venues and tours. This position serves as the principle contact for internal and external colleagues on loan procedures, insurance and government indemnities, contracts, and lender negotiations.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Management-staff, resources, budgets

• Has primary oversight and care for the collection of the Palm Springs Art Museum.
• Oversees, supervises, mentors, and trains Registrar staff, as well as contracted conservators.
• Working in close collaboration with Chief Curator and Head of Installation Design, Senior Registrar plans, coordinates and schedules collection rotations, installations and exhibitions.
• Prepares the master art installation schedule relating to art movements and shipping for exhibitions and special events for the Palm Springs Art Museum’s three locations, and other sites as appropriate.
• Prepares exhibitions and collections related budgets; working in close collaboration with Chief Curator, performs monthly forecasts to ensure performance to budget at all times.
• Monitors the ordering and purchasing of supplies for storage and conservation of permanent collection; coordinates supplies and storage for activities related to the archive and library collection.

Art Collection

• Oversees the management, preservation, and storage of the collection(s), as well as accessioning of acquisitions, including gift documents, IRS forms, and appraisals from donors.  Supervises accessioning process including recording object information; photographing objects, proper housing for objects, and conducting annual inventories. 
• Negotiates and arranges fine arts insurance policies for permanent collection and long term loans; processes claims; and supervises risk management for all museum buildings.
• Oversees long-term loan partnerships (incoming and outgoing loans); conducts annual condition reporting and processes loan renewal documentation.
• Evaluates works in need of conservation treatment, recommends and initiates opportunities for remedy.
• Supervises the management of the collections database (TMS); including data clean-up, staff training, and the creation of user guides and reports; and works with staff to ensure data standardization.   
• Prepares list of acquisitions for annual report and registrar’s report of acquisitions for auditors.
• Oversees Rights and Reproduction requests and processes to ensure proper accreditation and licensing of images of works in collections and loaned objects.

Exhibitions and Loans

• Works with Chief Curator and Curator(s) to plan, develop, and manage loan exhibitions from the conceptual stage to execution, including contracts, loans, insurance, transport, installation, condition reporting, tours, insurance and storage, as needed.
• Collaborates with Curator and Head of Installation Design in the planning, scheduling, and production of exhibitions, including crew management, assembly of materials, construction and installations.
• In close coordination with Chief Curator and exhibition curator(s), develops initial exhibition budget for planning purposes. Regularly updates, forecasts, and monitors expenses, ensuring performance to budget.
• In close coordination with Chief Curator and exhibition curator(s), drafts and reviews contractual agreements with lenders and participating institutions.  Negotiates terms of the contracts and monitors compliance of agreements and payment schedules. 
• Assesses lender requirements and fees for loans, and negotiates terms in the best interest of PSAM in consultation with appropriate staff.  Communicates terms and special requirements of loans to appropriate staff and staff of participating institutions, and monitors compliance with such terms and conditions.
• Responsible for securing U.S. Government Indemnity or other insurance for PSAM and its partners or lenders.  

Other responsibilities

• Ensures performance to standards set by AAM standards, participates in reaccreditation activities on behalf of PSAM.
• Maintains facility reports; in conjunction with Operations / Facilities staff, monitors environmental conditions in galleries and vaults at all three sites.
• Liaises with Security on emergency preparedness plan and collections evacuation plan.
• Ensures compliance with IRS regulations, copyright laws, NAGPRA laws, and AAMD guidelines.
• Maintains professional relationships within the field.  
• Other duties as assigned or needed.

 Qualifications

• B. A. or M.A. in art history, museum studies or related discipline.
• Eight to ten years’ experience in museum registration, collections and exhibition management.
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of best practices and procedures for art handling, installation, storage, condition reporting, preservation and basic conservation.
• Demonstrated ability to perform long-range planning while retaining nimbleness; flexibility within a fast-paced and changing environment; effective work under pressure amidst shifting priorities; problem-solving and analytical thinking.
• Demonstrated ability to work as a team leader and as part of a team while supervising staff and coordinating with peers; ability to set and accomplish goals and to meet deadlines by effectively prioritizing; ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team-oriented environment;
• Supervisory experience; skills in diplomacy, negotiation and communication with staff and external parties (lenders, donors, etc).
• Practical writing skills; proficiency in collections management database software, email, word processing and spreadsheet software, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Word and Excel.
• Familiarity with NAGPRA, AAMD guidelines and archiving methods and practices

Application:

To apply for this position, please send a letter of interest and resume to:
Search Committee at jobs@psmuseum.org (no phone calls please).