3556-Museum Registrar

Job description

CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES

JOB CODE TITLE: MUSEUM REGISTRAR JOB CODE: 3556

Business Unit: COMMN

DEFINITION: Under direction, performs a wide variety of professional registration duties in support of the museum's collections management and exhibition programs.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: Incumbents in Class 3556 Museum Registrar perform the full range of registration functions, including the more difficult and complex duties. Class 3558 Senior Museum Registrar is distinguished from this class by its planning, supervisory and management responsibilities.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: May supervise the work of subordinate personnel such as associate or assistant registrars, interns, and volunteers when required.

EXAMPLES OF IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

According to Civil Service Commission Rule 9, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this class and are not intended to be an inclusive list.

1. Receives, inspects, accessions, documents, labels and catalogs objects acquired for collections and/or exhibitions; makes notes and/or comments on condition reports; oversees deaccession procedures in compliance with collection management policies.

2. Oversees the movement, exhibition, storage, and disposition of art objects in order to guarantee security of the collections, including coordination with conservators, preparators, designers, curators and photographers.

3. Facilitates care and security of collections of art and artifacts on site; coordinates with conservators regarding the conditions necessary to store objects in a seismically safe, temperate place; controls art storage area; oversees object movement, internal and external; conducts periodic inventories of collection areas; maintains storage records and shelf lists.

4. Arranges for insurance on permanent collection, outgoing or incoming loans, including executing applications for federal indemnification of international exhibitions, maintaining insurance coverage and computing premiums when due, and processing liability and damage claims.

5. Prepares agreements and arrangements for outgoing and incoming loans, special exhibitions or permanent installation of objects, including contractual arrangements, loan agreement forms, exhibition contracts, condition reports, facility reports, supplying photographs, cataloging information, and other documents related to collections management.

6. Makes shipping arrangements for incoming and outgoing objects; inspects objects and checks condition reports, making notes as needed; coordinates the packing, crating and couriering of objects; establishes the date and method of shipping items. Works collaboratively with museum staff including curators, conservators, preparators, and packers, as well as representatives of other museums and outside art handling personnel such as airline personnel and cargo handlers in coordinating, scheduling, and monitoring the safe and legal movement of objects.

7. Researches and provides accurate information to museum administrators, staff and board members, representatives of other museums and the general public regarding loans, special collections, catalog information, packing, shipping, and insurance; promotes compliance with federal, state, and local laws relating to art collections management.

JOB CODE TITLE: MUSEUM REGISTRAR JOB CODE: 3556

Business Unit: COMMN

8. Serves as a courier accompanying valuable objects of art in transit as required. Accompanies art to offsite storage or airport cargo facility, oversees containerization and security; coordinates with customs broker; travels with art; supervises loading and unloading of crates at airport, borrowing museum and other venues. May oversee installation of objects at borrowing museums.

9. May prepare and manage special project budgets as required.

10. May train and supervise the work of subordinate personnel such as associate or assistant registrars, interns, and volunteers when required.

11. May check exhibitions to ensure environmental standards and security.

12. Performs related duties as required.

JOB RELATED AND ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge of: principles and practices of professional art/artifact registration; collections management standards and procedures; principles and practices of museum records management; computerized registration methods and related data processing techniques; principles and procedures used to handle, inspect, label and store fragile objects of art and to protect art objects from environmental hazards; legal standards and law applicable to collections management; fine arts insurance practices and procedures; and a general knowledge of fields such as art, art history and anthropology relative to the collection

Ability to: maintain detailed, complex records pertaining to the management, movement, exhibition, storage, and disposition of art objects; use a computer to input and maintain records and to produce reports and correspondence; prepare clear, accurate and understandable documents such as reports, memos, correspondence and statistical information; evaluate information, set priorities and establish an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish specific goals; speak in a clear, well-organized and concise manner in order to provide work-related information appropriate to the understanding of the listener; listen, ask relevant questions and effectively elicit information; deal tactfully and courteously and establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of individuals and groups.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE GUIDELINES:

1. Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in art, art history, museum studies, arts administration or a closely related field and four years of verifiable museum registration experience; OR

2. Possession of a master's degree from an accredited college or university in art, art history, museum studies, arts administration or a closely related postgraduate program and two years of verifiable museum registration experience. AND

3. Computer literacy in word processing, data base management and a computerized registration system.

Effective Date: 12-7-87

Amended Date: 9/22/00

Reason for amendment: To accurately reflect the current task, knowledge, skills and abilities defined in the most recent job analysis conducted for this class.

Standard information

Disaster service work

All City and County of San Francisco employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the City requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

Historic and future compensation