Collections Assistant
The University of Chicago

Department

AI Exhibitions and Registration

About the Department

As the fine arts museum of the University of Chicago, the Smart Museum of Art is a site for rigorous inquiry and exchange that encourages the examination of complex issues through the lens of art objects and artistic practice. Through strong scholarly and community collaborations and a welcoming approach to its exhibitions, collections, publications, research and teaching, and public programs, the Smart Museum plays a dynamic role in expanding artistic canons, rethinking received histories, introducing new perspectives, and engaging diverse communities-locally, nationally, and internationally. The Smart Museum will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024.

Job Summary

The Collections Assistant will work together with the Smart Museum of Art's collections, curatorial, and education staff to assist with programming, movement, tracking and collections care, as well as data management. Reporting to the Manager of Registration and Exhibitions, and working closely with the Assistant Registrar of Permanent Collections, the position has a special focus on making the Museum's permanent collection accessible for teaching and research within the Museum's Feitler Center for Academic Inquiry and for supporting ongoing activities in the Smart's educational study rooms. The Collections Assistant will be responsible for supporting highly-organized collections management procedures while maintaining best practices, effective workflows, and a vibrant workplace culture.

This role performs a broad range of operational business activities related to the safe movement and maintaining the storage of collections and archives. Maintains storage areas with moderate/high levels of guidance. Supports the development and implementation of policies related to loans, accessioning, and deaccessioning.

This is a two-year, full-time, benefits-eligible position, with an extension contingent on identifying additional funding.

Responsibilities

• Adhering to the best standards of art handling, pulls works on paper, paintings, sculptures, scrolls, etc. in advance of class and research visits to the study room. Sets up and takes down objects for each visit. Tracks locations during art movement, and returns artwork to home locations.
• Assists in evaluating object study requests, assessing whether an object can be safely brought into the study room and managing logistics for challenging works that may require 2+ people to retrieve.
• Collaborates in facilitating study room appointments and contributes to special programs with the collection.
• Supports regular review of collection stewardship policies, practices, and plans at the Smart.
• Contributes to ongoing special projects, such as object photography, collections inventory, database clean-up, and digital accessibility initiatives.
• Helps maintain the overall cleanliness and organization of the Museum's artwork storage rooms.
• Participates in routine collections care, such as collections preservation, access, and strategic re-homing projects.
• Aggregates and organizes existing research on objects in advance of study room sessions.
• Assists in maintaining instruments for feedback, assessments, and reports on object requests and uses, study room experiences, and collection research.
• With moderate/high levels of guidance from others, implements procedures to ensure compliance with museum policies.
• Performs maintenance of storage areas, collection records and databases with a moderate/high level of guidance and direction.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
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Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through ---
Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• One to three years art handling experience in a museum or fine arts setting.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Knowledge of best practices in the fields of art handling, preparation, registration, collection care, and security.

Preferred Competencies

• Demonstrated organizational and analytical skills.
• Effectively navigate highly sensitive and secure spaces.
• Detail-oriented.
• Strong communication skills and work collaboratively with others in a team environment.
• Conscientious, self-motivated, resourceful, flexible, and punctual.
• Meticulous attention to detail and safety.

Working Conditions

• Moving objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Accessing elevated areas within the museum.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (preferred)

When applying, the document(s) MUSTbe uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Museum & Arts

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

Pay Frequency

Biweekly

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Benefits Eligible

Yes

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at:http://securityreport.uchicago.edu.Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

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