Title: Collections Manager
Position Type: Full-time, hourly
Organization: Clark County Historical Museum
Compensation: $17.50/hr – 19.50/hr
Benefits: Holiday, paid time off, insurance stipend
Location: Vancouver, Washington
Reports To: CCHM Executive Director
Status: Full-Time
Start Date: September 2023

The Clark County Historical meeting is seeking a Collections Manager to join our team! We are looking for an organized, detailed-ordinated, and collaborative individual who is eager to support the vital work of preserving our collection for future generations. Our museum seeks to facilitate our community’s ability to tell their own stories, in their own words, on their own terms. Through our mission we are committed to responsible collections stewardship, innovative collaboration and inspiring exhibitions, and programs that engage the community in an exploration of Clark County’s past, present and future.
This position entails managing the collections aspects of the museum. The collections manager works with our team, volunteers, CCHS Trustees, and community members to perform the crucial missions of caring for and managing the collection and maintaining accurate and complete documentation of the legal status, location, description, and condition of all museum objects and archival materials. This person must be an organized, detail-oriented, and focused professional.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Plans, manages, and executes the processing of objects and archival materials acquired by CCHS through gift, purchase, or loan. Tasks include project management, policy development and refinement, research, documentation, cataloging, photography, data entry and data maintenance, storage management, and coordination of all other collections management and archival work
• Maintains collection, archival, and exhibit material inventory and manages collections, archival, and exhibit materials stock replenishment
• Works with collections committee and staff to seek out appropriate objects or archival materials for the permanent collection
• Conducts initial assessment for proposed objects or archival materials and develops object or archival housing. If donations are initially accepted, develops care cost estimate and requests needed collections or archival supplies from item donors
• Produces monthly Collections Committee reports that include department updates, object-management reports, and details of proposed acquisition or denial which makes recommendations to the collections committee for final approval of additions to the collection
• Compiles monthly report of newly accessioned items in the collection for the CCHS Board of Trustees in partnership with CCHS Collections Committee Board Chair
• Works with public historian to conduct or assign research, verification, and expansion of contextual understanding of objects and archival materials in the collection

Recommends deaccession in compliance with collection management policies and creates reports for approval by collections committee

• Maintains records of accession, condition, and location of objects and archival materials in museum collection and research library
• Registers and assigns accession and catalog numbers to all objects and archives in collection, according to established policies
• Responsible for the handling, packing, movement, and inspection of all objects entering or leaving the museum for any purpose, including additions to the permeant collection and/or loans provided to the museum.
• Confers with other personnel to develop and initiate most practical methods of packing and shipping fragile or valuable objects when appropriate
• Facilitates care and security of collections at the museum, exhibits, research library, and off-site storage. This includes integrated pest management, environmental monitoring, and material organization, order, and appearance
• Creates and implements inventory schedule
• Works with other staff on exhibition installations. Works with staff, guest curators, and volunteers to procure necessary exhibit materials, coordinate creation of mounts, and use of proper exhibit materials
• Trains and supervises the work of ancillary personnel such as other staff, interns, and volunteers when required
• Oversees digitization process with volunteers or grant-funded contractors
• Manages photo orders and requests from the public. Works in partnership with the Outreach and Public Programs Manager to fulfill orders
• Trains and works with volunteers to ensure exhibits are open, maintained, and monitored
• Tracks department volunteer hours
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree or certificate in collections management, archives, or library science with minimum of two (2) years of experience (paid or volunteer); preferred Master’s degree in collections management or library science or equivalent work experience
• Experience in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and social media
• Familiarity with historical databases and research resources
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage short- and long-term projects
• Museum experience is preferred
• Ability to work independently as well as with a team; must be self-directed and proactive
• Experience with databases for collections management (PastPerfect preferred)
• Must be able to lift 30 lb. boxes, use a ladder, and work in a non-air-conditioned building

TO APPLY
To apply, please email a cover letter and your resume to director@cchmuseum.org and indicate “[your last name] – Collections Manager Position” in the subject line. No phone calls, please. We apologize in advance for not having sufficient staff resources to respond to each inquiry.

HIRING PROCESS
We will review applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled, but priority consideration will be given to applications submitted by Friday, September 1, 2023. The hiring process will include Zoom interviews with CCHM staff members and a reference check.