Job Announcement: Assistant Collections Manager, Anthropology Collections
1 Full Time Term Position (35 hours/week; two-year term from start date)
The Field Museum
Chicago, Illinois USA
The Field Museum seeks an Assistant Collections Manager to engage with the Filipino-American community in Chicago to digitally image and make accessible objects from the Philippines heritage collections via a first of its kind web portal. This project will digitally bridge the gap between the museum collections and changing views of cultural heritage by allowing Filipinos and other stakeholders world-wide to view and help us document these holdings.
Under the supervision of Anthropology Collections Management and in consultation with the curator and co-curators, the individual in this position will handle, move, and digitally photograph objects with the assistance of Filipino-Americans in Chicago and other volunteers and then database the resulting reference photographs. These images and their databasing will further promote these important collections by making them more accessible to cultural heritage communities, researchers, and the public via a web portal.
Job Responsibilities
- Handles, moves, tracks, and digitally photographs relevant objects from the Anthropology collections as well as processes and databases resulting photographs
- Monitors movement of objects at all stages and is responsible for keeping the inventory database up-to-date. Consults with Collections Management and the Head Registrar regarding the database and the accuracy of its information including working with curator, co-curators, and staff to solve cataloging problems in order to improve the veracity of data in the collections records and database
- Coordinates community engagement efforts by organizing, holding, and documenting community meetings to discuss the project, their understandings of cultural heritage, and how they expect to interact with this collection via the web. Will also help facilitate collections access to community members and researchers
- Oversees community volunteers assisting with these digitization efforts. Supervises other volunteers, interns, and visitors using the Anthropology collections, as required
- Assists with maintaining storage conditions for the Anthropology collections utilizing preventive conservation methods
- Works with community members and co-curators to create webisodes that document the co-curation and community building process enabled by this project
- Presents and publishes on the project
- Performs other registration and collections related activities as assigned
Job Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology, Museum Studies, or related field required but master’s degree highly desirable.
- At least three years of object handling and digital artifact photography (including postproduction editing and databasing) experience required.
- Community engagement experience highly desirable.
- Demonstrated superb organizational skills, impeccable attention to detail, ability to focus on tasks, ability to communicate effectively, and skilled in negotiation and resolution of non-routine problems.
- An in-depth knowledge of accepted museum collections care practices and procedures expected.
- Ability to work alone or in a team situation required.
- Demonstrated computer proficiency with museum collections databases, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and the Adobe Creative Suite including Photoshop, Bridge, and Lightroom. Working knowledge of KE EMu highly desirable.
- High frequency of activity lifting objects, moving carts, using photography equipment. Must be able to work with artifacts and records for long hours.
The Field Museum accepts applications on-line. To apply for this position, please complete the on-line application:
The Field Museum is an Equal Opportunity Employer. No phone calls please.