The Loans & Exhibits Registrar manages the incoming and outgoing loans program, including identifying loan sources for exhibitions, mitigating risks, recognizing conservation needs, negotiating agreements and coordinating shipping logistics. The incumbent also supports a variety of exhibitions needs, such as performing daily inspections, prioritizing repairs or adjustments, and organizing regular housekeeping. With the Director of Collections, this position contributes to core collections management policies and documents, identifying ways to broaden and strengthen the loans program, and stewardship of the collections.

Responsibilities

Loans Program:

  • Coordinates the loans program by performing loans-related tasks, such as supporting the CHM exhibitions team and outgoing loan requestors to identify loan sources or alternatives; proactively communicates with senior department staff, lenders and borrowers to negotiate loan agreements and renewals; coordinates shipping logistics and customs requirements; directly performs condition reports, cataloging and photography of loaned items; coordinates all returns and inspections.
  • Oversees and continuously improves records management practices, including both permanent paper file and database records regarding loans, condition reports and reconciling old loans;
  • Coordinates with other registrarial staff to provide controlled access to the physical object (hardware and ephemera) collection in support of outgoing loans and research requests from other museums, CHM curators and archivists, external researchers, media, etc.
  • Collaborates on the development and implementation of loan policies, procedures, facility reports, disaster plans and similar core documents;
  • Conducts and maintains periodic physical inventory of stored loans, makes recommendations for returns; and collaborates with other department staff to execute on return shipping budgets and logistics.

Exhibition Support:

  • Coordinates the daily inspections of exhibit spaces, addresses maintenance issues/repairs in a timely manner, and organizes and conducts quarterly cleanings.
  • Monitors security, climate and pests in all exhibit spaces at the Mountain View location and collaborates with Facilities staff to mitigate risks and resolve issues.
  • Assists with development, installation, and maintenance as needed for exhibits.
  • Recommends improvements to display environment, including identifying alternate or replacement artifacts as needed.
  • Occasionally provides security for media/film shoots.

General Duties:

  • Contributes to improving collections management policies, documents and forms.
  • Assists with administration and improvement of the MimsyXG database, data quality, reports and forms.
  • Collaborates closely across departments and communicates proactively to provide information or direction on a variety of projects or tasks.
  • Cross-trains in other areas of typical registrar duties, such as accessioning, cataloging, loans processing, warehousing and storage, deaccessioning, and disaster response and recovery. May assist with specialized training or projects for staff, graduate interns and volunteers to participate in these same collections management activities.



RequirementsRequired Background, Experience, and Education:

  • Masters degree in Museum Studies from an accredited university and a mid-career museum professional with 3-5+ years progressive experience as a loans registrar with extensive experience in and knowledge of museum registration best practices with an emphasis on records-keeping, domestic and international loans processing, condition reporting, insurance/indemnity, customs requirements, and shipping logistics.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of best practices for collections storage, including climate control/HVAC requirements, IPM, security, lighting and mitigating risk.
  • Experience reconciling old acquisitions and loans records in keeping with best practices and California Civil Codes, and dedicated to maintaining a high level of accuracy.
  • Experience in large artifact handling, cataloging and working in a warehouse environment.
  • Demonstrated leadership skills with the ability to think strategically one’s feet, establish and proactively communicate priorities, manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining flexibility and a sense of humor.
  • Ability to exercise excellent written and oral communications skills
  • Proven ability to work both independently and collaboratively with a wide variety of museum colleagues, peers, vendors, donors, volunteers, interns, and others.

Preferred Qualifications, Attributes and Skills

  • Experience serving as a loans courier.
  • Experience using MimsyXG and Crystal Reports or similar relational collections management database.
  • Experience using PEM2 dataloggers and eClimate Notebook for environmental analysis.
  • Familiarity with computer, technology or electronics artifact collections and preservation requirements.
  • Experience working with and supervising other staff, interns and volunteers.
  • Skills in packing, crating and using hand tools are helpful.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

  • Able to lift 40 lbs., climb a ladder, use a pallet jack and learn to drive a scissor lift.
  • Staff in this position must travel occasionally between the Museum’s three locations in Mountain View, Fremont and Milpitas. A valid CA driver’s license and reliable transportation are required.
  • Duties may include occasional weekend or evening work.

How to Apply

Please send your cover letter, resume, and a list of 3 professional references to: collections_jobs_a@computerhistory.org Be sure to include the position title on the subject line. For more information on the Computer History Museum, visit www.computerhistory.org.