Museum Collections Manager Job Announcement

The American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati, a nonprofit historical and educational organization headquartered at Anderson House in Washington, D.C., seeks a full-time museum collections manager to oversee the care, preservation, and documentation of its museum collections—comprised of more than 4,000 works of art and artifacts, including paintings, sculpture, armaments and other military equipment, medals, ceramics, textiles, and other historical artifacts. The museum collections are strongest—and growing fastest—in portraits of Revolutionary War participants, weapons used during the war, and objects documenting the history of the Society of the Cincinnati.

The American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati promotes knowledge and appreciation of the achievement of American independence, fulfilling the aim of the Continental Army officers who founded the Society of the Cincinnati in 1783 to perpetuate the memory of that vast event. The Institute supports advanced study, presents exhibitions and other public programs, advocates preservation, and provides resources to teachers and students to enrich understanding of our War for Independence and the principles of the men and women who secured the liberty of the American people. The Institute’s home, where it undertakes much of this work, is Anderson House, a 1905 mansion and National Historic Landmark in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.americanrevolutioninstitute.org.

Major Duties The museum collections manager is the primary staff member charged with maintaining the Society’s museum collections and the records that document them. The museum collections manager works with the staff, interns, and outside vendors and colleagues to ensure that the museum collections are properly documented, stored, and displayed, whether at Anderson House or another venue. The museum collections manager plays an important role in establishing and achieving goals to improve the care and preservation of and access to the museum collections and may be called upon to lead staff-wide projects in these areas, such as emergency preparedness and building security.

Major duties include:

 managing proper documentation of the museum collections, including accessioning and deaccessioning, cataloging, inventories, and other records;  maintaining the collections management database (Past Perfect) and object files;  ensuring proper care and preservation of the museum collections by managing the museum collections storage rooms, environmental conditions data and analysis, curatorial housekeeping, and conservation projects; and  contributing to exhibition planning and installation, including overseeing incoming and outgoing loans.

Qualifications Required:  Bachelor’s degree in history, art history, museum studies, or a closely related field;  at least 3 years of professional experience managing art and artifact collections in a museum environment;  thorough knowledge of collections management standards and best practices;  demonstrated experience managing the care, preservation, and documentation of museum collections, especially in museum registration, collections management software, object handling and housing, loan procedures, and exhibition installation;  excellent project management skills;  the ability to perform moderate physical activity, such as climbing ladders, lifting, kneeling, and standing or walking for extended periods of time;  the ability to work occasional evening and weekend hours, including courier trips; and  being organized, detail-oriented, able to work independently and take initiative, an effective writer and public speaker, and eager to contribute to the Institute’s work.

Preferred:  Master’s degree in history, art history, museum studies, or a closely related field;  familiarity with the history and material culture of the era of the American Revolution; and  experience leading staff teams in larger projects.

Salary and Benefits This is a mid-level position on the professional staff of the Society of the Cincinnati. The current budget allocation for this position is $53,500 per year (negotiable). Excellent benefits include paid annual and sick leave, health insurance, a 401(k) plan, and a monthly commuting stipend.

To Apply Send a resume and cover letter, including mention of where you learned about this opening, by email to:

Emily L. Parsons Deputy Director and Curator The American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati 2118 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20008 [email protected]

Position open until filled.