Classification: Full-time with Benefits, Exempt
Location: Fremont, California
Department: Collections & Exhibitions
The Acquisitions Registrar primarily coordinates the safe receiving of all new artifact acquisitions through donations, sales, and transfers, is responsible for all aspects of documenting those transactions, and maintains related registration records to the highest standards. The Acquisitions Registrar mitigates risks by supporting good cataloging, collections storage, and management practices, and attending to collections-related facilities issues, such as IPM and climate control. This position will periodically support exhibits by securing and receiving new acquisitions, maintaining database records, and assisting with installations and regular cleanings. This position is hybrid, but with a minimum of 32 hours onsite during training, and a minimum of 24 hours onsite per week after training, as responsibility permits.
Coordinates the artifact offer and review process, including creating Collections database records and vetting all donation and sales offers with the curatorial team through the use of up-to-date records and reports.
Required to work on-site, primarily at the Fremont location, a minimum of 32 hours per week during training period, and a minimum of 24 hours per week thereafter. Required to work on-site most Thursdays to supervise Collections volunteers. After training period, may work remotely up to 16 hours per week, as workflow and on-site responsibilities allow.
Issues, maintains, and processes documents and records related to acquisitions, including incoming receipts, deeds of gift, provenance forms, license agreements, temporary custody forms and others, and creates a wide variety of database records as needed.
Coordinates the logistics for the delivery, transport, insurance, customs and other requirements for all newly accepted acquisitions. Willingness and ability to occasionally travel to local donors to collect accepted material donations
Provides outstanding service to donors with respect to the acquisition process, including but not limited to timely correspondence and communications, shipping logistics, assisting appraisers, and facilitating IRS forms.
Works collaboratively with other registrars, archivists, and curators to support processing efforts and projects of all collections types, which may include accessioning, classifying, cataloging, and photographing artifacts, performing research on acquisitions, uploading images, and immaculately recording locations in the collections management database.
Maintains the collections database to increase online digital access by performing accurate and timely data entry, updates forms as needed, and performs monthly quality control tasks of new catalog records and image uploads.
Coordinates and trains volunteers to assist in collections cataloging activities according to CHM’s policies, procedures and best practices; performs monthly quality control checks of their work; and uses volunteer management software to administer volunteer openings and hours.
Trains and supervises graduate student interns on an ad hoc basis in accessioning, records management, and other registration duties, tasks, or special projects.
Assists with periodic collections moves and inventory of the physical artifact collection under the direction and supervision of the Collections Manager & Senior Registrar.
Invests in understanding the history of the collection and registration records in order to maintain and improve file and collections database records and to contribute to records reconciliation and researching candidates for deaccession.
Communicates proactively across departments to provide information or direction or in support of a variety of projects or tasks in the Museum’s other departments, such as providing acquisitions donor reports to Development for solicitations or artifact images and information to the social media team.
Serves as the lead point-of-contact at the Shustek Center for collections management and facilities-related issues (e.g. climate, pests, security, e-waste disposal, disaster recovery, etc.), supplies purchasing, and assists with similar needs.
Performs monthly IPM and environmental tasks at the Mountain View and Fremont locations.
Other duties as assigned.
Supports the exhibition development team by accessioning new artifacts and props; cataloging, and photographing new acquisitions; assisting with installation and with follow-up tasks such as exhibit photography and recording insurance values and gallery locations as needed.
Participates in all exhibition cleanings according to museum best practices and helps provide housekeeping guidance to volunteers.
May assist with ongoing exhibit maintenance as needed and with installing ad-hoc exhibits.
Other duties as assigned.
Masters in Museum Studies and 2-3 years’ experience working in a museum as a professional registrar.
Experience using collections management relational database.
Experience specializing in acquisitions, with demonstrated knowledge of deeds, license agreements, copyright issues, IRS requirements, and deaccessioning best practices.
Demonstrated experience of collections management/artifact storage best practices in artifact handling, site security, cataloging in a museum setting, and of preventive conservation practices.
Excellent time management skills and demonstrated attention to detail and dedication to accurate records-keeping, while also being flexible and maintaining a sense of humor.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to meet multiple and competing deadlines.
Comfortable working in an artifact storage setting.
Skill in organizing resources and establishing priorities.
Proven ability to work both independently and collaboratively with a wide variety of museum colleagues, peers, vendors, volunteers, interns, and others.
Experience using Mimsy XG, Gallery Systems (TMS) -or the like, Airtable, Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, and Sales Force for Volunteers.
Experience working with and supervising interns or volunteers.
Familiarity with computer, technology or electronics artifact collections and preservation requirements.
Experience using pallets jacks, scissor lifts, power tools and similar tools used in crating and storage.
Experience creating museum-quality custom storage containers and supports.
Experience taking and producing quality images of cataloged artifacts.
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 facilities 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 in support of CHM Live or similar events.
Salary: $65,000 - $72,000 Annually
At the Computer History Museum our mission is to decode technology—its computing past, digital present, and future impact on humanity. From the heart of Silicon Valley, we share insights from our research, our events, and our incomparable collection of computing artifacts and oral histories to convene, inform, and empower people to shape a better future.
At CHM, we believe that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success. We provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, we will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.
Are you ready to become a part of our team? In order to be considered for this position, applicants must include a cover letter, resume, and a list of 3 professional references and email to jobs@computerhistory.org. Please be sure to add the job title (exactly as it is spelled out in this site) that you are applying for in the subject line of your email.
