Museum Registrar

19-Mar-2024

Faculty of Arts and Sciences

65302BR

Job Summary

Dumbarton Oaks is a research institute, museum, and historic garden affiliated with Harvard University and located in Georgetown, Washington, DC.

The Dumbarton Oaks Museum is composed of four collections that testify to the passion of Robert Woods and Mildred Barnes Bliss for collecting extraordinary art. The Byzantine Collection comprises art made in the medieval eastern Mediterranean, along with comparative works from the ancient Greek and Roman, western European, and Islamic periods. Art in the Pre-Columbian Collection covers a vast geographic area that includes Mesoamerica, the Andes, and the Central America and Colombia regions of Latin America. The House Collection consists of European decorative arts and paintings, dating from the Renaissance through the modern eras, as well as a small collection of Asian art. The Coins and Seals Collection includes the most important collection of Byzantine lead seals in the world, numbering some 17,000 specimens and over 12,000 coins, one of the largest and most comprehensive collections in the world.

The Museum is free and open to the public Tuesdays-Sundays. The museum team delivers 2-3 innovative exhibitions per year informed by cutting-edge research and including both the permanent collections and loans. Reporting to the Chief Curator, the Registrar will work collaboratively with the Museum team and other departments to steward the collections and support the public mission of Dumbarton Oaks, including access to the collections. 

Position Description

• Negotiates loans and prepares loan letters and agreement forms

• Handles relevant loan arrangements (insurance, logistics of packing and shipping, condition reports, transportation, courier arrangements, indemnity requirements, customs/immunity from seizure) in communication with internal and external stakeholders. Acts as courier when needed

• Handles communications and paperwork for new acquisitions, including gifts and purchases

• Organizes, catalogs, houses, and tracks the movements of all objects in the collections

• Performs object location audits for the collections and participates in security audits

• Corresponds with the appropriate offices at Harvard University for risk management, legal counsel, and insurance; compiles insurance data and reports

• Processes object study request forms, supports the study of the collections by fellows and scholarly programs at Dumbarton Oaks

• Participates actively and collaboratively on exhibition teams and assists with planning, scheduling, staffing, and installation/deinstallation

• Advises staff in other departments on registration/collection management issues, processes, and best practices

• Fulfills rights and reproductions requests for museum collection objects

• Manages the planning, installation, deinstallation, and documentation for the Contemporary Art Installation Program in collaboration with the executive director, consulting curator, and department stakeholders.

• Handles general Museum correspondence

• Oversees contractors including mount-makers and photographers

• Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in art history or specialty area 

• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in a museum setting, with responsibility for loans and collections management

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• Master’s degree in museum studies, collection management, art history, or similar

• 5+ years of relevant experience in a museum setting with demonstrated experience in handling international loans, participating in exhibition installations/deinstallations, and managing collections access

• Excellent written and verbal communication

• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment

• Flexibility, discretion, and tact

Physical Requirements

Moderate physical activity. Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 25 pounds

Work Format Details

This is a hybrid position that is based in Washington, DC. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. All remote work must be performed within one of the Harvard Registered Payroll States, which currently includes Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington, and California (CA for exempt positions only). Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Benefits

We invite you to visit Harvard's Total Rewards website (https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards ) to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:

• Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
• Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
• Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
• Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
• Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
• Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.

Department Office Location

USA - DC - Washington

Job Code

388056 Museum Professional

Work Format

Hybrid (partially on-site, partially remote)

Union

00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary

Pre-Employment Screening

Criminal, Education, Identity

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.