Collections Manager

About the Opportunity

The Cape Ann Museum (CAM) is a leading regional museum, a treasure and force unto itself on Cape Ann, at the epicenter of artistic and marine history in the Northeast. The Museum’s nationally significant collection includes fine and decorative arts and artifacts relating to Cape Ann’s earliest days as a major fishing and shipping port, its mid-19th century role in the granite industry, and the numerous artists who were attracted to its singular charms of light and sea, including such well-known painters and sculptors as Fitz Henry Lane, Winslow Homer, Cecilia Beaux, John Sloan, Edward Hopper, Milton Avery, Anna Hyatt Huntington, and Walker Hancock.

In April 2019, CAM welcomed a new Director, Oliver Barker, who with the full support of the Board, is galvanizing the Museum in new and exciting ways leading up to  the City of Gloucester’s 400th Anniversary and the Museum’s 150th Anniversary in 2025.

 In addition to the main Museum, CAM in 2020 celebrated the opening of the Cape Ann Museum Green campus including the completion of the new Janet & William Ellery James Center which addresses the Museum’s critical needs for expanded collections storage, exhibition, and community programming space, creating entirely new opportunities to engage, excite and connect with audiences.

 Job Summary

Reporting to the Chief Curator, the Collections Manager will oversee the inventory, conservation, and preservation of the Museum’s permanent collection and loaned objects. 

 Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the incoming and outgoing loans including creating and approving loan agreements, condition reports, and documentation; arrange packing and transportation logistics, unpack loans and store materials; liaise with conservators as needed; monitor insurance requirements, serve as courier as needed.
• Manage incoming and outgoing temporary custody receipts.
• Process accessions.
• Maintain paper object files and accession book.
• Document and catalog the permanent collection in Embark including updating object records to reflect new accessions, track object movement, adding new curatorial content as directed, and maintaining image files.
• House and organize collection objects in storage and maintain collections storage areas.
• Serve as Embark technical liaison.
• Monitor collection storage environmental conditions including IPM.
• Transfer collection material between Main Campus and the Janet & William Ellery James Center.
• Maintain objects on display including preventive conservation cleaning as appropriate.
• Create and maintain condition reports on the permanent collection and oversee conservation treatment as needed.
• Assist with object study requests from outside researchers.
• Assist with gallery installations including retrieving and prepping objects.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 2 years experience in a museum or special collections setting.
• Familiar with standard museum and library vocabularies and cataloging formats.
• Ability to manage time efficiently and to work on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Familiarity with Embark collections management system is a plus.
• Ability to lift 25 lbs.
• A valid driver’s license and transportation.
• A sense of humor and the ability to work with a small team.

Hours:  Tue - Sat, 9-5

Some flexibility may be required. 

 The Cape Ann Museum is committed to diversity among its employees and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.  For consideration, please submit your cover letter and résumé to: resumes@capeannmuseum.org.  You may also submit your materials via postal mail to: Human Resources, Cape Ann Museum, 27 Pleasant Street, Gloucester, MA 01930.