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Job Description

Reporting to the Collections Manager & Registrar, the Collections Specialist manages aspects of the McClung Museum's permanent collections (which includes archaeological material, cultural collections, and paleoethnobotany) by overseeing documentation, safety, access, and direct care. Working with historic collections that include sensitive information, this position serves an important role in preparing, maintaining, and securing the documentation of the museum's permanent collection such as accession files, catalog records, data reports, condition reports, and loan agreements. This position serves as a point of contact for local, state, and federal agencies as well as staff, students, partners, and others when requesting access to permanent collections. The Specialist collaborates with Curators and Exhibitions staff to provide guidance and assistance for exhibiting, installing, and de-installing permanent collections objects. This position also plays an important role in implementing and enforcing the Collections Management Policy across all collections areas.

Responsibilities

Collections Management: 50%

1. Manages the museum's permanent collection's records, documentation, and images, ensuring proper provenance and permits for new acquisitions and collections while incorporating appropriate practices, standards, philosophy, theory, and ethics of collection stewardship. 
2. Makes decisions based on appropriateness, ethics, and the museum's mission about individual access to permanent collections for local, state, and federal agencies as well as university groups, individuals, or other private entities for learning, research, or reference. 
3. Using specialized knowledge of museum best practices and ethics, manages electronic and digital records, including updating scientific and auxiliary information, and associated meta data for new and existing collections, maintaining computerized databases, providing content for the museum's website, providing content or oversight for exhibitions, and on-line collections access.
4. Manages historic documentation of collections including databasing, digital images, correspondence, archives, publications, and loan records using collections management software. 
5. Identifies object condition and material; prepares, catalogs, and constructs housing and identifies long-term storage solutions based on object needs.
6. Responds to verbal and written requests, including inquiries from the general public regarding loans, accessions, and donations. 
7. Processes accessions and handles incoming and outgoing loans including providing documentation and securing accurate provenance and any relevant permits. 
8. Performs various duties as needed to successfully fulfill the function of the position or other related duties as assigned, including but not limited to monitoring collections storage and exhibition environments, ensuring lab safety, conducting inventories, organizing storage equipment and logistics, and ordering supplies. 
9. Other duties as assigned.

Research, education, and outreach duties: 25%

1. Supports the research programs by working in collaboration with curators to determine appropriate objects for exhibitions, identifies concerns based on condition reports, and pulls and prepares objects for exhibition.
2. Advances collections information by conducting collections-focused research and analysis in field of expertise to determine proper documentation and provenance and best practices for object handling and housing . 
3. Uses specialized knowledge to serve public programs and educational activities by developing and presenting outreach materials for education, such as object study workshops, exhibition best practices input (temporary and permanent), and direct participation in public outreach events, as needed. 
4. Develops and presents content for tours, presentations, informal classes, and other similar activities, upon request. 
5. Trains and supervises collections assistants, students, volunteers, and interns to carry out daily custodial duties, registration activities, object preparation, and research. 
6. Provides collection access to the research community, faculty, students, and visiting researchers with the use of collections. 
7. Participates in scholarly activity outside the university that promotes the museum's permanent collections as exemplified by attending or presenting at professional meetings and/or engaging in professional development activities. 
8. Other duties as assigned.

Collaborative responsibilities, compliance, and support: 25%

1. Using knowledge of museum collections best practices, recommends and enforces priorities for short and long-term collections care and management.
2. Advises, oversees, and collaborates with the museum's exhibition team on best practices for object handling based on the object's condition report and material for object exhibition, installation, and de-installation; advises local, state, and federal agencies on consultation of repository objects, as requested. 
3. Implements the Collections Management Policy in collaboration with the Collections Manager & Registrar. 
4. Serves as an active part of NAGPRA compliance and repatriation activities for the permanent collection by analyzing, identifying, and flagging items; works alongside the Collections Manager & Registrar to collaborate and comply with Office of Repatriation requests and deadlines. 
5. Provides support to the Museum community by serving on internal or external committees, as needed. 
6. Develops grant proposals for collections improvements and other collections-based initiatives; assists with grant proposals across the museum by providing information or narratives specific to the museum's permanent collections, as needed. 
7. Provides support for promotional and institutional advancement activities, including opportunities to engage with donors and participate in behind-the-scenes tours. 

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Education: 
  • Bachelor's degree in a related field (Anthropology, Art, History, or similar)
• Experience: 
  • At least two years of collections management in a museum or similar setting. 
  • At least one year collections database management or similar program.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: 
  • Demonstrated knowledge of current museum best practices and standards for collection care, collection and database management, documentation, digitization, conservation and registration methods for collections.
  • Capable of performing physical hands-on problem solving and database upkeep and research and the ability to pivot between the two. 
  • Flexibility in managing multiple ongoing projects; ability to pivot between tasks as needs and priorities shift. 
  • Detail oriented and highly organized; can follow or create processes and complete them with consistency. 
  • Knowledge of Office suite, collections-specific software and other computer-related skills. 
  • Ability to supervise students and communicate directions and expectations effectively.
  • Ability to manage projects and budgets for collections-related purposes.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.
  • Ability to work independently and with interdepartmental teams and initiatives. 

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: 
  • Master's degree in a related field (Anthropology, Art, History, or similar)
• Experience: 
  • At least one year of experience working with NAGPRA-related collections.
  • At least one year of experience supervising and training students, volunteers or interns. 
  • Experience using established occupational health and safety practices.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: 
  • Knowledge of museum standards and best practices in the care, safe handling, packing, and crating of 2-D and 3-D objects.
  • Knowledge of archival materials and fine art packing techniques, including proficiency with custom box-making, soft-packing, and cavity packs.
  • Knowledge of museum or collections databases.
  • Ability to prioritize the urgency of competing requests to meet established deadlines.
  • Skills to interact with different kinds of internal and external stakeholders.
  • Supervisory skills necessary for directing other people working with collections, including volunteers, students, and interns.

Work Location

• Knoxville, TN - Onsite

Compensation and Benefits

• UT market range: MR08
• Anticipated hiring range: 52,000 – 58,000
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions 

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments.

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• List of 3 Professional References

About Us

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service. 

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory. 

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.  

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone. 

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.  

Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!