Associate Registrar, Exhibitions

Sfmoma

Job Location:

San Francisco, CA - USA

Monthly Salary: $ 36 - 44

Posted on: 17 hours ago

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary art in the United States and a thriving cultural center for the Bay Area. We cannot imagine life without art; it inspires and connects us every day. Now more than ever these connections matter and are aligned with our values.

Inclusive: We strive to be a museum of many voices in dialogue.

Passionate: We believe working with art is more than a job or trusteeship - its a way of life.

Brave: We are committed to approaching our work with courage and a sense of adventure always ready to explore new perspectives.

Empathic: We aim to act like a person not an institution.

SFMOMA is a place for the infinitely curious to explore support and experience the art of our time. We believe that modern and contemporary art can influence the way we think view the world and embrace the many voices and perspectives around us. We aspire to foster an environment that elicits joy nurtures a sense of belonging and purposewhere difference is seen as a strength and every one is appreciated for their whole self.

Schedule: Full Time 35 hours/week fully onsite

TheAssociate Registrar Exhibitions has a central role in advancing registration methods policies and procedures for the museums exhibitions program in ways that are aligned with the museums strategic priorities and the goals of the Registration department and the Collections Exhibitions andDesign (CED) division. Working independently and with minimal supervision they are responsible for successfully planning managing and documenting registration activities for assigned projects related to the museums exhibitions program including temporary and touring exhibitions. The Associate Registrar Exhibitions is a subject matter expert and has the breadth of experience and expertise to manage assigned registration activities for the fullest range of modern and contemporary artwork types and exhibition complexities.

The position is an opportunity to establish leadership skills inadvancingthe museumsdynamic exhibitions and collections programs.

Reporting to the Director of Registration the Associate Registrar Exhibitions is the lead registrar on assigned projects and works collaboratively with colleagues in CED Curatorial Facilities Operations Security Visitor Experience and other museum departments in realizing integrated collections stewardship collaborative exhibitions and collections research and engaging and inspiring public programming. The Associate Registrar Exhibitions works with and represents the museums interests to members of the arts communities such as artists studios fabricators estates donors vendors galleries and other museums.

Responsibilities & Duties

Team Participation

Encourage and contribute to an inclusive rewarding and inspiring workplace where innovation discovery and constant learning cultivate a deep sense of belonging and shared responsibility within the Registration team.
Share in fostering a culture of safety inclusivity and equity.
Work in a healthy and flexible style and models empathy and understanding.
Participate in nurturing collaboration and partnership across teams with fluid communication and respect for diverse expertise essential to an art museum.
Demonstrate a commitment to the museums strategic focus of making programming that engages visitors and inspires individuals to return and recommend the museum to their family and friends.
Represent the museum at the local national and international levels.
Participate in professional networks workshops and programs to stay current with relevant practices methods and technologies as well adding new skills to share with the department.

Exhibitions

Apply best practices and standards to oversee and coordinate all registration aspects of major exhibitions and those organized for travel by SFMOMA.
Maintain in-depth oversight of needs of registration aspect of exhibition projects from initiation to finish.
Review and contribute to exhibition co-organization and venue tour contracts.
Review negotiate and sign loan agreements on behalf of the museum as well as manage agreed-upon terms related to registration activities.
Oversee arrangements for temporary exhibitions both borrowed and organized by SFMOMA:
- Coordinate the safe packing shipping and handling of artworks.
- Communicate effectively with lenders donors vendors packers forwarding agents shippers and related colleagues.
- Generate and sign certificates of insurance.
Lead object review and object de/installation meetings withcross-departmental teams.
Advise on access and security measures.
Oversee installation/deinstallation of works in staging areas or galleries and as needed through virtual oversight or in-person travel.
- Coordinate courier activity for loans to SFMOMA.
- Examine artworks and produce condition reports documenting the condition and characteristics of artworks so that changes in condition can be well managed.
- Coordinate examinations and treatments with Conservation.
- Coordinate matting and framing of works.
- Make periodic checks of the galleries and work across departments to address potential risks to works on view.
- Track insurance needs as projects progress.
- Arrange for return of borrowed works.
As assigned for SFMOMA-organized exhibition tours:
- Travel to borrowing institutions to oversee unpacking installation condition reports and/or repacking of exhibitions and for related museum business.
- Monitor condition of works in exhibition.
- Arrange dispersal at close of tour.

Program Partnerships

Work with Collections Management to maintain safe conditions for works in storage.
Work with Conservation and Collections Management to coordinate artwork treatments housing and storage projects.
Work with Conservation and consultant(s) in operationalizing workflows for the intake storage and long-term accessibility of media- web- and software-based works.
Work with Project Management and Photo Studio to facilitate photography of artworks.
Work with Collections Management to conduct and reconcile inventories and audits.

Administration

Write and update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as necessary.
Oversee completeness and maintenance of records and files for assigned projects by adding documentation data and digital assets to relevant museum systems.
Participate in maintaining exhibition insurance records and files.
Generate and distribute reports related to exhibitions.
Produce and monitor budgets for registration component of exhibitions; process invoices.
Mitigate risks to artworks and relationships with people and organizations.
Set an example of standards for performance and professional behavior with colleagues.
Make recommendations about practices and policies related to SFMOMAs exhibition registration
Represent area of expertise in meetings and communications related to the museum programs
Mentor make assignments for and supervise activities of Assistant Registrars and Registration Assistants.
Develop training sessions and materials. Assist with onboarding new staff in the department.
In collaboration with Director of Registration delegate tasks to Assistant Registrars Registration Assistants and on-call staff.
Model highly collaborative modes of working with cross-functional teams to proactively provide museum guests of all backgrounds with a world-class museum experience.
Perform other related duties as required.

Qualifications & Skills

Bachelors degree in art history Museum Studies or closely related field.
Minimum of four (4) years of extensive registration experience in an art museum or similar institution with collections and exhibitions experience required.
Experience and expertise in current and innovative registration methods and practices relevant to modern and contemporary art and knowledge of museum legal and ethical issues.
Must have significant experience with exhibition assembly touring and dispersal as well as packing crating and shipping artworks at the local national and international levels.
Strong critical thinking skills.
Ability to assess and make independent decisions about competing priorities.
Ability to manage multiple projects while establishing and meeting deadlines.
Excellent organizational skills and proficiency in project management software such as Asana.
Strong initiative and follow-through skills and an ability to operate under pressure of time and multiple demands
Ability to work independently as well as in partnership with colleagues.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with museum colleagues volunteers and interns and effectively represent the museum to outside professionals lenders donors and members of the artistic community.
Creative and flexible problem-solving skills.
Sound judgment and strong professional presence.
Working knowledge of twentieth century art history.
Familiarity with basic conservation concepts procedures and terms.
Proficiency with Microsoft applications (Outlook Teams Word Excel PowerPoint etc.).
Expertise with collections management systems and experience with digital asset management systems.
Proficiency with Asana or other platforms related to project management software.
Ability and willingness to maintain a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
Ability to communicate effectively in person in video conferencing on the telephone and in writing to artists galleries donors borrowers trustees colleagues and the public is essential.
Ability to work effectively on a wide variety of projects concurrently with concern for the tasks assigned and the goals of the Registration Department.
Successful candidates will have a strong commitment to access and sustainability will collaborate well and will demonstrate timeliness and effectiveness in a complex environment.
Demonstrated commitment to principles of diversity equity inclusion accessibility and sustainability in the arts sector.

$36.94 - $44.32 an hour

$36.94/hour (starting); $44.32/hour (position)

This is a union position subject to the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Job posting open date: 4/29/26

All jobs posted will remain open for at least five business days.

We encourage both internal and external candidates to apply within theinitialopen posting period as the application close date may or may not be extended beyond will not be accepted afterapostinghas been closed.

Location: San Francisco 151 3rd Street.

Benefits: PTO Medical Dental Vision Flexible Spending Accounts Pet Insurance Life and AD&D Coverage Disability Insurance Mental Health and Wellness Benefits Discount Programs Pre-Tax Commuter Benefits 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan SFMOMA Membership and more

At SFMOMA we do not believe that any applicant can or should meet every qualification listed in a job posting. We are committed to welcoming applicants from all backgrounds and professional paths who are inspired to join a mission-driven community-oriented organization grounded in inclusivity passion bravery and empathy.

If this describes you we encourage you to apply.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

SFMOMA is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity equity inclusion and accessibility. No person shall be discriminated against based on race color religion gender gender identity age genetic informationancestry/national origin marital status disability medical condition HIV status sexual orientation veteran/military status and any other category protected by federal of state law.

You may request reasonable accommodation if you are unable to or are limited in your ability to access job postings or provide additional information asked in the job posting.

You can request reasonable accommodation by contacting the People Team at emailprotected.

Required Experience: