Hi All,

The Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies at the Aspen Institute is currently accepting applications for a Registrar and Collections Management Specialist. 

To apply: Registrar and Collections Management Specialist

Registrar and Collections Management Specialist – Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies 

 

Department:   Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies     

Location:        Remote work with periodic visits to our Aspen, CO Campus  

Reports to:     Director, Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies 

Status:            Part-time Hourly, Non-Exempt 

Salary:            $50/hour

About the Role: 

The Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer seeks a Registrar and Collections Management Specialist who is responsible for the management of the Institute’s art collection database (TMS) and collection management and supporting the Director (and related staff or invited consultants) on exhibitions. 

 

About the Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies (“The Bayer Center”) 

The Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies ("The Bayer Center") preserves the legacy of artist and designer Herbert Bayer (1900-1985), who studied and taught at the Bauhaus before emigrating from Germany to the United States in 1938. Between 1946 and 1975, Bayer supported Aspen's postwar revitalization, shaped the Aspen Institute's early artistic and programmatic vision, and designed the organization's historic campus. 

Established in 2022, the Center promotes understanding of Bayer—one of the leading figures to translate the Bauhaus movement into an American context—and his contributions to art, design, and architecture. 

The Bayer Center creates exhibitions, public programming, and educational initiatives. 

 

About The Aspen Institute 

The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society. Since its founding in 1949, the Institute has been driving change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most critical challenges facing communities in the United States and worldwide. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, and an international network of partners. 

 

Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion 

To achieve our mission of a more free, just, and equitable society, we commit to working proactively to advance the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion across our myriad endeavors such as the recruitment, compensation, training, and advancement of staff. The best people-serving institutions make this commitment, and we seek to be a leader in the ways that we do so and learn from others. Visit our website to learn more about our commitment and recent actions taken toward building and nurturing a diverse and inclusive environment. 

 

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:  

• Lead on The Museum System (TMS) database implementation to input, organize, track, and account for all artworks (owned and loaned) in the collection. (Experience with TMS database is mandatory). 
• Creatively develop and support effective and efficient collections and outgoing loan workflows. 
• Ensure that methods, policies, and procedures are standardized and sustainable across collections and outgoing loans activities.   
• Advise Director in practices that reflect in-depth knowledge and understanding of advanced registration and collections management principles. 
• Support the Director in designing, delivering, and implementing new solutions for registration methods, policies, and procedures for accessions, loans out, and exhibitions, such as: 

1. The safe handling, packing, transport, storage, installation/deinstallation of artwork. 
2. Condition reporting of artworks. 
3. Conducting virtual oversight of these activities for loaned and borrowed works, when possible.   

• Create, maintain, and manage all documentation for new loans and gifts by following all donation guidelines, including drafting correspondence and related database upkeep. 
• Working with Director, deliver collections data to Finance department for semi-annual and annual audits.  
• Track promised gifts.   
• Work inter- and cross-departmentally to ensure the smooth and safe installation/deinstallation, exhibition, insurance, and shipment of artworks, including conducting virtual or in-person oversight for outgoing loans.   
• Working with the Aspen Institute’s Database Administrator for TMS to develop new TMS Crystal Reports and maintain standards for existing TMS Crystal Reports. 
• Advise on in-gallery security measures in conjunction with Conservation.   
• Communicate with lenders and borrowers and ensure adherence to all requirements.   
• Review agreements, insurance policies, and facility reports.   
• Maintain art storage space in the Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies (and elsewhere as appropriate). 
• Using the American Alliance of Museums guidelines, establish and promote professional museum and archival standards and best practices. 
• Estimate, direct, and redirect resources for activities as situations change to meet critical deadlines.   

 

Skills & Qualifications 

• Preferred Master’s Degree in Art History, Museum Studies, or closely related field.  
• Minimum 5 years’ extensive registration/collections management experience in an art museum or similar institution, with collections and exhibitions experience required.  
• Proven expertise with The Museum System (TMS) project management software.  Demonstrated familiarity with thesauri, documentation standards, and cataloging and image management standards. 
• Strong candidates will have experience managing significant projects and/or initiatives.   
• Thorough knowledge of current and innovative registration methods and practices, knowledge of Bauhaus/Herbert Bayer preferred, and knowledge of museum legal and ethical issues.   
• Desire to work in a collaborative, team-oriented environment, but ability to work independently and communicate frequently with Director. 
• High levels of initiative; creative, flexible problem-solving skills; and innovation.   
• Ability to maintain a sense of focus and calm under pressure, with challenging or changing deadlines in a high-volume environment.   
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and logistical abilities to advance the work of the department and to meet critical deadlines.   
• Ability to estimate, direct, and redirect resources for activities as situations change and in order meet critical deadlines.   
• Excellent verbal, written, and visual communication skills.   
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft applications (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).   
• Expertise with collections management systems and experience with digital asset management systems.  
• Ability to quickly master new tools and platforms as technologies evolve.   
• Successful candidates will have a strong commitment to access and sustainability, will collaborate well, and will demonstrate timeliness and effectiveness in a complex environment.  

 

 

Application Instructions - Please submit a cover and resume through the online portal. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. 

 

Hours and Work Schedule - This is an hourly position requiring availability for weekend, evening, and travel to Aspen will be required.  

 

The Institute has implemented a mandatory COVID vaccination policy for all employees who will work at one of our physical locations, attend any of our in-person events or travel on behalf of the Institute. Staff unable to be vaccinated may request an exemption under certain circumstances. 

The Aspen Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all District and federal laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or protected veteran or disabled status and will not be discriminated against.