Assistant Registrar, Cantor Arts Center

🔍 Arts, Stanford, California, United States

📁: Museum

📅   : Apr 29, 2025 Post Date

📅   : 106376 Requisition #

Stanford University is one of the world’s premier academic and research institutions, devoting tremendous intellectual and physical resources toward the betterment of humanity. As a major Silicon Valley employer, Stanford seeks people committed to excellence and to improving our world. In turn, the university is committed to supporting its employees as they develop their careers and enrich their lives. We believe Stanford’s future success will be shaped by the diverse perspectives, unique experiences, and inclusive culture of its community.

Serving the Stanford University campus, the Bay Area community, and visitors from around the world, the Cantor Arts Center provides an outstanding cultural experience for visitors of all ages and a growing online audience of scholars. The Cantor’s encyclopedic collection spans 5,000 years and includes more than 40,000 works of art from around the globe. An established resource for teaching and research on campus, the Cantor offers free admission and programs year-round. It is consistently one of the most visited university museums in the U.S. It is an exciting time to join the expanding team at the Cantor Arts Center. Join us as we build capacity to achieve the museum’s goals within an equitable, collaborative, and creative work environment.

Reporting to the Assistant Director of Collections, and working in conjunction with the museum’s conservator, Collections, and Curatorial departments, the Assistant Registrar will organize, and perform a wide variety of professional registration duties in support of the museum's collection, with special emphasis on the works on paper collection.

In this role, you will:

Collections and Exhibitions:

For new acquisitions, loans, and promised gifts of art, under the general direction of the Assistant Director of Collections and in close collaboration with the Associate Registrar, the position will create object and creator records, assist with cataloging: research titles, dates, and creator(s), check condition, and create conservation records in the collections information system
Be highly proficient in the use of collections databases. Monitor the consistency/completeness of database records and compliance with data dictionary standards. Proof data entry for new database users. Advise staff on content of legacy data fields
Under the general direction of the Assistant Director of Collections, be the lead coordinator of the daily workflow and storage of works in the collection, with emphasis on works on paper. Work closely with the Matter/Framer and Preventive Conservator to determine if custom housing is required. Perform ongoing evaluation of the impact on storage of potential new acquisitions. Monitor supply needs for the housing of the collection
Support class and researcher requests to view collection and object files
Under the general direction of the Assistant Director of Collections and Preventative Conservator, oversee the handling of objects from the collection and develop object handling training for staff. Monitors object requests to determine if special handling training is needed for a particular object
Be one of a team of four staff who perform gallery walkthroughs and document tasks for conservation and preparator team
Assist with data entry into the collection information system of location changes for works in the collection
Coordinate and document the conservation of works in the collection, collaborating with curatorial, and contract conservators. Perform data entry for conservation treatments proposals and reports in museum’s collection’s information system
Assist the Associate Registrar with all aspects of the imaging of new acquisitions
Provide works requested for exhibition and loan to the exhibition and curatorial team for review, assist with assessing condition and display needs, return works to storage locations at close of exhibition

Please note that this position will be based on the Stanford campus and will be considered a hybrid role with 3 or more days/week on campus. This position may need to work extended or non-standard hours, weekends and holidays based on business needs.

In order to be successful, you will bring:

Bachelor’s degree and two years of related experience or a combination of education and relevant experience. Bachelor of Arts degree – majoring in Museum Studies, Art History, Arts Administration, Studio Art or a related field or equivalent professional experience is preferred.
Demonstrated commitment to fostering and supporting an inclusive environment.
Two years of relevant, professional experience working at a museum in the collections department or similar work environment required
Demonstrated knowledge of professional museum practices including registration methods, safe object handling and art preservation, packing and shipping, insurance, storage of art, security measures, and object numbering techniques
Knowledge of and demonstrated skill using collection management databases, Microsoft Word and Excel, Adobe Photoshop; experience working with EmbARK, TMS strongly desired
Demonstrated professional experience overseeing collections of works on paper
Demonstrated professional experience working on museum exhibitions
Demonstrated knowledge of museum copyright practices. Experience with Open Access strongly desired
Must have excellent interpersonal, organizational and communication skills
Ability and willingness to maintain a high level of accuracy and attention to detail is essential, as is the ability to work well under pressure with a wide variety of museum professionals, vendors, students, docents, and others

Don’t meet every single requirement? At the Cantor Arts Center and Vice Presidency for the Arts, we are dedicated to building an inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. Let us know in your cover letter how your experience makes you a good fit for us. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles!

The expected pay range for this position is $31.09 - $36.06 per hour. Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.

At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website (https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards) provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.

Application Details:
For priority consideration, applications should be submitted before May 9, 2025. The start date for this role is anticipated for August 4, 2025.

Submit your application materials through Stanford Careers. Applications should include:

Cover Letter
Resume

Why Stanford is for You
Imagine a world without search engines or social platforms. Consider lives saved through first-ever organ transplants and research to cure illnesses. Stanford University has revolutionized the way we live and enrich the world. Supporting this mission is our diverse and dedicated 17,000 staff. We seek talent driven to impact the future of our legacy. Our culture and unique perks empower you with:

Freedom to grow. We offer career development programs, tuition reimbursement, or audit a course. Join a TedTalk, film screening, or listen to a renowned author or global leader speak.
A caring culture. We provide superb retirement plans, generous time-off, and family care resources.
A healthier you. Climb our rock wall, or choose from hundreds of health or fitness classes at our world-class exercise facilities. We also provide excellent health care benefits.
Discovery and fun. Stroll through historic sculptures, trails, and museums.
Enviable resources. Enjoy free commuter programs, ridesharing incentives, discounts and more!

The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact Stanford University Human Resources by submitting a contact form.

Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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