Collections Manager

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Hiring unit: Visual Arts Collection

Position Summary:
Reporting to the Director of Curatorial Affairs, Visual Arts Collection, the incumbent administers the daily operational movements of the Collection, and of projects related therein, in storage and across three campuses, ensuring that they are carried out in accordance with established policy and procedures. Participating in the care of the Collection, both on view and in storage, this team member acts in concert with other curatorial staff as a liaison with internal and external maintenance, security, art handling, and conservation professionals. The Administrator also develops and maintains the Collection’s records and electronic database (CollectionSpace) updating records as required and supervises and trains interns and casual staff in collection care and documentation.

Primary Responsibilities:
Administer the physical management and care of the Collection in accordance with generally accepted museum standards and best practices.

· Administer the movement, installation, and de-installation of art from the Collection across McGill campuses.

· Manage the campus loan program.

· Participate in the planning and documentation of inter-institutional loans to and from the collection.

· Oversee and perform the handling, packing, and transport of all objects in the Collection.

· Evaluate objects in the Collection for conservation treatments.

· Perform detailed condition reports for objects coming into the Collection, as well as candidates for internal or external loans.

· Liaise with internal facilities, maintenance, security, and project management staff, as well as with external conservation and art handling and transportation professionals, to ensure uninterrupted care of the Collection.

· Maintain and enforce necessary security procedures to ensure the safety of storage and exhibit environments.

· Oversee Collection storage areas for the security and safety of personnel and objects.

· Survey storage and exhibition areas for potential environmental or pest problems.

· Conduct regular inventory procedures, including the maintenance of a housekeeping plan with regular cleaning, and maintenance of exhibit and storage spaces.

· Organize and maintain all documentation in the Collection’s physical records and in CollectionSpace, the Collection’s new electronic database.

· Working jointly with curatorial staff, set up and maintain processes for recording new and existing data in Collection Space, including making recommendations for database customizations. Write user documentation as needed.

· Oversee the technical functioning of the database, including the issue tracking system (issue tickets on particular problems, oversee their status, and resolution).

· Working jointly with curatorial staff, administer the registration process, helping photograph, catalogue, and accession new donations and/or acquisitions.

· Train and supervise interns and casual staff working on collections projects, especially in object handling, and in CollectionSpace use and data entry.

· Help with research requests and public inquiries as needed.

· Maintain the Collection’s Location Authority File, ensuring consistency with the University’s FAMIS system.

Other Qualifying Skills and/or Abilities


As one of Montreal's Top Employers, here is what we offer:

• Competitive benefits package (Health, Dental, Life Insurance) (if eligible)
• Defined contribution pension plan (with employer contribution up to 10%) (if eligible)
• Group Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA)
• Competitive vacation policy
• Two (2) personal days
• Two (2) floating holidays
• Nine (9) "Summer Fridays" - paid days off between the St-Jean Baptiste holiday and Labour Day
• Paid time off over the December holiday period
• Tuition waiver for regular employees and their dependents
• Up to two (2) days of remote work per week where the position permits

Before applying, please note that to work at McGill University, you must be both authorized to work in Canada and willing to work in the province of Quebec at the campus where the position is based / located.

Knowledge of English: McGill University is an English-language university where day to day duties may require English communication both verbally and in writing. The level of English required for this position has been assessed at a level # (qualifier) on a scale of 0-4.

For a definition of our language proficiency levels, please click here.

McGill University is committed to equity and diversity within its community and values academic rigour and excellence. We welcome and encourage applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities.

At McGill, research that reflects diverse intellectual traditions, methodologies, and modes of dissemination and translation is valued and encouraged. Candidates are invited to demonstrate their research impact both within and across academic disciplines and in other sectors, such as government, communities, or industry.

McGill further recognizes and fairly considers the impact of leaves (e.g., family care or health-related) that may contribute to career interruptions or slowdowns. Candidates are encouraged to signal any leave that affected productivity, or that may have had an effect on their career path. This information will be considered to ensure the equitable assessment of the candidate’s record.

McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated equity groups to self-identify. It further seeks to ensure the equitable treatment and full inclusion of persons with disabilities by striving for the implementation of universal design principles transversally, across all facets of the University community, and through accommodation policies and procedures. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, accessibilityrequest.hr@mcgill.ca.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

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