Williams College

Museum Registrar

WILLIAMSTOWN, MAPosted 30+ days ago

Job summary

  • Job post source

    This job is directly from Williams College

  • Job overview

    The Museum Registrar at Williams College Museum of Art manages registration and loan processes for artworks, ensuring their preservation and supporting educational and visitor engagement initiatives.

  • Responsibilities and impact

    The role involves managing registrarial functions for exhibitions and loans, coordinating conservation treatments, assisting with collections management systems and digitization, and contributing to museum committees on collection care and risk management.

  • Compensation and benefits

    The position is full-time with a salary range of $60,000-$70,000 based on experience, includes benefits, and requires significant on-site presence.

  • Experience and skills

    Candidates should have a B.A. in Museum Studies, Art History, or related field with 5-8 years of experience in art museum registration or collections management, knowledge of museum practices, regulations, conservation, collections management systems, and strong organizational and communication skills.

  • Career development

    The role offers opportunities to work during an exciting museum expansion, collaborate across departments, and contribute to innovative collection access and visitor engagement strategies.

  • Work environment and culture

    Williams College is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and sustainability, fostering a collaborative environment respectful of diverse backgrounds.

  • Company information

    Williams College Museum of Art is preparing to move into a new building with expanded gallery and object study spaces, emphasizing multidisciplinary use of collections for teaching and engagement.

  • Team overview

    The Museum Registrar reports to the Senior Museum Registrar and works within a team responsible for collections, loans, conservation, preservation, storage, access, database, and digitization.

  • Job location and travel

    The position requires significant on-site presence at Williams College campus with occasional travel as a courier for exhibitions.

  • Application process

    Applicants must submit a cover letter and apply via careers.williams.edu; application review begins July 11, 2025, with background checks and non-discrimination policies in place.

  • Unique job features

    This role includes unique opportunities to participate in a major museum relocation, work with traveling exhibitions, and implement sustainable museum practices.

Company overview

Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Founded in 1793, it is one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions in the United States. The college offers undergraduate programs in various disciplines, emphasizing a rigorous academic curriculum and close faculty-student collaboration. Williams College generates revenue primarily through tuition, endowments, and donations. Notable for its small class sizes and strong alumni network, the college has a rich history of academic excellence and community engagement.

How to land this job

  • Tailor your resume to emphasize your expertise in museum registration, including managing loans, shipping logistics, and condition checking, aligning with WCMA's focus on preservation and safe handling of artworks.

  • Highlight your experience with collections management systems like The Museum System (TMS), budget management, and coordinating conservation treatments, as these are key responsibilities in the role.

  • Apply through multiple channels such as the Williams College careers site (careers.williams.edu) and LinkedIn to maximize your visibility and chances of landing an interview.

  • Connect with current museum staff or the Senior Museum Registrar on LinkedIn; start conversations by referencing the exciting new museum building project or asking about how the team balances object safety with visitor engagement.

  • Optimize your resume for ATS by including keywords from the job description such as 'museum registration,' 'loans management,' 'conservation,' 'TMS,' 'shipping logistics,' and 'collections care' to ensure it passes automated screenings.

  • Use Jennie Johnson's Power Apply feature to automate tailoring your resume, applying through multiple sites, and identifying LinkedIn contacts, allowing you to focus your time on preparing for interviews and networking.

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