Associate Registrar, Exhibitions

@ SFMOMA
SFMOMAsfmoma.com

Associate Registrar, Exhibitions

Posted 2 months ago

This job is still taking applications, but it's been up a while.

About the job

SFMOMA is a leading museum of modern and contemporary art in the US, focused on inclusive, passionate, brave, and empathetic engagement. The Associate Registrar role oversees registration activities for exhibitions, supporting a diverse and innovative art program in a collaborative setting.

Requirements

  • Extensive registration experience
  • Knowledge of modern and contemporary art
  • Experience with touring exhibitions
  • Strong organizational skills
  • Proficiency in project management software

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in art history or related
  • 4+ years of museum registration experience
  • Experience with shipping and handling artworks
  • Knowledge of legal and ethical issues
  • Commitment to diversity and inclusion

Full job description

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 - it's 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 purpose—where difference is seen as a strength, and every one is appreciated for their whole self.

Schedule: Full Time, 35 hours/week, fully onsite

The Associate Registrar, Exhibitions has a central role in advancing registration methods, policies, and procedures for the museum’s exhibitions program, in ways that are aligned with the museum’s strategic priorities and the goals of the Registration department and the Collections, Exhibitions and Design (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 museum’s 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 in advancing the museum’s dynamic 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 museum’s 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 museum’s 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 tooversee 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 with cross-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 SFMOMA’s 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

    • Bachelor's 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.

    Job posting opening date: 7/6/26

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


    We encourage both internal and external candidates to apply within the initial open posting period as the application close date may or may not be extended beyond that initial period. Applications will not be accepted after a posting has 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 information, ancestry/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 talent@sfmoma.org.

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