Assistant Registrar

MASS MoCA’s Visual Art Department seeks to hire an Assistant Registrar to coordinate the planning, documentation, and care of exhibitions throughout the campus. The Assistant Registrar is a full-time coordinator position that will support the Senior Manager of Registration and Exhibitions to carry out registrarial duties, along with light art handling and packing as well. The candidate for this position will be organized, adaptable, and a team player, who will work to achieve deadlines collaboratively. The registrarial department at MASS MoCA is responsible for both the care and documentation of our long term exhibitions, and an active collaborator in the production of new commissions with living artists. Therefore the ideal candidate will be a creative problem solver, with a strong working knowledge of contemporary art.

About the Museum

MASS MoCA is a vibrant non-collecting art museum with approximately 300,000 square feet of exhibition space. Half of that space is dedicated to rotating 10-month exhibitions of which we present 4 to 6 large-scale exhibitions per year, along with smaller projects. The additional space is dedicated to long-term exhibitions in conjunction with artists, estates, and collections that run from 10 months to 25 years. MASS MoCA frequently works directly with artists on the fabrication of new commissions and large scale site specific installations.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the Senior Manager of Exhibitions and Registration in the care and documentation of all artwork in the galleries, and daily Art Checks.
• Thoroughly report all condition information for both incoming and outgoing artworks during exhibition installation and deinstallation.
• File management and data entry as assigned by the Senior Registrar.
• Working with a team to document the assembly and disassembly of large and complex installations.
• Deinstalling and packing works for shipment according to fine art and museum standards.
• Maintaining safe working conditions through clear communication and attention to detail.
• Maintaining a positive rapport with colleagues and artists through challenging and complex installations.

Requirements/Qualifications

• The most competitive candidate will have a thorough understanding of registration standards for living contemporary artists using nontraditional media
• Minimum one year’s work in gallery or museum registration
• Bachelor's degree in Art, Art History or Museum Studies (or equivalent experience)—we are open to any combination of alternative experience and school that you feel qualifies you for this position. Please use your cover letter and resume to convey this experience and why you feel it is relevant to the position.
• Strong experience with Google Drive, and working knowledge of art databases.
• The ability to communicate clearly with colleagues, collaborators, and artists
• A high level of professional consideration for the art in our care
• Knowledge of best practices for packing, crating, handling, and installing artworks
• Deep understanding of and commitment to DEAI work within the context of art museums and exhibitions.
• Please include in your cover letter a list of relevant software that you feel you are proficient in.

Work Conditions

• Some duties of this position require being able to work outside, potentially in inclement weather for extended periods of time
• Potential for overtime and weekends during installation periods

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, and/or sit for extended periods of time with limited breaks
• Ability to use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arm, and reach above shoulder height
• The employee is regularly required to climb or balance, squat, kneel, and crouch.
• The employee must regularly be able to lift and/or move up to 50+ pounds and move heavy objects as required.
• Ability to climb ladders and operate mechanical lifts and power tools
• Ability, mobility, and license to drive a motor vehicle
• Acute vision, hearing, voice, smell, and sense of touch
• Employee is required to move about their work area, between buildings and the campus grounds, ascend and descend stairs
• Must be able to wear PPE when necessary

MASS MoCA strongly encourages employees to be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations.

As defined by the National Labor Relations Act, this position is part of the bargaining unit for UAW Local 2110.

Minimum starting rate of $18.00/per hour.