Address
Form of work
SalaryPosting Details
Position Information
Position Title
Director of Collections Programs
Department
Assoc Dean of Science - 032
Position Summary
The Director of Collections Programs (DCP) will be responsible for leading special projects involving the human remains collections and, under the direction and supervision of the Dean of Science for Collections (DOS), will lead critical initiatives in collections re-housing, human remains and related objects on public display, respond to external and internal inquiries, prepare reports, requests for data, collections visitation, and other duties as needed. The DCP will have primary responsibility and accountability for Science-wide coordination on all matters involving human remains and will collaborate with Museum leadership, the Director of the Cultural Resources Office (CRO), and the Chair of Anthropology in carrying out these and other initiatives as advised by the provost, Museum director, and the office of the president. The DCP will also assist the DOS in other projects, such as annual reporting of divisional collections and curatorial activity, curator fieldwork, publications, informatics oversight, strategic planning and analytics, and other duties as assigned.
Core Responsibilities include, but not limited to:
- Lead the daily activities of the DOS office on progress, tracking, problem solving, scheduling and reporting of core projects and initiatives regarding all aspects of human remains at AMNH, including storage, stewardship, collections management, curation, record keeping, and movements.
- Lead and coordinate response to inquiries, requests for information about the AMNH collection of human remains from internal and external sources.
- Coordinate and support the Communications Department in responding to media inquiries with sensitivity and respect, following established policies, procedures, and directives.
- Liaise with Director of CRO and Chair of Anthropology on issues related to human remains, funerary and sacred objects collections, staffing, archives, NAGPRA activity, and pursuit of repatriations.
- Liaise with curators, collections management staff, registrars, and the Database Manager for Collections on access to the divisional collections management systems for information from the catalogs and accessions.
Required Competencies:
- An outstanding project manager with proven skills in prioritization of assignments, scheduling, tracking progress, troubleshooting, and motivating participants to deliver timely results.
- A consistent track record implementing innovative solutions with measurable outcomes.
- Ability to engage diverse audiences with confidence and tact.
- Excellent relationship skills with peers, staff, and client groups.
- Sound judgement in handling confidential and sensitive information; respect for the viewpoints of diverse Indigenous descendant communities and ability to engage all peoples with empathy, compassion, and humility.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, tailoring messages as appropriate to various audiences.
- Extensive proven understanding of NAGPRA—regulations, requirements, and timelines— and the process of repatriation of human remains, funerary and sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony.
- Previous experience with domestic and international repatriations.
The expected salary range for the Director of Collections Programs is $120,000 – $150,000/annual. The AMNH offers an extensive benefits package designed to meet the needs of our dedicated and diverse community.
Pay will be determined based on several factors. The hiring range for the position at commencement is based on the type of work and the scope of responsibilities. The salary and placement offered is based on a number of individualized factors, including, but not limited to, skills, knowledge, training, education, credentials, areas of specialization and depth and scope of experience.
Required Qualifications
- 5-10 years experience working in a large, diverse organization.
- Experience with management of large and sophisticated projects.
- Excellent writing skills.
- Microsoft office and database skills. B.S/B.A. degree.
Preferred Qualifications
- Work experience at a higher education institution or large not-for-profit organization.
- Previous experience with human remains collections, NAGPRA, and/or repatriation.
- Deep knowledge of museum collections—management, housing, and stewardship. M.S, M.A, M.Phil., or Ph.D. degree.
Physical Demands
Category
Full-Time
Total Number of Scheduled Hours Per Pay Period
70
Union Status
Non-Union
FLSA
Exempt
Expected Salary Minimum
$120,000/annual
Expected Salary Maximum
$150,000/annual
