Registrar Assistant jobs in San Francisco, CA

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.  

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: On-Call

The Assistant Registrar, On-Call has an important role in supporting registration activities for the museum’s collections and exhibitions programs. They are responsible for successfully planning, managing, and documenting registration activities for assigned projects related to accessions/deaccessions, collections care, outgoing/incoming loans, rotations and exhibitions programs, including the Fisher Collection. The Assistant Registrar, On-Call handles assigned registration activities for a range of modern and contemporary artwork types and SFMOMA exhibitions, in ways that reflect knowledge and understanding of registration methods and best practices. 

Reporting to the Director of Registration, the Assistant Registrar, On-Call works collaboratively on assigned projects with Registration project points and with colleagues in CED, Curatorial, Facilities, Operations, Security, Visitor Experience, and other museum departments in realizing integrated collections stewardship, collaborative collections and exhibitions research, and engaging and inspiring public programming. The individual 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.  

• 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.  

• Collections
• Assist with arrangements for acquisitions to the collection.
• Coordinate safe packing, shipping, movement, and handling of artworks. 
• Communicate with lenders, donors, packers, vendors, forwarding agents and shippers. 
• Examine artworks, produce condition reports, and generate receipts. 
• Coordinate matting and framing of artworks. 
• Oversee preparation and installation/deinstallation of works for Accessions Committee meetings. 
• Arrange for return of works not accessioned. 
• Coordinate examinations and treatments with Conservation.  
• Facilitate storage of accessioned objects. 
• Assist with arrangements for loans out from the collection.
• Coordinate safe packing, shipping, movement, and handling of artworks. 
• Communicate with lenders, donors, packers, vendors, forwarding agents and shippers. 
• Examine artworks, produce condition reports, and generate receipts. 
• Coordinate matting and framing of artworks. 
• Coordinate examinations and treatments with Conservation.  
• Generate loan reports and packets. 
• As needed, travel to borrowing institutions to oversee transport, unpacking, installation, condition reporting, and/or repacking of loans out artworks. 
• Assist with collections care and documentation projects, such as assisting with surveys, inventories, and audits.   

• Exhibitions and Rotations 
• Assist with arrangements for exhibitions, both borrowed and organized by SFMOMA, including traveling exhibitions.
• Verify condition, location, and availability of works.  
• Coordinate safe packing, shipping, movement, and handling of artworks. 
• Communicate with lenders, donors, packers, vendors, forwarding agents and shippers. 
• Examine artworks, produce condition reports, and generate receipts. 
• Coordinate matting and framing of artworks. 
• Coordinate examinations and treatments with Conservation. 
• Facilitate storage of borrowed artworks. 
• Schedule and oversee delivery, preparation, installation, deinstallation, and dispersal of artworks in staging areas or galleries, and, as needed, through virtual oversight or in-person travel.  
• Make periodic checks of the galleries and work across departments to address potential risks to works on view. 
• As needed, travel to borrowing institutions to oversee transport, unpacking, installation, condition reporting, and/or repacking of artworks.  

• Administration 
• Ensure completeness and maintenance of records and files for assigned projects by adding documentation, data, and digital assets to relevant museum systems. 
• Assist with maintaining collection insurance records and files. 
• Generate and distribute reports related to accessions, deaccessions, and displays. 
• Contribute to and monitor budgets for registration activities; process invoices. 
• Mitigate risks to artworks and to relationships with people and organizations.  
• Assist with maintaining collection insurance records and files. 
• Generate and distribute reports related to accessions, loans out, rotations, and exhibitions. 
• Perform other related duties as required. 

• Bachelor's Degree in Art History, Museum Studies, or closely related field. 
• Minimum of two (2) year’s experience in an art museum or similar institutions: 
• Demonstrated knowledge of museum registration methods and museum purposes, organization, and procedures. 
• Skill in the sensitive handling of works of art, including crating, packing, and transportation of objects. 
• Proficiency with Microsoft applications (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).  
• Experience with collections management systems and digital asset management systems. 
• Proficiency with Asana or other project management software.  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
• 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. 
• Ability to work effectively on a wide variety of projects concurrently, with concern for the tasks assigned and the goals of the Registration Department. 
• Familiarity with basic conservation concepts, procedures, and terms. 
• Ability and willingness to maintain a high level of accuracy and attention to detail. 
• Ability to work independently and conduct effective problem resolution. 
• Demonstrated organizational skill and knowledge of standard office procedures, including invoicing, receipting, and maintaining files. 
• Ability to work simultaneously with multiple people who have different needs. 
• Working knowledge of twentieth century art history. 
• 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 open date: 3/19/24

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. 

COVID-19 Environmental Factors: In keeping with city, county, and state regulations regarding large gatherings, and to contain the spread of coronavirus, the museum is following the city of San Francisco guidelines. As a part of our commitment to health and safety, COVID-19 vaccination is required for all current and newly hired employees and contractors. 

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.