Collections Assistant, historic and contemporary Africa focus

Our Mission: Since the 1893 World Columbian Exposition, our organization has aimed to connect people to the natural environment and human history.

This is a full-time (35-hours per week), term position that will run until December 2027. The individual in this position may participate in aspects of the deinstallation of the Africa and Inside Ancient Egypt exhibition halls as well as in aspects of the development and preparation of a new Africa exhibition by providing support for the management and care of collections. In addition, this person will work with collections management to digitally image a portion of the collections from Africa. These images and their databasing will further promote these important collections by making them more accessible to cultural heritage communities, exhibition developers, researchers, and the public.

This person may also work closely with Anthropology collections and conservation staff to assist with collection housing, movement, and tracking, as well as data management. They may assist with research and cultural heritage visits, tours, and special events related to the exhibition. They may also provide support to collections management staff for their duties involving collections from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Pacific.

Duties And Responsibilities

• May assist staff with the de-installation, movement, and care of collections from the Africa and Inside Ancient Egypt exhibition halls. Assist staff with the movement and installation of collections into a new Africa exhibition hall.
• Handles, moves and digitally photographs a portion of the collections from Africa as well as processes and databases the resulting reference photographs.
• May house, organize, inventory, move, track, and store the Anthropology collections as appropriate. Consult with Collections Managers, Conservators and/or Cultural Representatives regarding safe handling and appropriate storage practices. Cultural protocols will be followed when appropriate.
• May conduct inventories of collection items and assist with the reintegration of de-installed collections from the former exhibition back into storage.
• Monitors movement of cultural items at all stages and is responsible for keeping the inventory database up-to-date. Consults with Collections Managers and the Head Registrar regarding the database and the accuracy of its information including working with staff to solve cataloging problems to improve the veracity and integrity of data in the collections records and database.
• May facilitate and assist with collections visits from researchers and community representatives.
• May record notes from research and heritage visitors relating to individual items. In consultation with appropriate community representatives, aids in recording traditional knowledge and guidelines for respectful care of cultural items.
• May improve and maintain storage conditions for the Anthropology Collections utilizing preventive conservation methods. May monitor Facilities projects in collections work and storage areas.
• May field and respond to inquiries from curators, other Museum staff, research scholars, descendant communities, and the public.
• May assist with heritage management and community engagement efforts, which may occur offsite and during non-regular work hours.
• Monitors collections for agents of deterioration including any emergency conditions such as leaks, pests, or other hazards. Participate in preventive care activities including IPM inspections, exhibit and collections walkthroughs, environmental monitoring, and the routine deep cleaning of collections spaces.
• May supervise volunteers, interns, and visitors using the Anthropology Collections, as required.
• Performs other collections-related activities as assigned.
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology, African Studies, or Museum Studies.
• At least one year museum collections experience.
• Experience with museum collection photography (including postproduction editing and databasing) required.
• High frequency of strenuous activity lifting heavy items, moving carts, using box cutters and hot melt glue guns to construct collection storage trays, etc.
• Ability to work alone or in a team situation required.
• Must be able to work with cultural items and records for long hours.
• Experience with and understanding of databases and museum cataloging practices.
• Experience working with descendant communities and material culture from Africa is highly desirable.
• Must be organized (able to work on a variety of tasks and keep track of what has been completed), detail-oriented (complete precise work), and self-motivated. Must be able to communicate effectively (able to structure ideas clearly and communicate them) and negotiate and resolve non-routine problems.
• Have excellent verbal and written communication skills to interact effectively with a wide range of internal and external parties, including curators, collections managers, conservators, interns, volunteers, community members, researchers, the public, service vendors, and other internal and external colleagues.
• Willingness to follow directions and procedures.
• An in-depth knowledge of accepted museum collections care practices and procedures is expected.
• Demonstrated computer proficiency with Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Adobe Bridge, Adobe Photoshop, and collections management databases. Working knowledge of EMu is highly desirable.
  
  

The Field Museum is an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination, embracing diversity, and fostering mutual respect. We value the unique perspectives each team member brings, which empowers our ability to innovate and overcome challenges.

At the Field Museum, we are dedicated to making our career website and recruitment process accessible to everyone. If you encounter any difficulty when using or accessing our online application, or if you need a reasonable accommodation for completing your application, participating in interviews, or any other part of the selection process, please reach out to us at accessibility@fieldmuseum.org.