Description

The Indiana University (IU) Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (IUMAA) is Indiana University's newest museum. The IUMAA takes aspects of the former Mathers Museum of World Cultures and the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology and combines them into 1 cohesive experience. With an impactful long-term vision focusing on purposeful storytelling, stewarding collections, and bringing these items to communities, the IUMAA thoughtfully houses and displays over 5 million artifacts that span across a broad range of the human experience. The IUMAA is accessible for research as well as teaching and is culturally connected to our broader community through partnerships with Indigenous communities, advisory boards, and other IUMAA community members.

Job Summary

The Collections Manager, Archaeology is a member of the curatorial and collections team. The Manager will work collaboratively with the Collections Manager, Ethnography, the curatorial team, descendant communities, the IU Office of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), and IU faculty to build collections access policies/procedures, research pathways, and active consultations procedures for the wide variety of anthropology collections. The Collections Manager will ensure descendant community requests are honored, respected, and integrated in collection management procedures for the associated items.

Department Specific Responsibilities

• Partners interdepartmentally and across disciplines to manage collections and support research, curation, the development of collections access policies, repatriation, and the implementation of shared-stewardship and culturally conscious conservation models in the archaeology collections.
• Reports directly to the Director of Curatorial Affairs, and closely collaborates with the Executive Director, Curator of Midwest Archaeology, and the grant writing and external communications department. Works closely with operations, the learning and community engagement team, students, and researchers.
• Leads efforts to document and catalog archaeology artifacts using digital cataloging systems, including detailed descriptions, provenance, condition reports, and photographs.
• Updates and maintains detailed and accessible records on the Museum's past and current outreach, notification, consultation, and repatriation processes with Indigenous communities (NAGPRA/non-NAGPRA/international). Works with department staff as necessary to create procedures that maintain intellectual control of this information.
• Implements policies and procedures for repatriations, acquisition, deaccessions, restitution, cataloging, handling, storage, and maintenance of archaeology collections.
• Ensures compliance with ethical and legal standards for the repatriation, acquisition, and management of cultural materials, materials on loan, artifacts, and state/local materials.
• Maintains accurate and comprehensive records of collections, adhering to museum standards, stewardship policies, and practices.
• Collaborates with curators, conservation specialists, and descendant communities to assess and address the conservation and stewardship needs of artifacts.
• Develops and implements strategies to mitigate environmental risks, prevent deterioration, and align with the stewardship protocols and guidelines indicated by the descendant community, if applicable.
• Supports the interpretive planning team, curators, exhibit designers, and educators to develop innovative, engaging, and dynamic exhibitions and displays as needed.
• Assists and collaborates in the selection and arrangement of artifacts, interpretive materials, and multimedia elements within the archaeology collections.
• Provides access to collections for descendant communities, tribal consultants, IU NAGPRA, researchers, scholars, and students in alignment with the goals of the Museum and the collection access policies.
• Manages and maintains the IUMAA collections in alignment with the Collections Management policies and procedures.
• Manages and maintains all the records, recording, stewardship, and associated tasks with federal, faculty, and other external collections that IUMAA stewards in partnership with the Museum Registrar.
• Partners with the Museum Registrar to manage the loan of archaeology objects to other IU units or external institutions, ensuring proper documentation, handling, and transportation.
• Collaborates with other museums, cultural organizations, and Indigenous communities to enhance collections management policies and procedures.
• Approaches the management of archaeology collections with sensitivity and awareness of the ethical considerations involved in working with culturally sensitive materials and communities harmed by the Museum, and the colonial legacy of anthropology, academia, and the museum field at large.
• Collaborates with the learning and community engagement team to support scholarly and public engagement by sharing insights on collections as needed.
• Manages part-time, practicum, and student workers professional growth at the museum while also meeting their work deliverables in collections.
• Trains and supervises collections assistants, interns, and volunteers in all routine collections and curation activities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

General Responsibilities

• Creates and manages the database for collection records which includes processing, photographing, cataloging, and locating all incoming exhibits in the museum system.
• Generates reports depending on the need and information entered. These reports are needed to list object locations for inventory purposes, to provide the object's information for gift documentation, to provide collection and statistical data, and financial information as requested by the budgetary team.
• Oversees arrangements and documentation for new acquisitions and registration aspects of incoming and outgoing artwork, artifacts, and collections loans, including working with donors and lenders and preparing outgoing and incoming loan documentation and receipts. Provides rights and reproductions documentation when requested and coordinates with photographers for high-resolution images. Manages paper and digital files and creates forms as needed to ensure efficient workflow.
• Assists with budget and strategic planning.
• Coordinates with Information Technology (IT) to ensure collections database and multimedia servers are maintained and ensures staff technology requirements are satisfied. Oversees collections storage security by monitoring humidity and temperature fluctuations and ensuring a secure environment for collections and staff, pest management, Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC), and cleaning personnel.
• Inventories collections, manages student workers, maintains statistical data, updates conservation records with conservation treatment reports provided by independent conservators, attends training, and trains users. Coordinates with moving and setups and other collections handlers to ensure the safe transportation of artwork, artifacts, and collections.
• May provide guidance and delegate administrative tasks to other museum services staff.
• May make process recommendations for improved operational efficiency.

Qualifications

Combinations of related education and experience may be considered. Education beyond the minimum required may be substituted for work experience. Work experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted for education.

EDUCATION
Required

• Bachelor's degree in museum services or related field

Preferred

• Master's degree in archaeology, museum studies, library sciences, collections management, cultural studies, or related field

WORK EXPERIENCE
Required

• 2 years in museum services or related field

Preferred

• 3 years of experience in a museum, library, archive, cultural center, or similar organization with a focus on collections management/stewardship and/or repatriation
• Experience in conservation and care, inventory, environmental monitoring, loan agreement processing, and community centered consultations

SKILLS
Required

• Proficient communication skills
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism
• Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality
• Possesses flexibility to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Seeks to acquire knowledge in area of specialty
• Highly thorough and dependable
• Demonstrates a high level of accuracy, even under pressure

Preferred

• Demonstrated experience with documentation review and management practices, including a working knowledge of collection databases (FileMaker preferred) and registration practices
• Demonstrated experience with midwestern archaeology, archaeological field work, and historical legacy and contemporary presence and importance of Indigenous mounds and archaeological sites
• Demonstrated experience with collections care, stewardship, and management of expansive international archaeology collection
• Understanding of United States domestic laws relating to museums, repatriation, museum collections, and/or international repatriation laws and loan agreements
• Demonstrated understanding of the colonial legacy of museums, anthropology, and academia and the complexity of colonization's impact on Indigenous communities (domestic and international)
• Demonstrated experience working directly with Indigenous communities navigating colonial histories and (re)building sustainable transparent relationships
• Experience in assisting with complex, sensitive, or confidential projects, including a demonstrated ability to listen and work empathetically with a wide range of people
• Understanding of museum practices that create a welcoming environment for all visitors
• Demonstrated experience and ability to achieve deliverables while working collaboratively and independently without close supervision within tight deadlines
• Collaborative and autonomous approach with a focus on keeping the entire team updated
• Dynamic museum professional with a passion and dedication for collections care

Working Conditions / Demands

This role requires the ability to effectively communicate and to operate a computer and other standard office productivity equipment. The position involves sedentary work as well as periods of time moving around an office environment and the campus. The position requires moving up to 40 pounds. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.

Work Location

Bloomington, Indiana
This is an in-person position.

Advertised Salary

Up to $60,000 annually, based on experience.

Benefits Overview

For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:

• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
• Health savings account with generous IU contributions
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Basic group life insurance paid by IU
• Voluntary supplemental life, long-term disability, critical illness, and supplemental accidental death & dismemberment insurance
• Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject to vesting
• Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IU courses
• 10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year
• Generous paid time off plans
• Paid leave for new parents and IU-sponsored volunteer events
• Employee assistance program (EAP)

Learn more about our benefits by reviewing the IU Benefit Programs Brochure .

Job Classification

Career Level: Career
FLSA: Exempt
Job Function: Educational Resources & Tech
Job Family: Museum Services
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Posting Disclaimer

This posting is scheduled to close at 11:59 pm EST on the advertised Close Date. This posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University, but will remain open for a minimum of 5 business days. To guarantee full consideration, please submit your application within 5 business days of the Posted Date.
If you wish to include a cover letter, you may include it with your resume when uploading attachments.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring. See Indiana University Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information .

Campus Safety and Security

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, containing policy statements, crime and fire statistics for all Indiana University campuses, is available online . You may also request a physical copy by emailing IU Public Safety at iups@iu.edu or by visiting IUPD.