Job Description
Job Title:
Project Manager - Ethnographic Collection #13657
Job ID:
13657
Location: Main Campus-Berkeley
Full/Part Time:
Full-Time
Department
Regular/Temporary:
PA Hearst Mus of Anthropology
Temporary
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Application Review Date
The First Review Date for this job is: March 31, 2012
Departmental Overview
The Museum was founded in 1901 by Phoebe Apperson Hearst, a visionary who saw the Hearst as the cultural cornerstone of one of the world’s leading research institutions.

Today, the Hearst Museum houses the oldest and largest anthropological collection in the Western U.S., preserving and interpreting a global record of material culture as represented by more than 3.8 million cataloged objects. The Museum aims to promote the history and diversity of human cultures through research, education, exhibitions and public programs.

The Phoebe Hearst Museum has received funds to relocate a substantial portion of its ethnographic and archaeological collections from campus to its off-site storage facility in Richmond. The Project Manager will have responsibility for overseeing the packing and relocation of ethnographic objects, primarily from Asia, Oceania and Africa that incorporate a broad range of organic and non-organic materials. The Project Manager will report to the Head of Collections and will interact with regular and temporary staff to organize collections for the move, oversee mount making, packing, photography and organize overall work flow. The incumbent may physically assist in the packing, movement tracking and re-location of objects at the new storage facility. The incumbent will have supervisory responsibilities for other temporary project staff which includes a photographer, head preparator and packing staff.
Responsibilities
Project Work Flow
- Working with permanent museum collections staff, develop procedures for the safe handling and transportation of artifacts including packing protocols and training materials
- Monitor & maintain supplies, anticipate when new supplies will be needed and notify Head of Collections
- Monitor and report on progress to the Head of Collections
- Supervise and provide guidance for packing staff on best approach to pack & palletize objects for transport
- Train & monitor packing staff in safe use of equipment
- Design and enforce object movement tracking systems
- Design object layouts in new storage furniture
- At new storage location, oversee and assist in safely unpacking & shelving objects; track new locations in database

Lead Responsibilities
- Under the overall supervision of the Head of Collections, train and assign daily tasks to project personnel
- Monitor quality and efficiency of project work
- Monitor and ensure safety of personnel and objects
- Informally evaluate performance and provide appropriate feedback including constructive criticism

Administrative Tasks
- Set goals and objectives, organize workflow to meet goals, prioritize daily operational activities, crises management, and work cooperatively with other collections staff
- Unpack, verify & shelve supplies shipments
- Ensure that there are clean, organized and safe work areas
- Under the general supervision of the Head of Collections, the incumbent is responsible for independently performing assigned responsibilities, exercising sound judgment and working cooperatively with all museum staff.
Required Qualifications
- A minimum of three years’ experience in project or department management in a museum.
- Experience with assessing object condition and stability.
- Experience developing and implementing collections management plans for safe storage and handling of fragile objects.
- Ability to work as part of a collections management team, sharing information and coordinating tasks.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Knowledge of collections management databases and ability to input and retrieve data.
- Ability to organize and prioritize daily operational activities.
- Ability to supervise paid staff, students, interns and volunteers.
- Must be able to lift 50 pounds, reach above shoulder height, climb ladders, and kneel at ground level. This will sometimes be a physically demanding position.
- Must have valid California driver’s license and be able and willing to drive the museum van (Econoline, no special license required)
- Graduation from college with specialization in the discipline involved and four years of experience in curatorial work, including one year in a supervisory capacity; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledge and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.
Preferred Qualifications
- Previous experience in a major museum collections move
- Experience working with archaeological and ethnographic collections
Salary & Benefits
Monthly: $4066 - $4578
Annual: $48,792 - 54,936
How to Apply
Please submit your cover letter and resume as a single attachment when applying.
Driving Required
A valid driver's license and DMV check for driving record is required.
Other Information
This is a full-time, 12-18 month position which is not subject to career conversion under Article 31, Positions/Appointments in the UC-UPTE Agreement, Section 3c.
Criminal Background Check
This position has been designated as sensitive and may require a Criminal Background Check. We reserve the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of a Criminal Background Check.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.