Collections Manager

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, always ready to explore new perspectives.

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: Full Time, 35 hours/week, fully onsite

The position’s primary workspace is at its Collection Center in South San Francisco with weekly duties at the Museum's Third Street location.

The Collections Manager has an essential role in realizing integrated collections stewardship for one of the most significant collections of modern and contemporary art. This position is primarily responsible for expert management and strategic use of physical art storage spaces at SFMOMA’s two facilities, and the movement of art between those facilities in ways that are in alignment with the museum’s strategic priorities and goals of the Collections Management department and the Collections, Exhibitions and Design (CED) division. They are a vital partner to the Director of Collections Management and colleagues in Collections in the long-term care, documentation, and accessibility of SFMOMA’s art collection, as well as loans to the Museum, including the Fisher Collection.

Reporting to the Director of Collections Management, this position directly manages a Collections Care and Access Team of staff based at both the Museum’s 151 Third Street location and Collections Center, including a team of preparators at the Collections Center.

A successful candidate will begin to learn the systems and practices of the Collections and CED teams over the first month to quarter with SFOMOMA, while fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment. This will include working with Registration, Conservation, and Exhibitions & Program Management to understand project needs and priorities. Within the first year the candidate will proactively further their institutional understanding, plan for and initiate future collections care and access projects and become a positive contributor to the successful completion of collection and exhibition-based activities.

Team Leadership

• Manage team members based at the Museum’s Third Street location and the Collections Center. Partner with the Director of Collections Management and other department managers in sustaining a collections management community where all experts have a productive forum to share ideas, best practices, and learning, so they have a deeper sense of belonging in collections care.
• 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 Collections Care and Access Team and larger Collections Management Department.    
• Build and foster a culture of safety, inclusivity, and equity, and support the personal and professional growth of individuals.    
• Work in a healthy and flexible management style that understands and adjusts to staff needs and supports strategic pursuits and sustainable workloads.   
• Nurture collaboration and partnership across teams with fluid communication and respect for diverse expertise that are essential to an art museum.    
• Support effective and efficient communication and workflows, prioritize activities, and ensure that the Collections Care and Access Team has the resources they need to do their jobs.    
• Model empathy and understanding, communicates clearly, and can explain the benefits of changing practices and behaviors to meet the needs of colleagues, teams, and projects.    
• 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. 
• Support the Museum’s strategic focus with processes and guardrails to ensure we move towards the same goals and pivot away from activities that do not support the strategy.     
• Represent the Museum through conference presentations, guest lecturing, committee work, mentoring, and publications.  

Art Storage and Access

• Plan and deliver integrated and strategic management and use of physical art storage at the Museum’s Third Street location and its Collections Center, using the highest standards of care, security, and sustainability, so that the art collection is as accessible as possible to the museum’s staff and audiences. 
• Oversee day-to-day management of art storage spaces at the Museum’s two facilities including maintenance and cleaning.
• Partner with the Head Preparator on additional art handling support needed for either location.
• Partner with Conservation and Facilities to maintain appropriate storage climate conditions, integrated pest management, and housekeeping programs.
• Partner with the Director of Collections Management to plan and manage short- and long-term art storage organization projects to maximize the best use of spaces, including utilizing off-site storage and digital art storage systems.
• Partner with colleagues in Collections Management, Registration, and Conservation to implement integrated best practices for art access, housing, matting, framing, storage, and movement.
• Collaborate with colleagues across the Museum to encourage and support art access and use, cross-disciplinary research, and creative engagement with the art collection.
• Oversee safe maintenance and practice in our Collections Center woodshop and other workspaces.

Art Management and Documentation:

• Spearhead regular and periodic audits, surveys, and inventories of the collection and associated documentation.
• Research and reconcile discrepancies in identification, numbering, and locations.
• Contribute information and documentation to the Museum’s collections management and digital asset management systems.
• Document and track artwork condition, working cross-departmentally when a condition issue needs attention.
• Work closely with related staff to oversee the coordination and execution of the contracted weekly art shuttle between the Museum's Third Street location and the Collections Center. The Collections Manager assists team members in resolving shuttle related issues when needed, including the approval of canceling or booking additional shuttle days.
• Ensure consistent application of the Museum’s standards, policies, and procedures for art preparation, handling, rehousing, storage, installation/deinstallation, and transit. Draft and contribute to additional policies and procedures as needed to ensure alignment with contemporary museum standards and SFMOMA strategies.
• Manage and prioritize collection housing projects.

Administration

• Manage CC Preparator weekly schedule, project assignments, and tasks.
• Develop and support effective and efficient workflows, prioritize activities, and ensure that the team has the resources they need.
• Prepare budgets related to storage, housing, and movement of art.
• Track and report on data related to collections growth, art location, use, and movement.
• Develop, update, and implement policies related to Collections Management in partnership with the Director of Collections Management.

• Bachelor’s degree in Museum Studies, Art Conservation, Art History, or related discipline.  Possession of an advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum five (5) years of related experience in museum registration and/or collections management, with collection experience essential. Experience working with Fine Art Collections preferred.
• Minimum of three (3) years of direct supervisory experience.   
• Collections management expertise with thorough knowledge of registration methods and significant experience in applying collections care principles in modern and contemporary art museums.
• Knowledge of conservation concepts, procedures, and terms. 
• Knowledge of crating, packing, and transportation methods.
• Outstanding management and supervisory skills, a desire to work in and lead a team-oriented environment, a high level of initiative, creative and flexible problem-solving skills, and the ability to direct and motivate staff.
• Ability to maintain a sense of focus and calm under pressure, with challenging or changing deadlines.
• Detail-oriented and accustomed to utilizing a variety of tools to track and report the status of projects.   
• Proficiency working with collections management systems. 
• Proficiency with Microsoft applications (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and Asana or other project management software platforms.

The position’s primary workspace is at its Collection Center in South San Francisco with weekly duties at the Museum's Third Street location.

• Must be able to visually inspect artwork.
• Must be able to lift 20 lbs. 

Location: San Francisco, 151 3rd Street. 

Benefits: PTO, Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending Accounts, Pet Insurance, Life and AD&D Coverage, Disability Insurance, Mental Health and Wellness Benefits, Discount Programs, Pre-Tax Commuter Benefits, 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan, SFMOMA Membership, and more