Website Tennessee State Museum
SUMMARY
Under direct supervision, the Museum Assistant Registrar is responsible for the documentation
and location of the museum collection through accessions, cataloging, loans, packaging,
storage, research, maintenance, and other related matters for the protection of the collection.
May also have supervisory responsibilities. This class differs from the Museum Registrar
position in that the latter would have the full responsibility of the collection management.
RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Responsible for adhering to museum standards set forth in the State Museum’s Collections
Management Policy and other state policies in performance of job duties.
2. Assists with the management of the museum collection, conducting periodic inventories of
the collection, and ensuring that the database records are up to date with the location and
inventory.
3. Assists with new acquisitions to the museum collection by ensuring the completion
appropriate documentation.
4. Assists with monitoring physical object storage spaces and workspaces and addresses any
issues.
5. Assists with the regular cleaning of exposed artifacts on exhibit according to museum
standards.
6. Responsible for the monitoring of environmental conditions of all storage and exhibit
locations and coordinates with appropriate departments to correct any issues to ensure the long-term safety of the collection.
7. Assists with the management of outgoing and incoming object loans with outside
institutions and designated State facilities. Assists with the review of facility report from
institutions requesting loans.
8. Responsible for the preparation and execution of loan agreements and preparation of
condition reports for all incoming and outgoing objects.
9. Coordinate with inter-departments for object handling and movement, such as for exhibit
installation and deinstallation, or photographing objects. Participate on exhibit design
teams to provide support for choosing and assessing appropriate objects from the
collection.
10. Assists with the transportation of objects for exhibitions, loans, or new acquisitions, either by acting as a courier or soliciting estimates from professional art handlers.
11. Operate pallet jack, forklift, box truck, and other institutional vehicles or equipment. May
pack and unpack crates and other containers.
12. Responsible for monitoring supply inventories and making recommendations for purchase.
13. May perform supervisory duties including hiring, training, evaluations, developing direct
reports, performance coaching, and other administrative functions in compliance with
guidelines provided by the Tennessee Department of Human Resources.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a
bachelor’s degree and experience equivalent to two years in one or a combination of the
following: any professional museum work, including the preservation of artifacts or the
management of historic sites; professional work teaching art, history, or museum science; the
maintenance of library collections; or exhibit design work.
Preferred degree may include, Museum studies, public history, art, art history, history, library
and information science, anthropology, and archaeology.
Substitution of Experience for Education: Qualifying experience in professional museum work including the preservation of artifacts or the management of historic sites; professional work
teaching art, history, or museum science; the maintenance of library collections; or exhibit
design work may substitute for the required education, on a year for year basis, to a maximum
of four years.
NECESSARY SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS: Complete a background clearance application which
includes releasing all records involving any criminal history and a valid motor vehicle operator’s
license is required.
Ability to lift and move objects more than 50 pounds.
Ability to use hand tools, power tools, and other equipment for fabrication.
The salary for this position is $4,517- $4,800 monthly, plus state benefits.
Applications accepted March 18 – March 31, 2025
The procedure to apply for any future positions at the Museum is to follow the procedures set by the Dept. of Human Resources for the State of Tennessee. Below you will find a link that leads to its website:
To Apply: Go to https://www.tn.gov/careers.html and Choose Apply Here > External or Internal Candidates > Search (“State Museum”)