Museum technician job description
Updated March 14, 2024
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Example museum technician requirements on a job description
Museum technician requirements can be divided into technical requirements and required soft skills. The lists below show the most common requirements included in museum technician job postings.
Sample museum technician requirements
- Bachelor's degree in museum studies, history, art history, or related field.
- Minimum of two years of experience in a museum or related field.
- Strong knowledge of museum collection management procedures.
- Ability to identify conservation needs for artifacts.
- Ability to work with digital databases and spreadsheets.
Sample required museum technician soft skills
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Strong organizational and time management skills.
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
- Attention to detail and accuracy.
- Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
Museum technician job description example 1
Detroit Institute of Arts museum technician job description
JOB TITLE: Museum Technician I
DEPARTMENT: Collections Management
REPORTS TO: Director of Collections Management
CLASSIFICATION: Full-Time, Non-Exempt
GENERAL SUMMARY
Under the direction and guidance of the Director of Collections Management, the Museum Technician I works to ensure that artworks in the DIA collection, as well as objects belonging to other institutions under the care of the DIA, are properly handled, installed and displayed, tracked and monitored, packed, and stored.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
+ Handle, move and prepare art for storage, gallery display, exhibitions, and loans.
+ Install and deinstall art objects in galleries and exhibitions.
+ Participate in the regular cleaning, repair and maintenance of exhibit galleries, art and non-art displays, and display furniture.
+ Crate, pack and unpack art for storage, transportation, and gallery/exhibitions.
+ Work with the Director of Collections Management and department team members to plan and execute daily tasks and special projects. Assist department team leaders in organizing and executing workflow.
+ Participate in the maintenance, organization and monitoring of collection storage areas.
+ Facilitate collection documentation and image processing.
+ Update the collection's digital database.
+ Perform daily checks of all art storage spaces, climate conditions and pest monitoring. Respond to any issues detected as required.
+ Work with contractors and representatives from other museums to complete gallery/exhibition projects.
+ Assists with museum projects and special events.
+ Perform other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, Art History, Museum Studies or related field. Three (3) years of experience in art handling and working in a museum/gallery, including one (1) year of art installation. Experience with Photoshop and digital databases, and the ability to understand blueprints, technical drawings and exhibition design plans. Additional years of experience may be substituted for degree requirement.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
+ Ability to work occasional weekend and evening hours for special events (If needed) .
+ Must be proficient in latest version of Office 365.
+ Must have proficiency in the use of remote work technology such as scheduling with, connecting to, and using digital collaboration platforms such as Microsoft Teams.
+ TMS (The Museum System) digital data base experience is preferred.
+ Ability to pass Scissor lift and forklift certification training, and to pass TSA certification testing.
+ Knowledge and expertise include, AAM standards for art handling and museum practices, AAMD policy for deaccessioning
+ Ability to operate shop machinery and power tools including drills, wall mounted saws and table saws.
+ Familiarity with media and techniques used in art making, familiarity with materials and methods used in carpentry.
+ General understanding of digital photography
+ Organizational skills
+ Interpersonal skills
+ Communication skills (oral/written)
+ Creative thinking and problem-solving skills
+ Ability to multi-task
+ Research skills
+ Self-motivated
+ Attention to accuracy and detail
+ Ability to work in a methodical manner
+ Sense of collections stewardship
+ Cultural sensitivity and ethical responsibility
+ Ability to work with sensitive material and maintain confidentiality
+ Team player
+ Leadership skills
+ Artistic eye and ability
+ Energetic and enthusiastic
+ Ability to prioritize multiple time-sensitive tasks
+ Ability to work with distractions
+ Must be able to establish and maintain professional, productive and courteous interactions that promote positive teamwork. This encompasses going beyond giving and receiving instructions and includes but is not limited to (a) performing work activities requiring interacting or speaking with others; and (b) responding appropriately to constructive feedback or suggestions for improvement from a supervisor.
DEPARTMENT: Collections Management
REPORTS TO: Director of Collections Management
CLASSIFICATION: Full-Time, Non-Exempt
GENERAL SUMMARY
Under the direction and guidance of the Director of Collections Management, the Museum Technician I works to ensure that artworks in the DIA collection, as well as objects belonging to other institutions under the care of the DIA, are properly handled, installed and displayed, tracked and monitored, packed, and stored.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
+ Handle, move and prepare art for storage, gallery display, exhibitions, and loans.
+ Install and deinstall art objects in galleries and exhibitions.
+ Participate in the regular cleaning, repair and maintenance of exhibit galleries, art and non-art displays, and display furniture.
+ Crate, pack and unpack art for storage, transportation, and gallery/exhibitions.
+ Work with the Director of Collections Management and department team members to plan and execute daily tasks and special projects. Assist department team leaders in organizing and executing workflow.
+ Participate in the maintenance, organization and monitoring of collection storage areas.
+ Facilitate collection documentation and image processing.
+ Update the collection's digital database.
+ Perform daily checks of all art storage spaces, climate conditions and pest monitoring. Respond to any issues detected as required.
+ Work with contractors and representatives from other museums to complete gallery/exhibition projects.
+ Assists with museum projects and special events.
+ Perform other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, Art History, Museum Studies or related field. Three (3) years of experience in art handling and working in a museum/gallery, including one (1) year of art installation. Experience with Photoshop and digital databases, and the ability to understand blueprints, technical drawings and exhibition design plans. Additional years of experience may be substituted for degree requirement.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
+ Ability to work occasional weekend and evening hours for special events (If needed) .
+ Must be proficient in latest version of Office 365.
+ Must have proficiency in the use of remote work technology such as scheduling with, connecting to, and using digital collaboration platforms such as Microsoft Teams.
+ TMS (The Museum System) digital data base experience is preferred.
+ Ability to pass Scissor lift and forklift certification training, and to pass TSA certification testing.
+ Knowledge and expertise include, AAM standards for art handling and museum practices, AAMD policy for deaccessioning
+ Ability to operate shop machinery and power tools including drills, wall mounted saws and table saws.
+ Familiarity with media and techniques used in art making, familiarity with materials and methods used in carpentry.
+ General understanding of digital photography
+ Organizational skills
+ Interpersonal skills
+ Communication skills (oral/written)
+ Creative thinking and problem-solving skills
+ Ability to multi-task
+ Research skills
+ Self-motivated
+ Attention to accuracy and detail
+ Ability to work in a methodical manner
+ Sense of collections stewardship
+ Cultural sensitivity and ethical responsibility
+ Ability to work with sensitive material and maintain confidentiality
+ Team player
+ Leadership skills
+ Artistic eye and ability
+ Energetic and enthusiastic
+ Ability to prioritize multiple time-sensitive tasks
+ Ability to work with distractions
+ Must be able to establish and maintain professional, productive and courteous interactions that promote positive teamwork. This encompasses going beyond giving and receiving instructions and includes but is not limited to (a) performing work activities requiring interacting or speaking with others; and (b) responding appropriately to constructive feedback or suggestions for improvement from a supervisor.
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Updated March 14, 2024
Updated March 14, 2024