Title: Collections Assistant

State Role Title: Media Specialist II

Hiring Range: $18.00 an hour

Pay Band: 3

Agency: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Location: MAIN MUSEUM

Agency Website: https://www.vmfa.museum/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

About Virginia Museum of Fine Arts: 

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond is one of the largest comprehensive art museums in the United States. VMFA’s growing encyclopedic collection houses more than 50,000 works of art spanning 6,000 years of world history.  

Our holdings include the largest public collection of Fabergé outside of Russia, the finest collection of Art Nouveau outside of Paris and one of the nation’s finest collections of American art. VMFA is also home to important collections of Chinese art, English silver, French Impressionism, Postimpressionism, British sporting art, and modern and contemporary art, as well as renowned South Asian, Himalayan, and African art. 

Recently named the 11th-best art museum in the United States by The Washington Post, VMFA is the only US art museum open 365 days a year with free general admission. 

VMFA is a state-supported, privately endowed educational institution created for the benefit of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its purpose is to collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret art, to encourage the study of the arts, and thus to enrich the lives of all.

About the Collections Management department:

The Collections Management department plays a vital role in the preservation and presentation of all objects and paintings in the care, custody, and control of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Members of the department are responsible for the safe handling of the art, its storage, data management, and provenance research.

Position Overview:

We are currently seeking applications for organized individuals who are attentive to detail and comfortable with computer databases to join our Collections Management Department as a Collections Assistant. This is a temporary position lasting for up to nine months from the date of hire.

This position plays a critical role in tracking and documenting the art during the large collection move that the museum is currently planning in anticipation of the museum expansion and the opening of the new offsite storage facility. We are looking for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities and who works really well on a team; is able to pivot quickly between projects to meet urgent business needs; demonstrates the ability to adapt to new methods quickly; can proactively identify potential roadblocks and help to develop creative, robust solutions; is comfortable initiating structure when needed; and with high-level direction.

Key Responsibilities:

• Utilizing The Museum System (TMS) and other computer programs for data management, communication, scheduling, and tracking movement in the galleries.
• This position will also include occasional light art handling and other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Familiar with and comfortable using databases, preferably TMS or another museum-specific database
• Demonstrated skill in the handling and transportation of art according to best practices and industry standards
• Attentive to detail and highly organized
• Exercises good judgment, flexibility, and willingness to adapt to shifting priorities and deadlines
• Effective communication skills, both oral and written
• Ability to maintain professionalism while working under stress
• Experience working as a member of a team and independently
• Ability to lift 50 lbs.

Additional Considerations:

Prior experience working with museum databases, as a Collections Assistant, Registrar, or Art Handler a plus.

Additional Information: 

This role is non-exempt under the FLSA. 

Special Instructions: 

Please provide three professional references, including their full name, phone number, and email address. References should be able to speak to your qualifications for the position and may be included in your resume or cover letter or attached separately in the portal’s "other" field. 

You will be provided with confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position. 
 
VMFA is a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Certified Employer. Diverse and inclusive hiring practices are at the heart of what we do at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. 

Contact Information 

For the most up-to-date status of your application, please refer to your Jobs.Virginia.Gov account.  

Name: VMFA Human Resources Department 

Email: recruitment@vmfa.museum for recruitment-related questions. 

Phone: We do not provide application status updates via phone. 

All applicants must submit an online application. This position will close at 11:55 pm EST on the designated closing date listed at the top of this posting on Jobs.Virginia.gov. Emailed applications, resumes, or cover letters will not be accepted. 

Conditions of Employment:   

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check. 
 
E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization. 

Equal Opportunity Employer

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.