About this role:
The USGA Golf Museum and Library, the nation’s first sports museum, preserves and celebrates the history of the game to enhance the enjoyment of golfers, golf fans, and sports fans worldwide. The collection of more than 80,000 artifacts, nearly 1 million photographs, a library of more than 100,000 volumes and a robust video archive support ongoing efforts to bring to life 600 years of golf history through collections stewardship, education, outreach and scholarship. The Museum is located at USGA headquarters in Liberty Corner, N.J. The World Golf Hall of Fame showcases artifacts, images and stories at its home in Pinehurst, N.C., as well as through the Hall’s website and social media channels.
The Collections Manager of the USGA Golf Museum and World Golf Hall of Fame leads and executes the management of the Museum collection, including its documentation, preservation, presentation and refinement, while meeting the highest professional standards. S/he oversees the registration, cataloging, movement, safekeeping, storage and conservation of all USGA Golf Museum and World Golf Hall of Fame artifacts. S/he strategizes all aspects of collections care, management and preservation initiatives.
Reporting to the Senior Director of the USGA Golf Museum, the Collections Manager will play an important role in strategizing the growth and care of the collections.
What you'll do:
Collections Management, Registration and Care
- Oversees day-to-day activities related to stewardship and care of the collections
- Supports the registration processes for artifact acquisitions, including receipt, accessioning, condition reporting and cataloging of collections objects
- Assists with the acquisition, deaccession, loan and exhibition of the collections
- Manages collections storage spaces and oversees the professional and secure storage and handling of objects
- Ensures that objects are safely stored in accordance with best practices, undertakes environmental monitoring, develops and maintains security protocols
- Coordinates, schedules and packs objects;monitors them for safe and responsible movement
- Documents best practices, proposes solutions to achieve continuous improvement and oversees disaster planning and emergency preparedness for all collections
- Develops and implements a long-range plan to gain intellectual and physical control over the museum’s satellite collections, including creating and updating collections records in the catalog, identifying conservation issues and recommending items for deaccession
- Trains staff on collections care, handling, and preventative conservation as needed
- Participates in special projects related to improving the museum’s care of and public’s access to collections materials
Exhibitions
- Works collaboratively with all museum staff in exhibit preparation, including object research, selection and installation
- Manages the safe movement and tracking of artifacts between the museum’s various exhibition and storage locations
- Oversees documentation and records ofobject loans
- Assists in ensuring insurance coverage for all incoming and outgoing object loans
- Supports traveling exhibits at USGA championships
Administrative
- Develops and maintains collections care handbook documenting policies, procedures, workflows, guidelines for proper handling and cataloging practices to ensure all activities meet best practices and industry standards
- Monitors and analyzes current trends and industry best practices; actively participates in professional development
- Trains and/or supervises collections interns, contract conservators and volunteers
- Performs other duties, as assigned, to accomplish the goals of the association
Where you'll be:
- This role will be based at the USGA Golf Museum and Library at our campus in Liberty Corner, NJ.
What you bring:
- 7+ years of experience working with museum collections
- Certificate, master’s degree or other specialist credentials in Museum Studies or related field required
- Demonstrated experience managing the care, preservation, and documentation of museum collections, especially in museum registration, object handling and housing, loan procedures and exhibition installation
- Extensive knowledge of professional museum principles, practices and procedures, especially in collections management, registration and research required
- An interest in history and material culture required
- An ability to work effectively and in a timely manner on a wide variety of projects concurrently
- Exceptional organizational and communication skills required
- Ability to work collaboratively and in a self-directed capacity
What the USGA brings:
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, including a zero cost medical plan offered for all full-time employees
- Retirement plans, with a generous annual contribution from the USGA
- Suite of programs to promote physical, emotional, and financial well-being
- Generous bank of paid time off, plus the week between Christmas and New Years Day off
- Off-site team building events
- On-site gym and golf simulator
- Professional development opportunities
The USGA is an equal opportunity employer. Our organization believes we are stronger by embracing our diverse backgrounds and perspectives, promoting equity so all teammates can excel and grow in their careers, and fostering experiences to drive inclusion in our workplace and game. Golf is a game for everyone, and you are always welcome.
