Texas Association of Museums · 3 months ago
Collections Manager | Houston, TX
Houston, TX
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
$90K/yr - $98K/yr
5+ years expTexas Association of Museums is dedicated to space exploration education and experiences. They are seeking a Collections Manager responsible for the strategic oversight and leadership of the care, documentation, and preservation of Space Center Houston’s collections, ensuring compliance with professional standards and supporting various institutional initiatives.
Museums & Institutions
Responsibilities
Lead the development, implementation, and ongoing refinement of collections management policies, procedures, and workflows to ensure accountability, compliance, and professional standards
Oversee accessioning, deaccessioning, and loan programs, ensuring decisions align with institutional priorities, ethical guidelines, and stakeholder agreements
Establish priorities for conservation, rehousing, digitization, and collection moves in consultation with senior leadership
Direct environmental monitoring, risk management, and disaster preparedness strategies for collections
Ensure accuracy, consistency, and integrity of all collection’s records across physical and digital platforms
Approve and oversee cataloging, provenance research, condition assessments, and conservation activities carried out by staff, contractors, or consultants
Monitor and evaluate reports, incident documentation, and collections data for leadership and board committees
Oversee the management of archives, past exhibition records, and institutional documentation
Develop and manage the collections care and conservation budget, monitoring expenditures and resource needs
Supervise, mentor, and evaluate interns, contractors, and volunteers, fostering professional growth and accountability
Coordinate and oversee contracts with conservators and service providers, ensuring quality and timely deliverables
Collaborate with curatorial, exhibitions, education, and guest operations teams to support integration of collections into exhibitions and programming
Serve as the primary collections representative to donors, lenders, committees, and external partners
Prepare reports and present recommendations to the Collections Committee and senior leadership
Maintain current knowledge of museum standards, legal regulations, and emerging practices in collections care and conservation
Represent Space Center Houston at professional conferences, networks, and external forums to enhance institutional visibility and strengthen partnerships
Other responsibilities as assigned
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in museum studies, history, a related field, or work experience in a similar or related position
Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible experience in collections management, with demonstrated leadership in documentation, preservation, and policy development
Strong knowledge of museum registration practices, artifact handling, conservation methods, and ethical standards
Experience managing budgets, supervising staff or interns, and overseeing contractors
Proficiency with collections database systems (Axiell preferred) and Microsoft Office applications; familiarity with project management software (e.g., Asana) a plus
Strong organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills, with ability to manage multiple priorities
Experience engaging with donors, lenders, and professional networks
Ability to climb ladders, stairways, and access spaces with a minimum of 18” clearance
Ability to kneel, bend and work at floor level as required
Ability to lift and carry up to 35 lbs. independently
Company
Texas Association of Museums
TAM serves our museum community by nurturing and training museum leaders, developing and celebrating the field, and voicing the public worth of museums.
2-10 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageCompany data provided by crunchbase