Assistant Registrar

Department

Museum Registration

About the Department

The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures of the University of Chicago is an interdisciplinary research center that integrates archaeological, textual, linguistic, and art historical data to understand the development and functioning of the ancient civilizations of West Asia and North Africa from the earliest Holocene through the Medieval period. We achieve this by conducting archaeological excavations, text-based research, artifact analyses, the development of new research methodologies, the stewardship of systematic archival and museum collections as research resources, and the development of fundamental research tools such as dictionaries of ancient languages.
We communicate our research to the scholarly community through the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures’ (and other) publications and to the general public through our museum exhibits and our programs of outreach and education.
Our goal is to be the world’s leading center for the study of the ancient civilizations of West Asia and North Africa by combining innovation in theory, methodology, and significant empirical discovery with the highest standards of rigorous scholarship.

Job Summary

The Assistant Registrar reports to the Museum Registrar and the Museum Director and leads the ISAC Museum's imaging and rights and permissions program. The role produces still images and video of the collections for the online database, catalogs, and ISAC's public media channels. It also manages internal and external image requests, along with the archival and administrative work those requests involve. The Assistant Registrar develops and enforces the policies that govern how collection imagery and publications are used, monitors the use of copyrighted material, and keeps thorough records.
The position also supports the wider Registration Department with loans, exhibitions, classes, transit, and storage. That includes helping register objects from ancient West Asia and North Africa: assigning numbers and labels, rehousing objects, entering records in the collections database, and photographing objects. The role also helps shape policies on loans, accessioning, and deaccessioning.

Responsibilities

• Manages daily internal and external photograph requests, integrates images into the online database and website, and coordinates archival digitization upon request. Registers all images in the collections database.
• Produces still images and video of the collections for ISAC’s online database, catalogs, and media channels.

• Manages ISAC’s rights and permissions policies and monitors the use of copyrighted museum and archives collection imagery and publications.

• Develops and implements photo request and rights and permissions procedures, ensures compliance, and maintains a robust recordkeeping protocol for image requests and permissions.

• Registers and documents collection objects, including numbering, labeling, rehousing, and cataloging objects in the collections database.

• Supports loans and object movement. Helps coordinate the safe movement of collections for loans, exhibitions, and classes. This includes preparing condition and location records, tracking objects in transit, and helping implement policies on loans.

• Monitors storage conditions for temperature, humidity, and pests, maintaining the related logs, and reporting problems to the Museum Registrar and Conservation staff.

• With moderate guidance from others, implements procedures to ensure compliance with museum policies.

• Analyzes and interprets loans, including preparing and reviewing loan budgets and contracts, shipping, and insurance.

• Performs maintenance of storage areas, collection records and databases with a moderate level of guidance and direction.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Proficiency in museum collections management.
• Familiarity with copyright, image licensing, and rights and permissions practices.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Knowledge of photography, including digital photography.
• Proficiency with photo editing software, including Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
• Familiarity with collections management software platforms.
• Prior experience at a nonprofit, museum, or archaeological institute, or in similar organizations.

Preferred Competencies

• Excellent organizational and task-management skills.

• High attention to detail and follow-through.

• Ability to handle confidential information with the utmost discretion and tact.

• Strong interpersonal and technical skills.

• Ability to work in a busy, diverse setting and manage multiple activities and priorities simultaneously.

Working Conditions

• This is a hybrid, primarily on-site role that currently allows remote work of up to (1) day per week.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)

• Examples of photographic work (required)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.
When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Museum & Arts

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$56,000.00 - $62,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

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