What are the responsibilities and job description for the Collections Assistant position at Montana State University?
The Museum of the Rockies (MOR) holds one of the state’s most extensive cultural history collections, with over 300,000 archaeology, fine arts, ethnographic, and historical artifacts in its care. This position assists the Registrar & Collections Manager in overseeing and implementing the care and stewardship of MOR’s cultural history collections.
Duties and Responsibilities
Primary Responsibilities
- Object care. Assists the Registrar and Collections Manager in providing the appropriate physical conditions for objects in storage and ensuring physical safety of objects in the collection and loaned objects, both on exhibit and in storage.
- Inventory and object tracking. Assists the Registrar and Collections Manager with the cataloging and tracking of objects in the collection. This responsibility includes preparing object records and condition reports, research, updating the museum’s electronic database, and assisting with inventory.
- Assists with the deinstallation and installation of traveling and in-house exhibitions.
- Departmental projects. Assists the Registrar and Collections Manager with the completion of the department’s major projects as assigned. Recent/current examples include policy updates, digitization, NAGPRA, and inventory.
Secondary Responsibilities
- Represents the museum and the department in public and professional settings.
- Serves as a resource on questions related to the history collection and collections care and management to students, researchers, other museum professionals, and the general public.
Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
- Bachelor’s degree (B.S. or B.A. in Museum Studies, History, Anthropology, Archaeology, Art History, or a related field) plus 2 years or more of progressively responsible collections management and/or museum registration experience.
- Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with museum registration and collections management techniques, techniques for handling objects, and storage practices.
- 1 year of caring for textile, ethnographic, historic, archaeological, photographic, and fine art collections.
- Experience or demonstrated knowledge of NAGPRA and museum cultural ethics including participation in tribal consultation.
Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
- Experience with collection management software (ARGUS preferred).
- Experience condition checking changing exhibits.
- Experience in digital scanning of photos and negatives.
The Successful Candidate Will
The successful candidate will also:
- Show strong organizational skills.
- Be able to work collaboratively as well as independently.
- Possess a strong attention to detail.
- Be able to assess priorities and work well under pressure.
- Have the ability to communicate with a various groups of museum stakeholders.
- Possess excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Have a strong commitment to museum ethics and best practices.
Position Special Requirements/Additional Information
This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Physical Demands
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
This position has supervisory duties?
No
Posting Detail Information
Number of Vacancies
1
Desired Start Date
Upon completion of a successful search
Position End Date (if temporary)
Open Date
Close Date
Applications will be:
Screening of applications will begin on October 14, 2026; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.
Special Instructions
This position is not eligible for sponsorship.
EEO Statement
Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.
In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.
In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.
Benefits:
Health Insurance, Sick Leave, Retirement PlanSalary : $18 - $23