Homeoffice Collections Inventory Supervisor bei Strong Museum

Position Summary:

The Strong Museum, based in Rochester, NY, is collaborating with Hasbro to create a comprehensive inventory of Hasbro’s product archive which includes toys, dolls, board games, and other historical materials related to play. The collections inventory supervisor will oversee and be a member of a team of four people who perform the inventory over a period of 9 months.

This position requires an energetic and focused individual with experience cataloging and managing historical artifacts and a track record of managing staff. The collections inventory supervisor is required to expend such personal efforts as may be needed to keep up with advances in subject matter information related to this position. The employee must learn the constraints within which this job must be performed and work within those limitations.

All Strong Museum staff are expected to cooperate with one another in furthering the museum’s general objectives and in completing museum projects. Similarly, all staff consistently maintain a positive and enthusiastic attitude, act with integrity and in accordance with the highest ethical standards, and demonstrate loyalty to the museum in all public contacts. Our colleagues deserve our best efforts every day.

Essential Duties:

The specifications described here are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Perform work in accordance with best practices and standards, particularly AAM’s Code of Ethics for Museums.

• Act as the key contact point between the vice president for collections and the inventory project team.

• Oversee the team of inventory specialists to assure that the project is proceeding to schedule and that the information being captured on the inventory spreadsheet is accurate and consistent.

• Maintain standards for handling objects by the members of the team.

• Produce monthly progress reports for Hasbro.

• Inventory historic artifacts from Hasbro and affiliated companies using an established Excel spreadsheet to capture and manage the information.

• Provide a basic condition evaluation for objects as they are examined.

• Maintain excellent organization of artifacts in their storage locations.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

The candidate may have any combination of education and experience but should possess the required skills and knowledge for successful performance. Our general minimum requirements are:

• Associate’s or BA degree in history, museum studies, humanities, archives, or related field or equivalent museum or archival experience.

• Experience supervising staff and overseeing projects.

• Working knowledge of playthings and the history of play.

• Demonstrated commitment to principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion

• Museum Collections Experience: Experience in cataloging, handling, and processing historical artifacts, archives, and/or museum collections.

• Project Management: The employee should be able to develop plans and strategies for the completion of the project as well as manage their daily responsibilities and work independently. This role is located remotely from the museum and therefore requires a degree of daily self-direction toward the completion of the project.

• Process Management: The ability to work well under pressure and focus on the inventory project is fundamental to this role. The employee must be self-motivated, well-organized, and flexible.

• Record-Keeping: Record, enter, store, and maintain thorough and accurate information about artifacts in written and electronic form.

• Interpersonal Tact: Frequent contact with colleagues on the project. Excellent listening skills, a high degree of diplomacy and maturity, and the ability to balance empathy and objectivity.

• Collaboration: We work in a team-oriented environment, so it is vital that our employees maintain effective interpersonal relationships. Team members must be good at active listening, conflict management, cooperation, facilitation, negotiation, and be open to feedback.

• Communication: Our employees should always communicate and act in a respectful manner when working with others, including those from outside the museum. The ability to handle difficult and stressful situations with professional composure is vital for this position. This job requires the ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form using the English language.

• Problem-Solving: Things don’t always go as planned. This job requires skill in using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. The ability to exercise sound judgment in making critical decisions is essential.

• Process Management: The ability to work well under pressure and focus on the inventory project is fundamental to this role. The employee must be self-motivated, well-organized, and flexible.

• Computer Proficiency: This position requires work on a computer, in databases, and with related equipment. A high degree of comfort and proficiency with computer technology and software, especially Microsoft Office, is important. The ability to learn new systems, as needed, is also beneficial.