Registrar
Organization
Biggs Museum of American Art · Dover · DE · Central DelawareJob Type
Full TimeSalary
$50,000 - $62,000Category
CuratorialClosing Date
December 21, 2025Description
The Biggs Museum of American Art is seeking a Registrar to advance our collections management, lending, and cataloguing practices, as well as lead exhibition installation activities. Responsibilities include supervising storage, executing loans and insurance, maintaining the collections database, digital assets, and all collection records, and assisting with the planning, production, and installation of exhibitions. The Registrar also develops and implements policies and procedures that safeguard the collection and ensure compliance with professional museum standards.
Education and Experience:
• Minimum two years of related registrar experience or equivalent experience working in museum collections management
• Bachelor’s degree; Master’s in museum studies program or related field preferred
• Familiarity with collections management forms, ethics, and best practices
• Additional familiarity with collections care, rights and reproductions policies, emergency preparedness, art handling, preventative conservation, pest monitoring, light level monitoring, temperature and humidity monitoring, fine art insurance policies and best practices
Organizational Structure: Reports to the Curator
Schedule: Full-time, exempt, salaried position (40 hours/week) with occasional weekend, early morning, evening work required during installation and deinstallation periods. This role is not conducive to work-from-home arrangements, and candidates must reside in or relocate to the Dover, DE area.
Responsibilities
• Maintain collections management database records (Argus) and create appropriate object, exhibition, and loan records
• Manage accessioning & deaccessioning of permanent collection objects, including generating the deed of gift or transfer of title, relevant tax paperwork, and credit line information
• Process and catalog newly acquired objects, assigning and applying accession numbers
• Maintain accurate inventories and coordinate preventative conservation
• Monitor and maintain secure and environmentally appropriate conditions in galleries and storage areas
• Oversee risk management and loss prevention; serve as first responder in emergency or building system failure situations and assist with disaster preparedness planning and training
• Coordinate logistics for object movement, including generating move reports or tracking lists and updating object locations in the database; oversee or assist with object moves in collaboration with the Preparator
• Develop and maintain shipping and packing schedules; coordinate and manage all courier, security, and insurance arrangements; complete condition reports
• Administer the loan approval process and manage loan requests working closely with the Curator and Executive Director
• Review and approve Facility Reports and environmental readings
• Prepare and manage loan paperwork, negotiate and track all registrar-related contracts (loan agreements, receipts, courier agreements), and maintain essential museum documentation
• Manage the museum’s fine arts insurance schedules, coverage levels, and claims processes
• Travel as a courier with loans and/or supervise and train other couriers; assist with exhibition installations as needed
• Create and maintain exhibition documentation including checklists, installation records, and wall-to-wall inventories
• Manage and organize digital image assets, rights metadata, and reproduction requests; oversee copyright and licensing compliance
• Develop and update collections management policies and procedures in alignment with AAM and ARCS standards
• Contribute to and monitor budgets for exhibitions and collections management, providing cost estimates and tracking expenditures
• Mentor and supervise interns and train staff and volunteers on procedures related to collections handling, database use, and museum standards
• Assist with upcoming museum expansion project, including consulting on new collections and storage spaces
• Participate in professional development opportunities and remain current with best practices in the registrar field
• Train/assist with preventative conservation and proper storage of objects
Compensation
The position offers a salary range of $50,000 to $62,000 annually commensurate with experience, along with insurance benefits, IRA match, PTO, and other benefits outlined in the employee handbook.
Apply
If you’re excited about this role but don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply. Please be ready to discuss how you plan to address any areas where you may need to develop further. We value diverse experiences and perspectives and believe they enhance our team. We are open to considering all candidates who are passionate about contributing to our mission.
Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to Nancy Bissonnette (nancy.bissonnette@thebiggsmuseum.org) with the subject line “Registrar.” Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. No phone calls please.
About working at the Biggs Museum of American Art
The Biggs Museum of American Art, located in the heart of downtown Dover, Delaware, is a vibrant hub for regional art and cultural engagement. Dedicated to transforming the community through the art of our region, the museum celebrates discovery, fosters collaboration, and remains open to all.
Home to an exceptional collection of American fine and decorative arts, The Biggs showcases works spanning the Colonial era to the present, with a special emphasis on Delaware Valley artists and the rich artistic heritage of the Mid-Atlantic region. Alongside its permanent collection, the museum presents innovative temporary exhibitions, community programs, and educational initiatives that connect audiences of all ages to the transformative power of art.
As a cultural cornerstone of Dover’s lively downtown, The Biggs serves as a catalyst for learning, civic pride, and economic vitality, hosting everything from hands-on family programs and wellness events to special exhibitions featuring national and regional artists. Through partnerships with organizations, schools, and fellow museums, The Biggs advances the arts as essential to civic well-being and community life.
We believe that creativity has the power to improve individual lives and the well-being of a community. As part of that belief, The Biggs is committed to achieving diversity and inclusion in its hiring practices, governance, programming and engagement with the community. We are an equal opportunity employer regardless of, race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, military status, veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any other characteristic that is protected by law.