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Now Hiring: Associate Registrar

Date: Sep 3, 2024

Deadline: Sep 19, 2024 - 11:45 pm

Now Hiring: Associate Registrar

Posting Date: Aug 30, 2024

Location: Edmonton, AB

Company: Government of Alberta

Job Information
Job Title: Associate Registrar 
Job Requisition ID: 61629
Ministry: Arts, Culture and Status of Women
Location: Edmonton
Full or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week
Permanent/Temporary: Permanent
Scope: Open Competition
Closing Date: September 19, 2024
Classification: Program Service 3 Market Adjustment
Salary: $ 2,626.89-$ 3,448.73 bi-weekly ($68,561- $90,011/year)

The Government of Alberta is committed to a diverse and inclusive public service that reflects the population we serve to best meet the needs of Albertans. Consider joining a team where diversity, inclusion and innovation are valued and supported. For more information on diversity and inclusion, please visit: www.alberta.ca/diversity-inclusion-policy.aspx

The Ministry of Arts, Culture and Status of Women works to improve Albertans' quality of life through support of creative industries, non-profits, historical preservation and gender equality. For more information on the ministry, please visit: www.alberta.ca/arts-culture-and-status-of-women

The Arts Branch is responsible for the care and professional management of approximately 12,000 works of art, in sixteen provincial art collections including the Government House Art Collection, the Portrait Commissions Collection and the flagship Alberta Foundation for the Arts Collection ( over 9,000 artworks). 

As identified in the Alberta Foundation for the Arts Act (1991), the AFA will collect, preserve and provide access to artwork and foster and promote the enjoyment and appreciation of artwork by Alberta artists. The AFA Art Collection, the largest and most active of the provincial art collections, has two distinct functions. It’s a legacy collection representing the breadth of visual art practice in Alberta over time. It’s also a working collection that provides public access to artwork through the Art Placement Program, Exhibition Loan Program, Travelling Exhibition Program (TREX), virtual exhibition Fellowship for Emerging Curators, and the Art Collection on-line website. 

As advocates for the collection, the AFA/Arts Branch holds this valuable asset in trust for Albertans and is charged with responsibly managing and preserving collection holdings while ensuring public access to artwork. The AFA is governed by a Board that is accountable to the Minister and meets approximately 5 times a year.  Please see Alberta Foundation for the Arts | Home (affta.ab.ca) for more information

Role Responsibilities

The Associate Registrar is responsible for all aspects of collections management including supporting the care and maintenance of the provincial art collections, assisting with records management and maintaining an extensive collections database, and supporting the operations of the collections facility. A key focus will be supporting the logistics around tracking and coordinating movement of all art within the 16 provincial art collections. A high percentage (over 25%) of the AFA/ARTS Branch art collections are on loan either placed in non-traditional spaces or part of local, national or international traveling exhibitions. All of this work will need to align with industry standards and best practices for the long-term care and preservation of artwork.

Main Responsibilities:

  • Ensuring that the Government of Alberta/Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) has legal title to all artworks acquired for the collections it manages, and that corresponding data meets industry standards for art collections. 
  • Assisting with collection information management and related systems maintenance to sustain complete and accurate data about the collections.
  • Performing physical inventory control and care of collection holdings
  • Soliciting, contracting and supervising specialized services related to collections care on behalf of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts/Arts Branch through RFQ, RFP or other service procurement methods.

Please click on this link to view the job description.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:
www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

  • Systems Thinking: Look beyond traditional expectations of collections and collections management practices to anticipate continually changing roles and responsibilities for organizations in the future.
  • Creative Problem Solving: Creative problem solving in art collections management necessitates being receptive to a myriad of perspectives and balancing access with long-term preservation.
  • Agility: Looks for ways to further implement digital technologies into the organization this will include assisting with virtual exhibitions, barcoding the collection and refinements to e-museum and the website which enhance clients' experience and collections management functionality.
  • Develop Networks: This role involves substantial collaboration both within the direct team as a myriad of expertise needs to be considered on each decision as well as across the Government of Alberta through participation on jointly managed projects like The Museum System (TMS)  and e-Museum upgrades, etc.

Qualifications

University graduation in a related field such as Museum Studies, Visual Arts, Art History plus 2 years progressively responsible related experience; or equivalent as described below. 

Equivalency:

Directly related education or experience considered on the basis of:

  • 1 year of education for 1 year of experience; or 
  • 1 year of experience for 1 year of education.

Skills and Assets:

  • Master's degree in a specialty related to the position such as Museum Studies, Visual Arts or Art History is an asset.
  • Four years experience working with a collections database system, preferably with TMS (The Museum System) database is an asset.
  • Knowledge of collections management policies and procedures to provide theoretically sound advice in the area of registration including accessioning and deaccessioning artworks, inventory and audit procedures, exhibition loans, fine art handling and maintenance, donation and taxation processes, and risk management.
  • Comprehensive knowledge of visual arts including knowledge of Alberta's visual artists (historical and contemporary) and Alberta's visual arts community. 
  • Comprehensive knowledge of applicable government legislation (AFA Act, Copyright Act of Canada, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP), Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Tax Guidelines, and Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board Guidelines) and national archival museum standards as set by the Canadian Conservation Institute. 
  • This position requires the knowledge and ability to provide sound advice and assess copyright requests related to the provincial art collections. Experience or training in Canadian Copyright Law is preferred.
  • Comprehensive knowledge of museum information management practices and procedures including data cataloguing standards and database management. 
  • Working knowledge of preventative conservation and environmental conditions is required. This position requires knowledge of scientific environmental equipment (e.g. environmental monitoring software, etc.) and knowledge of Canadian Conservation Institute guidelines for Category “A” Designated Institutions.
  • Strong project and contract management skills. This position supervises specialized contractors for a variety of projects related to conservation and collections management. Strong communication, time management, problem solving and critical thinking skills are required to plan, implement and execute short and long-term projects. 
  • Ability to lift 35 pounds

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification. 
Refer to www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

  • Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening.
  • Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

Links and information on what the GoA has to offer to prospective employees.

How To Apply

Applicants are advised to provide information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience, and relevant examples of required competencies.

Candidates are required to apply for a job online. Please visit www.alberta.ca/job-application-resources#before for more information. Please visit Recruitment Principles, for more information.

It is recommended applicants who have completed post-secondary studies from outside of Canada obtain an evaluation of their credentials from the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)(www.alberta.ca/international-qualifications-assessment.aspx) or from a recognized Canadian Credential Evaluator; please visit the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada for more information (canalliance.org/en/default.html).

It is recommended that applicants include the assessment certificate from IQAS or any other educational assessment service as part of their application.

Closing Statement

This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level.

We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to determine which candidates' qualifications most closely match the advertised requirements. Only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.

If you require any further information on this job posting or require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Adenike Adebayo-Coker at adenike.adebayo-coker@gov.ab.ca