Registrar for Historic Sites

Position Overview

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is looking to hire a Museum Technician II (working title Registrar for Historic Sites) for its State Museum Division. This position provides professional technicial collection management services for IL State Historic Sites collections and serves as the registrar for the Historic Sites. Works with donors, agencies, and other sources of collections objects; conducts historical research related to the collection, exhibitions, and programs; manages these collections including accessioning, cataloging, inventory, entry of data into the electronic collections database, and online data management; writes descriptions and reports; conducts collection rehabilitation when needed; prepares objects and collections for long-term storage; assists with exhibition research, organization, and installation; executes various technicial assignments as delegated. Requires special expertise and skills in a wide range of content areas (e.g., history, historic preservation, decorative art, material culture, and collections management).

Division staff are impelled to engage in a regular cycle of professional development to maintain competence and currency in their areas of expertise or responsibility; and participate in relevant professional organizations. This position is expected to be able to occasionally travel locally, regionally, or statewide to fulfill the responsibilities of their position, participate in professional development, for outreach events, and for general operational needs of their work site. They may be requested to consult, advise, or present information to share their knowledge and experience with museum professionals, students, and the public.

Each staff member is expected to create work that is visible to the residents of Illinois; work in a team environment across geographic locations and disciplines; perform at a level that reflects national standards and best practices of an accredit museum and brings state, national, and/or international recognition to the IL State Museum and IL State Historic Sites; follow all relevant state and federal laws; and abide by professional museum ethics. We welcome all interested applicants to apply today.

Essential Functions

• Manage and maintain the Historic Sites collections of specimens, objects, artifacts, and associated data.
• Provide professional technical support to senior administrative staff, site superintendents and research curators for the Historic Sites or History sections in various areas/activities as required or requested.
• Assist State Historic Sites staff with onsite collection care and management..
• Facilitate access to collections as requested by researchers, scholars, students, depositors, or other qualified requestors in alignment with ISM collection access policies.
• Implement Best Practices of registration and collections care.
• Provide support for educational programming and exhibits at the ISM and State Historic Sites.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires a minimum Bachelor’s degree in a history discipline, anthropology/sociology, decorative art, material culture, museum studies, collection management, historic preservation, or similar. Master’s degree or certificate(s) in position applicable specialized field(s) of study preferred.
• Requires a minimum of 5 years’ collections management, curatorial, or research experience in a museum, historic site, university, cultural center or similar organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Educational coursework demonstrating interest and knowledge of Illinois or Midwestern United States cultural history.
• Working Knowledge level of experience with development and management of research collections and relational databases for collection management. Working Knowledge is defined as requiring some previous acquisition of knowledge and training and general work experience in the area of responsibility.

Conditions of Employment

All applicants must be able to meet the following Conditions of Employment, with or without reasonable accommodation, to be considered for this position. The State of Illinois complies with federal and state disability laws and will make reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities:

• Requires completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history. 
• Requires appropriate, valid driver’s license. 
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 lbs.
• Occasionally ascends/descends a ladder to retrieve, relocate, or return collection storage boxes from/to shelving.
• Physical ability to handle delicate and possibly heavy artifacts. 

The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description. 

Division and Agency Statement

The State Museum (ISM) is a division of IDNR. In addition to the Illinois State Museum and its branch sites (accredited by the American Alliance of Museums), the division also includes designated State Historic Sites. Together we are dedicated to sharing Illinois stories, honoring its cultural and natural resources, and inspiring our future. Extensive collections and research activities provide the foundation for exhibitions and public programs that tell the story of the land, life, people, and art of Illinois. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that is mindful of community stories and lived experiences. 

DNR Agency Statement

Charged with preserving, protecting, and promoting Illinois’ natural resources, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) employees oversee water, wildlife, wetlands and oil wells, parks, historic sites – and everything in between. Employment opportunities vary greatly, often providing employees the chance to work indoors and out in a dynamic yet relaxed environment. Working for the State of Illinois, IDNR employees receive excellent benefits, including health, vision and dental insurance; a retirement plan and deferred compensation options; state holidays and other time off; as well as pre-tax benefit programs; flexible/remote work schedules may be available for certain positions.