Collections and Conservation Assistant

Staff - Union

Job Category

CUPE 116

Job Profile

CUPE 116 Salaried - Research Assistant /Technician 2

Job Title

Collections and Conservation Assistant

Department

Collections Support | Museum of Anthropology

Compensation Range

$4,696.00 - $5,140.00 CAD Monthly

Posting End Date

October 11, 2026

Note:Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

Ongoing

This is a part-time ongoing position at 60% FTE

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. 

Job Description Summary
The Collections and Conservation Assistant supports the work of the Collections Care, Management and Access Department at the Museum of Anthropology. Working under the direction of the Collections Registrar and in collaboration with other Collections and Conservation staff, this position provides operational support across collections management and preventive conservation activities.

This position will be responsible for supporting the varied work of the Collections Care, Management and Access department in caring for a world-wide collection which includes works of art and ancestral belongings. This position will perform tasks related to collections management process, incoming and outgoing loans, preventive conservation, collections access, and digitization of the museum’s collections. This position contributes to special projects affecting the collections and performs general collections care and management duties.

Organizational Status
This position reports to the Collections Registrar and works closely with the Collections Care Management and Access Department staff.

Work Performed
This position carries out a variety of collections tasks including:

• Processing new acquisitions and conducting the Museum’s accessioning processes, including documentation, acquisitions-related pest management, accessioning museum objects, condition reporting, numbering museum objects and entering the related data into the collections management system

• Entering and updating accessioning and cataloguing data in the collections management system following established procedures

• Conducting ongoing, integral inventory of the collection for accountability, stewardship and auditing purposes

• Identifying and reporting data inconsistencies or gaps to senior staff for review and resolution

• Assisting with facilitating requests for access to the Museum’s collections and object records, by MOA curators, UBC faculty, researchers, originating community groups and the general public

• Supporting access to the Museum’s collections by pulling and putting away objects from storage and display and also supporting the facilitation of community visits

• Tracking, movement and installation/deinstallation of objects as related to acquisitions, access requests, loan requests, storage issues, exhibition activities and special projects, as this work is carried out

• Assessing and preparing Museum objects for digitization by carrying out required preventive conservation measures under guidance and by providing specialized handling to assist with digitization as necessary

• Assisting with procuring supplies for the Department, including researching new and difficult to source museum and archival supplies

• Performing routine cleaning of collections storage and exhibits areas within the public galleries, and assisting with the care of objects on display as well as case maintenance using established procedures

• Cleaning individual objects in the collections using appropriate techniques based on the nature, composition, condition of the objects and considering the principles of preventive conversation

• Assisting with answering or forwarding, as appropriate, public queries relating to the Museum’s collections

• Assisting with loans processing, including photography, condition reporting, making secure housing for travel and packing

• Assisting with training of student interns and volunteers and providing assistance for Museum Studies lab courses

• Supporting a variety of other Collections and Conservation-related tasks, including special projects affecting the collections, and other support work as required

Consequence of Error/Judgement
The Museum is a public trustee of rare and valuable collections; the Collections and Conservation Assistant is responsible for the safe keeping of both public and private collections, and for ensuring that the records associated with these collections are maintained. Errors could have financial, legal, ethical and other consequences for lenders and for the University.

Supervision Received
The position reports to the Collections Registrar Performance is judged by results (see Consequences of Error above) and in accordance with established procedures but exercising judgement in establishing priorities and carrying tasks is expected.

Supervision Given
This position assists with the training of and distribution of assignments to student interns and volunteers.

Minimum Qualifications
High school graduation, some additional training in a related field and a minimum two years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications
Education / Experience
It is preferable if applicants have a university or college degree in a relevant discipline as well as practical training in collections management processes, or equivalent practical experience. Awareness and sensitivity to issues concerning collections originating from First Nations and other communities is required, as well as experience in working with the public and the university community.

• Skills / Knowledge
  Demonstrated knowledge of professional collections management processes and preventive conservation standards.

• A demonstrated competency in designing and making housing systems for museum collections.

• Awareness and sensitivity to issues concerning collections originating from First Nations and other originating communities.

• Knowledge of MOA's collections and processes is preferred.

• Experience entering data in a collections management system.

• Basic knowledge of professional ethics and material culture is desirable.

• Physical ability to perform the duties of the job. (e.g., lifting, standing, working at heights).

• Accurately create and maintain records.- Effectively manage multiple tasks and priorities.

• Input and extract data and compile data reports.

• Analyze problems, identify key information and issues, and effectively resolve.

• Efficiently and effectively coordinate tasks.

• Demonstrate relevant techniques to students and others as required. Ability to train.

• Effectively facilitate groups to achieve appropriate outcome.

• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.

• Identify and respond to contentious or politically sensitive issues with discretion.

• Exercise tact and discretion.