Collections Manager

Job Description

The Nevada Museum of People, Place, and Time, housed within the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Nevada, Reno, is seeking a detail-oriented and collaborative Collections Manager. This is a part-time position requiring 30 hours per week. This position is responsible for overseeing all aspects of care for the Museum’s archaeological and ethnographic collections, which include approximately 4,000 boxes of objects dating from 14,000 years ago to the present, along with their associated records.

The Collections Manager will lead efforts in physical collections management, including accessioning, deaccessioning, object processing, environmental control, cataloging, and preservation. The Collections Manager will maintain storage systems, monitor collection security, and ensure cultural considerations are incorporated into the care and stewardship of the materials. In collaboration with the Museum Director and the Office of Indigenous Relations’ NAGPRA Liaison, the Collections Manager will support the development of collections care policies and practices.

Data management is a key function of this role, including the creation and maintenance of metadata, inventory tracking, provenance documentation, and collection assessments. The Collections Manager will manage license agreements, disaster planning, and the collections care budget. The role supports grant identification and applications to enhance collections care and long-term stewardship.

The successful candidate will engage with Tribal communities and stakeholders, supporting NAGPRA implementation and ensuring ethical and culturally appropriate stewardship practices. This includes responding to inquiries, supporting consultation and site visits, and assisting with repatriation and disposition efforts in collaboration with the NAGPRA Liaison and Museum Director.

The Collections Manager is expected to stay current with legal, professional, and ethical best practices related to collections care. Representing the museum in professional settings, contributing to publications, and participating in workshops or research initiatives is also encouraged as part of the role.

This position reports directly to the Museum Director and works closely with the NAGPRA Liaison to support the Museum’s mission and commitment to responsible and inclusive stewardship of cultural heritage.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology or related field and two (2) years of related work experience OR

Master’s Degree in Anthropology or related field and one (1) year of related work experience 

Related Experience:

Experience with the archaeological and ethnographic material culture of the American West, museum collections management systems, describing, assessing, or inventorying collections, and the preservation of archaeological materials and/or records or related.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s Degree