Collections Associate

Location: Taos, New Mexico, US
Contract: Full-time, exempt
Salary: $47,000–$49,500 per year, depending on experience
Benefits: Benefits package valued at approximately 44% of salary, including retirement, health and holiday benefits
Application deadline: 14 September 2026, 23:59 MST
Reports to: Collections Manager
University of New Mexico position grade: 11

The Harwood Museum of Art at the University of New Mexico is seeking a collaborative and detail-oriented Collections Associate.

This key member of staff will coordinate the stewardship, documentation, preservation, accessibility and movement of the museum’s permanent collection, as well as incoming and outgoing loans, in accordance with professional museum standards.

Working across curatorial, exhibitions, education and operations, the Collections Associate will support acquisitions, collections care, conservation, digitisation, exhibitions, publications, research and public access. The role will help ensure the long-term preservation and accurate documentation of the museum’s collection of approximately 6,500 objects.

Responsibilities

The Collections Associate will:

• Manage the museum’s collections management database;
• Coordinate incoming and outgoing loans;
• Oversee the movement of objects;
• Prepare and maintain condition reports;
• Coordinate packing, shipping and insurance for collection objects, exhibitions and loans;
• Manage copyright and image permissions;
• Coordinate access to the collection for study, teaching and research;
• Receive, prepare, document and catalogue new acquisitions;
• Support acquisitions and collections-related research;
• Assist with conservation projects and digitisation;
• Contribute to grant-funded initiatives and institutional planning related to collections stewardship;
• Coordinate maintenance reports and other collections database activity;
• Support publicity and publications relating to the collection and exhibitions; and
• Potentially supervise museum staff, volunteers or students.

The successful candidate will help maintain the museum’s commitment to high professional and ethical standards of collections care.

About the Harwood Museum of Art

The Harwood Museum of Art is part of the University of New Mexico and is based off-campus in Taos, New Mexico.

Its collection of approximately 6,500 objects is supported through a multidisciplinary programme encompassing exhibitions, research, education, publications and public access.