Application Open:
Full-Time
Job Purpose:
The Collections Manager is responsible for the operational
stewardship, documentation, organization, preservation, and secure
storage of MBZUAI’s physical archival and special collections.
Reporting to the Head of Art, Archives, and Special Collections,
the role ensures proper acquisition, cataloguing, conservation, and
access to physical records, artifacts, and institutional heritage
materials. The position supports the implementation of MBZUAI’s
collection and archival strategy by maintaining collection
integrity, ensuring compliance with international standards, and
facilitating controlled access for research, institutional memory,
and exhibitions.
Key Responsibilities:
Collection Documentation and Governance
- Support the Head in implementing acquisitions, commissions, and
collection development initiatives through operational planning,
documentation, and logistics coordination.
Manage accessioning with thorough documentation of archival and
heritage materials in alignment with institutional collection
policies.
Cataloguing & Classification
- Lead the operational arrangement, description, cataloguing and
labeling of physical collections in accordance with archival and
museum standards.
- Maintain classification systems to ensure logical organization
and retrieval.
- Ensure accurate metadata entry into archival systems, supported
by the Digital Archives Specialist.
Loans, Exhibitions and Object Movement
- Manage object movement, packing, international shipping,
courier arrangements, and insurance coordination.
- Oversee loan documentation, indemnity arrangements, and
compliance with loan conditions.
- Support installation and deinstallation of exhibitions under
the curatorial direction of the Head and maintain associated risk
assessments.
Storage, Handling and Collections Care
- Oversee storage environments and implement approved handling
and collections care procedures for artworks, rare books,
scientific instruments, and artefacts, ensuring compliance with
departmental policy and conservation best practice.
- Conduct and document condition assessments before and after
movement, exhibition, or loan.
- Implement approved environmental controls and monitoring,
conservation coordination, and collections emergency preparedness,
in coordination with Facilities.
Access & Research Support
- Facilitate controlled access to collections for authorized
users, including researchers and institutional stakeholders.
- Support academic and historical research requests.
Compliance & Documentation Integrity
- Maintain collections operations in compliance with national and
international archival and shipping standards.
- Maintain secure documentation of provenance and
authenticity.
- Support audit and governance requirements related to physical
collections.
Digitization and Digital Asset Coordination
- Oversee and coordinate digitization of physical artworks and
special collections materials, including image capture standards,
file naming conventions, and metadata alignment in support of
departmental access and exhibition priorities, and in coordination
with the Digital Archives Specialist
Other Duties
- Carry out all other duties as reasonably directed by the line
manager that are commensurate with these functional
objectives.
Academic Qualifications:
- A Bachelor’s degree in Archival Studies, Library and
Information Science, Museum Studies, History, or related
discipline.
- A postgraduate degree will be preferred.
Professional Experience:
Essential
- Minimum of 5-8 years’ experience in collections management,
archives, or museum environments.
- Demonstrated experience in physical collections management and
cataloguing.
- Strong understanding of archival standards and preservation
practices.
- Proven ability to manage sensitive historical materials.
Preferred
- Experience within higher education institutions.
- Familiarity with UAE regulatory frameworks related to
heritage.
- Professional certification in archives or collections
management.
