Description

Position: Registrar

Manager: Collections Manager

Department: Collections/Registration

Status: Non-Exempt

Date Updated: January 2026

F/T Monday-Friday

Job Summary:

The Registrar is responsible for the physical and documentary care of the collections part of the Historic New Orleans Collection. This position assists with all operations of the Collections Management Department, specifically related to the permanent collection including collections transport, storage, insurance, preventive conservation, and special projects but also including exhibitions and loan processing. This position also assists in overseeing general daily operations of the Registration Department. 

This is a full-time position, Monday through Friday, with occasional weekend and evening work. 

In addition to working in the iconic French Quarter, the Historic New Orleans Collection offers the following benefits:

• Competitive salary
• Medical, dental and vision insurance for employees and dependents (children and opposite or same sex spouse/domestic partners). Medical insurance includes treatment for gender dysphoria.
• Life, long term disability, and AD&D insurance
• Voluntary additional life insurance, critical illness insurance, and accident insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Account
• Professional development and tuition assistance
• Paid parental leave
• Paid time off and paid holidays 
• Gym membership
• Parking reimbursement
• Work/life balance  

The Historic New Orleans Collection centers diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion at the core of everything we do. We are committed to becoming a more diverse and inclusive workplace, an organization that epitomizes the best practices in our field, and a community institution that truly reflects and supports our visitors, our neighbors, and our home. To that end, we actively encourage and welcome applications from members of underrepresented and marginalized groups. We are committed to employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or expression, Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The below duties and responsibilities are essential core functions of this position. Other duties may be assigned as needed.

1. Process incoming materials to HNOC to be considered for loan or acquisition; responsible for preparing and distributing the bi-monthly acquisitions candidates report.  
2. Prepare and generate legal documentation such as incoming receipts, deeds of gift, non-exclusive licenses, or similar documentation according to procedures set forth in HNOC’s Collections Management Policy. Record acquisition meeting minutes.  
3. Coordinate registration operations on approved acquisitions and process material from point of arrival to collections storage. Liaise with Cataloging, Photography, and Preparation teams on incoming material status.  
4. Timely and accurately maintain and update the Collections Management database (Axiell) of acquisitions, accessions, and loan items. 
5. Process and create documents for incoming and outgoing loans; create exhibition records as needed; record exhibition and loan histories for collection objects. 
6. Participate in unpacking,?installation,?deinstallation,?packing,?and?couriering?of objects as necessary. 
7. Identify, evaluate, and act as liaison with outside conservators who may be contracted to treat accessioned objects. Facilitate and monitor onsite examinations by conservators. Maintain regular contact with conservators to ensure that offsite treatment keeps scheduling and conforms to proposals 
8. Oversee digitization projects internally and externally; conduct and organize inventories and rehousing projects of collections.  
9. Assist with major projects and HNOC initiatives related to strategic planning, storage, re-accreditation, and renovation.  
10. Monitor environmental conditions of storage spaces and galleries. Communicate issues to Facilities Staff, Collections Manager and Chief Curator.   
11. Lead designated team during implementation of Hurricane Preparedness Plan and serve as Alternate to Collections Manager as part of post-disaster activities.  
12. Assist the Collections Manager with loan administration, budgeting, fine arts insurance, and fiscal year reports, annual audits.  

Requirements

Job Qualifications:

Below are the minimum requirements necessary for this position.

• Bachelor’s degree in history, museum studies or related field.   
• Minimum of five years of related experience working in a museum or comparable position. ? 
• Experience with museum registration or collections management and systems, as well as conservation standards and practices. 
• Ability to handle art objects per museum standards for two- and three-dimensional art objects in a variety of sizes, weights, and materials. 
• Experience with loans and fine art shipping is preferred, including customs requirements and CITES. 
• Proven ability to manage multiple complicated projects simultaneously; an ability to set and meet deadlines is essential. Aptitude to be flexible and responsive to an evolving work environment.  
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written. 
• Experience with budgets and fine arts insurance. 
• Exceptional knowledge of New Orleans and Louisiana history and other institutions in the city and state and their holdings. 
• Ability to understand and become knowledgeable of HNOC holdings and ability to interpret and articulate this knowledge to others.  
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; advanced proficiency in collections management software, preferably Axiell Systems.  
• Available to work occasional evenings and weekends is preferred. 

Preferred Job Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in history, museum studies or related field.  
• Foreign language skills.

Working Conditions:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to remain in a stationary position, move throughout the properties, operate a computer and other office machinery, ascend/descend, positions self to work at workstation, inspect collections, and monitor the movement of or personally move collections to low, medium and/or high levels. Regularly move objects of up to 40 pounds. This position consistently communicates with co-workers and others and observes, inspects, and assesses documentation and collections.