The Collection Manager & Digital Archivist is both a strategic and hands-on position. The postholder will manage the development of our collection, overseeing acquisition, cataloguing, digitisation, and public access, including registrar duties for temporary exhibitions. This role will also take the lead on our artist-focused archival initiatives and digitisation projects. These include collaborative archival residencies and projects building on our recent archival digitisation projects:
The role also involves managing major collaborative projects, working closely with institutional and international partners. At the intersection of archival practice, digital innovation, and artist collaboration, this role supports one of the museum’s core strategic priorities of developing the Museum’s Collection.
This is a unique opportunity to shape Ireland’s most ambitious contemporary photography archive, to work directly with artists and estates, and to contribute meaningfully to a dynamic cultural institution that values creativity, inclusivity, and innovation.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Collection Care
- Responsibility for the registration, record management, documentation and overall care of the Collection to museum standards.
- Update and maintain the Collection Management Software database, tracking movements of all Collection objects and works and inputting data from Collection artwork and artist files and responsibility for addressing legacy and backlog of documentation.
- To process all works for collection display/loans in and out; draw up touring exhibition paperwork and schedule the preparation of artworks, packing, and transporting them from storage.
- Complete a full inventory by sight of Collection Objects every 5 years and update CMS accordingly.
- Conduct condition reporting as required for all Collection objects.
- Monitoring environmental conditions in the gallery and store, notifying curators of changes and checking that any required action is taken.
- Manage pest control in liaison with the general manager.
- Management of specialist suppliers for annual deep cleans and similar care programmes.
- Ensuring that the ‘salvage kit’ is maintained and that all museum staff have basic disaster response training and know where disaster response equipment is stored.
2. Temporary Exhibitions – Registrar Duties
- Act as the primary registrar for all temporary exhibitions hosted by the museum, ensuring proper documentation and compliance with museum standards.
- Oversee and maintain accurate records for all incoming and outgoing loans related to temporary exhibitions, including entry and exit numbers, dates, and movement logs.
- Draft and manage all associated loan agreements, receipts, courier forms, and indemnity documentation in coordination with the CEO/Artistic Director.
- Coordinate and oversee the arrival, unpacking, installation, deinstallation, repacking, and dispatch of all loaned works for exhibitions.
- Conduct and document condition reporting for all incoming and outgoing works related to temporary exhibitions, liaising with couriers, lenders, and relevant staff.
- Track and update the CMS with temporary exhibition object movements, status updates, and exhibition history for relevant works.
- Liaise with artists, lenders, and institutional partners regarding shipping logistics, customs clearance, and insurance arrangements for temporary loans.
- Ensure environmental conditions in exhibition spaces are suitable and monitored during display periods; follow up with technical teams and curators if anomalies arise.
- Collaborate with curators and the exhibitions team to ensure registrar and collections responsibilities are integrated into exhibition planning timelines and checklists.
3. Collection Development & Management
- To ensure that up-to-date collection management policies are in place to care for and manage the Collection.
- To support the CEO/Artistic Director and Board of Trustees in strategically planning for the Collection’s future development.
- Deliver to the CEO/Artistic Director an annual work plan for the care of the Collection.
- Ensure that an active disaster response plan is in place for the collection, storage, and display.
- Contribute to the overall museum disaster response plan and related risk management.
- Progress towards full accreditation regarding Photo Museum Ireland’s participation in the Museum Standards Programme of Ireland (MSPI)
- Attend meetings of the Artistic Policy & Acquisitions Committee of management & care programmes for the Collection.
4. Digital Archiving
- Lead and serve as the digital archivist for the museums’ artist-focused initiatives and digitisation projects including the artists’s archive residencies and artist development residencies.
- To lead and deliver the digital archiving for our Photo Album of the Irish projects.
- To manage and deliver the digitisation of the museum’s archive project detailing our exhibition history since 1978.
5. Collection Access
- To work with the CEO/Artistic Director to develop and enhance access to the collection through online exhibitions, web features and publications
- Manage and promote the touring of the Collection. touring programmes.
- To work with our team to animate our archives and continue the work of developing and promoting our interactive timeline of photography.
- To deliver archival training to the public, such as our ‘Caring for your Family Photographs’ workshop.
- Presenting on the collection and work of Photo Museum Ireland within relevant conservation, heritage and professional networks and for stakeholders as required.
- Dealing with ad hoc enquiries (from both the team and the public) regarding our collections, collection policy and procedures.
6. Collaboration & Capacity Building
- Collaborate with artists, curators, researchers, and institutions (including third-level education partners) to amplify the collection’s reach.
- Support fundraising efforts by contributing to collection development, digitisation, and conservation proposals.
- Mentor interns and volunteers, and coordinate archival training and knowledge sharing for staff, artists and volunteers.
- Training team members in conservation cleaning and other collection care duties.
Person Specification
Essential
- A professional qualification in conservation, collections care, archiving or similar — or substantial experience in a professional setting using the skills listed below.
- Experience in collection management within a cultural institution.
- Familiarity with collection management systems and digital preservation tools.
- Be proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (especially Photoshop and Indesign), G-Suite and Microsoft Office Suite.
- Strong understanding of the cultural and museum sector.
- Ability to manage a complex workload, prioritise tasks, and meet deadlines.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team.
- A proven ability to work on collaborative projects and to deliver results on time.
- A willingness to engage in continuing professional development.
Desirable
- Expertise in photography, digital archiving, scanning, and printing.
- Have experience with framing, installing, and/or artwork shipping and best practices.
- Experience contributing to museum accreditation processes.
- Knowledge of copyright law as it pertains to photographic works.
- A passion for contemporary visual culture and photography and visual literacy.
What We Offer
- €35,000 salary per annum
- Pension contributions
- 23 holidays per annum, in addition to public holidays
- Professional development
- A collaborative and inclusive work environment.
How to Apply
To apply, please submit your CV and a cover letter detailing your suitability for the role to recruitment@photomuseumireland.ie by 18th July 2025.
Terms
This full-time role is 40 hours (including lunch breaks) per week, working five days in every seven.
The role will require working weekends as required for certain activities. Shifts will primarily be during the day, with the occasional evening shift.
The appointment is subject to satisfactory Garda (police) vetting and reference checks.