Jobs

Manager, Collections & Exhibitions, Visual Resources Center, Dept of Art History, University of Chicago

Full time, salary $58,000- $65,000 (2-year contract)

Job Summary:
The Collections and Exhibitions Manager directly supports faculty and students who work with images and material culture at UChicago. Reporting to the Associate Director, this role ensures that curricular and co-curricular needs for images and materials for teaching and engagement are met, maintains high operational functionality in digitization equipment, and provides critical support for publications and exhibitions. The Manager maintains the VRC’s key activities while providing expertise and support to enhance the experience of faculty, students, staff, and other collaborators. This position is on-site.

Responsibilities:

• Manages the day-to-day operations for the VRC’s digital collections program and the Joel Snyder Materials Collection, including accessioning, digitization, cataloging, stewardship, and delivery to support curricular, co-curricular, and faculty research interests across the arts and humanities. Administers the VRC Camera Lending Program and facilitates VRC Lab appointments for students.
• Provides advanced support for faculty and doctoral research projects, including publications, CWAC exhibitions, and related scholarly initiatives. Develops and produces high-quality graphics, custom images, and other visual materials to support research and teaching. Advises faculty and students on image use, including captioning, alt-text, copyright and fair use, permissions, and image quality standards. Assists with exhibition planning, installation, and fabrication. Delivers technical support and training for relevant software and classroom technologies, including Adobe Photoshop and other imaging tools.
• Works with the Associate Director to train, schedule, and manage student staff, ensuring support across VRC projects. Organizes staff meetings to develop skills. Creates, develops, and maintains training materials and manuals, offering guidance for solving problems.
• Helps develop and deliver custom course instruction sessions, workshops, orientations, and reference guides. Builds and maintains relationships with campus departments and other partners. Communicates the VRC’s projects, exhibitions, resources, collaborations, and services via the VRC’s website and social media outlets.
• Has a moderate/solid understanding on matters relating to a specific library section. Collaborates with senior management to develop guidelines, policies, and procedures.
• Participates in large scale library projects. Consults with management to set goals for the section. Makes decisions that have an impact on controlling costs, planning, and procedural changes.
• Uses depth and breadth of experience in Library services to maintain changes in systems and software that support effective provision of library services. Facilitates communication about changes in policies and procedures to library patrons and staff.
• Plans and executes section communications, which include development and oversight of the section's web site. Represents the section on library or external working groups and committees.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience: 2-5 years of experience in digital image collections in an academic, museum, library, or analogous work environment.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Working or educational knowledge of digitization best practices, including digital photography, Adobe Photoshop, etc.
• Strong computer skills with the ability to operate a Mac operating system with proficiency in word processing, relational databases such as FileMaker Pro or Access, and presentation applications such as PowerPoint or Keynote.

Preferred Competencies:

• Demonstrated ability to conduct basic research on artists, artworks, movements, etc.
• Exceptional organizational, interpersonal, customer service, and project management skills; set goals, develop projects, solve problems, and meet shifting deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to work well both autonomously and collaboratively in a rapidly changing and dynamic production environment.
• Knowledge of large research institutions, with a preference for familiarity with the University and city of Chicago.
• Proficiency in a range of collections-related workflows or software.

Working Conditions:

• Considerable office work and screen time.
• Lift up to 50 lbs.
• Occasional meetings outside the Cochrane-Woods Art Center but within the greater campus area.
• Light construction (wall hangings, etc); climb a 6’ a-frame ladder to assist with exhibition installations.
• Work evenings and weekends as needed.

For more information, see full listing at https://uchicago.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/External/job/Chicago-IL/Manager--Collections-and-Exhibitions_JR32082

Candidates must submit all application materials (cover letter of interest in this position and resume) to be considered for this position.  Application deadline: 11/30/2025

Assistant Project Manager, Chicago History Museum, Chicago & Broadview

Full time, 1 year contract, Mon-Fri, on-site 35 hours/week

Salary: $60,000

Job Description (summary):

Working alongside the project team, the Assistant Project Manager will assist with ensuring the safe and accurate relocation of the Museum’s offsite storage collections in conjunction with renovations of the storage facility, as well as the assessment and resolution of any outstanding custodial issues affecting the collections.

Responsibilities:

• In coordination with the Senior Collection Manager and Senior Archivist, manage daily priorities of the Collection Storage Renovation Project team (including Archives Assistants) and oversee the safe, secure movement of museum collections within the facility during renovations.
  
  Assess the custodial history and status of manuscript, architectural, and object collection materials.
  
  Develop acquisition, disposal, and/or deaccession proposals in consultation with Collections and Curatorial staff.
  
  Assess the physical condition of collection items and perform rehousing, relabeling, stabilization, and other preservation measures to ensure their safety during relocation and storage.
  
  Apply strong organizational skills and knowledge of relevant tools and standards to create and maintain collection inventories, including shelf locations and extent of materials, before, during and after object relocation.
  
  Apply knowledge of the tools, technologies, and best practices for cataloging and inventorying to assist Archives staff, Collections Managers, and Cataloging and Metadata Librarian in reviewing and updating catalog records.
  
  Help maintain organization, security, and cleanliness of collections storage facilities.
  Work with shippers, contractors, and appropriate CHM staff to safely pack and relocate collections within storage.
  
  Foster a collaborative team environment and open communication across Collections and related departments.
  
  OTHER DUTIES:
  As time permits, process archival collections to facilitate research and programmatic use. Duties may include: weeding unwanted materials, organizing and re-housing collections, preparing descriptive and administrative metadata for catalog records, and drafting finding aids.
• 
  Perform other duties as assigned

Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree in museum studies, library and information science, archival studies, or a related field, with training in collections care and management.
•  Minimum two years professional experience working with relevant collection materials in a museum, library, or archive setting.
• Experience participating in or coordinating large-scale collections moves, rehousing, or storage renovation projects preferred.
• Experience handling a variety of collection types including paper-based materials, decorative and industrial arts objects and architectural collections strongly preferred.
• Experience supervising or coordinating the work of project staff, interns, or volunteers preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current and legacy museum registration methods.
• Working knowledge of museum and archival standards and best practices related to cataloging, inventory control, collections handling, and preventive conservation, including housing standards and techniques.
• Familiarity with collection management systems and relational databases (e.g., Airtable, TMS, or similar) and comfort using Microsoft Office applications.
• Knowledge of Chicago history.
• Ability to develop and follow workflows to meet production, management, quality control, and procedural requirements in an efficient and effective manner. Strong research skills. Ability to apply independent judgement to creatively solve technical, administrative, and procedural problems in a timely manner.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in an active construction environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to work collaboratively across Collections, Curatorial Affairs, and Properties staff and deal diplomatically and effectively with all constituencies.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs., ascend and descend ladders and lifts, and work in storage environments that may require standing, bending, and reaching.
• Ability to work in a collections storage environment that may include environmental variations (e.g., temperature fluctuations, odors, or ongoing maintenance activities).
• A valid driver’s license.
• Willingness to work occasional evenings and/or weekends.
• Commitment to the mission, values, and programs of the Chicago History Museum.

For more details and to apply: https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=d33dec717473f5ac&from=shareddesktop_copy

Deadline to apply: January 16, 2026

Summer 2026 Intern, 40-hour week, June-August (10-12 weeks)

Paid or for academic credit: $20-33/hour

The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Summer Intern Program is a paid internship designed to give undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students direct exposure to our Bank’s operations. Beginning in early June, interns commit to 40 hours a week for 10-12 consecutive weeks onsite (230 S LaSalle St, Chicago, IL 60604) or hybrid depending on the department’s requirement. This internship is helping with archival projects. Specific projects will be chosen based on Bank and intern skill needs.

PREFERRED SKILLS:

Intermediate working knowledge of Word and Excel
Strong interpersonal and communication skills
Ability to verbally present information and respond to questions from small to medium groups
Ability to interpret data and analytics to develop insights, tell stories, support the decision-making process, and measure impact
Detail-oriented and self-motivated
Ability to interact with internal and external clients professionally in a fast paced, high-energy environment
Ability to be an independent worker with a team player attitude

REQUIRED: Graduate student status

For more information and to apply: https://tinyurl.com/3w3cvman