Archive manager

Description

Archive managers ensure the care and preservation of a cultural institution and the archives within. Archive managers, along with curators, and conservators, play a very important role in the care of the institution and all the collections within.

Excludes collection manager collection manager.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to archive manager:

archivist
cultural records manager
archive services manager
archive and records manager
archivist and records manager
archive administrator

Minimum qualifications

Master’s degree is generally required to work as archive manager. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Archive manager is a Skill level 4 occupation.

Archive manager career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to archive manager.

collection manager
exhibition registrar
museum scientist
conservator
art restorer

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of archive manager. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of archive manager with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of archive manager.

Art collections: The variety of paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and other works that form collections in a museum and prospective new collections which are of interest for a museum or art gallery.
Conservation techniques: The procedures, instruments, techniques, materials and chemicals used in conservation and archiving.
Collection management: The process of resource evaluation, selection and life-cycle planning to create and promote a coherent collection in line with the developing needs of the users or customers. Understanding legal deposit for long-term access to publications.
Project management: Understand project management and the activities which comprise this area. Know the variables implied in project management such as time, resources, requirements, deadlines, and responding to unexpected events.
Museum databases: The tools and processes involved in working with museum databases.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of archive manager.

Create collection conservation plan: Create a comprehensive, high-level overview conservation plan for the collection.
Manage budgets: Plan, monitor and report on the budget.
Manage staff: Manage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the workers to meet the company objectives. Monitor and measure how an employee undertakes their responsibilities and how well these activities are executed. Identify areas for improvement and make suggestions to achieve this. Lead a group of people to help them achieve goals and maintain an effective working relationship among staff.
Supervise artefact movement: Supervise any movement of museum artefacts and ensure their security.
Monitor activities: Monitor all the activities of an artistic organisation.
Establish high standards of collections care: Establish and maintain high quality standards in collection care, from acquisition to conservation and display.
Implement risk management for works of art: A registrar determines risk factors to an art collection and mitigates them. Risk factors for artworks include vandalism, theft, pests, emergencies, and natural disasters. It is the responsibility of a registrar to develop and implement strategies to minimise these risks.
Monitor museum environment: Monitor and document environmental conditions in a museum, in storage as well as exhibition facilities. Make sure an adapted and stable climate is guaranteed.
Advise on loans of art work for exhibitions: Working together with curators and museum collection managers, a registrar evaluates the condition of art objects for exhibition or loan purposes. The registrar also decides whether or not an artwork is able to withstand the stresses of travel or exposition.
Respect cultural differences in the field of exhibition: Respect cultural differences when creating artistic concepts and exhibitions. Collaborate with international artists, curators, museums and sponsors.
Supervise work: Direct and supervise the day-to-day activities of subordinate personnel.
Document museum collection: Registrars are concerned with documentation and record keeping of museum collections. Documentation includes information about an object’s condition, provenance, materials, and all of its movements within the museum or out on loan.
Cope with challenging demands: Maintain a positive attitude towards new and challenging demands such as interaction with artists and handling of artistic artefacts. Work under pressure such as dealing with last moment changes in time schedules and financial restraints.
Execute administration: Carry out administrative work and establish public relations.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of archive manager. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Collection management software: Be familiar with specialised collection management software used to document and keep record of the museum collection.
Art history: The history of art and artists, the artistic trends throughout centuries and their contemporary evolutions.
Budgetary principles: Principles of estimating and planning of forecasts for business activity, compile regular budget and reports.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of archive manager. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Coach employees: Maintain and improve employees’ performance by coaching individuals or groups how to optimise specific methods, skills or abilities, using adapted coaching styles and methods. Tutor newly recruited employees and assist them in the learning of new business systems.
Compile detailed collection inventory: Compile a detailed inventory of all items in the collection.
Provide project information on exhibitions: Provide information on the preparation, execution and evaluation of exhibitions and other artistic projects.
Assess object condition: Work together with the collection manager or restorer, to evaluate and document the condition of a museum object for a loan or an exhibition.
Coordinate operational activities: Synchronise activities and responsibilities of the operational staff to ensure that the resources of an organisation are used most efficiently in pursuit of the specified objectives.
Make improvements to work activities: Make recommendations for improvements to work activities
Present exhibition: Present an exhibition and give educational lectures in a comprehensible way that is attractive to the public.
Manage archive: Supervise others to ensure that documents, files, and objects are correctly labelled, stored, and preserved according to archive standards and regulations.
Evaluate art quality: Correctly evaluate the quality of art objects, artefacts, photographs and documents.
Study a collection: Research and trace the origins and the historical significance of collections and archive content.
Handle art: Work directly with objects in museums and art galleries, in coordination with other museum professionals, to ensure that artworks are safely handled, packed, stored and cared for.
Manage digital archives: Create and maintain computer archives and databases, incorporating latest developments in electronic information storage technology.

ISCO group and title

1349 – Professional services managers not elsewhere classified

 

 


 

 

References
  1. Archive manager – ESCO
Last updated on August 8, 2022