Collections Manager and Research Coordinator, Heritage Center – Limited Term

Collections Manager and Research Coordinator
Heritage Center – Limited Term

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Employment Type: University Staff
Schedule: Full-Time
Posting Close Date: 23-Dec-2025
Date Posted: 23-Dec-2025

CU Boulder Advancement encourages applications for a Collections Manager and Research Coordinator for the Heritage Center! This role collaborates with the Interim Director/Curator of the Heritage Center museum and is responsible for managing, caring for, and preserving the museum’s historical collections while supervising the historical research activities related to the Heritage Center’s and CU Boulder’s campus-wide 150th Anniversary initiatives. The Collections Manager should have experience in the care and management of museum collections, a solid understanding of historical research processes, and a background in exhibition development.

Strong project management skills are essential.

One of the primary responsibilities of the Collections Manager will be to familiarize themselves with the Museum’s collections and identify the best ways to use them for exhibitions and storytelling related to the campus’s 150th Anniversary. Additionally, the Collections Manager will manage and streamline workflows for campus and Heritage Center research projects by overseeing, scheduling, and training staff, students, and volunteers.

At CU Boulder Advancement, we are committed to fostering an environment where everyone matters and all can thrive. This dedication is rooted in our core values and our mission to drive impactful fundraising and engagement. Our team actively engages in learning, reflection, and the transformation of systems, policies, and practices that perpetuate oppressive ideologies—including racism, sexism, ableism, and heterosexism. We recognize our responsibility to lead by example in building a supportive and inclusive culture for both internal colleagues and external partners.

We hold ourselves accountable through individual and divisional goals that continuously assess our progress, growth, and outcomes—ensuring alignment with our mission and values every step of the way.

Museum Collections Management

• Possesses expert knowledge in the care and management of museum collections, including knowledge specific to archival, photographic, textile and various three-dimensional materials.
• Directly manages the collection’s documentation, archives, preservation, handling, copyright, security, database management, integrated pest management, and environmental monitoring of facilities and objects.
• Reviews and processes collections transactions (accession, loans, deaccessions, and repository agreements), ensuring compliance with local, state, federal, and international laws.
• Reviews and processes collections use requests and facilitates research access (loan and exhibit proposals, research visits, image rights, etc.).
• Maintains accurate collection inventories, object tracking, and access control.
• Prepares collection objects and data for in-person and virtual exhibitions and collaborates on social media content.
• Participates in cross-departmental groups to accomplish campus-wide research objectives.
• Participates in cross-departmental groups (i.e., collections committee, working groups, etc.) to accomplish collections-wide objectives.
• Responds to emergency situations that threaten the collections, e.g., protecting objects, documenting nature and extent of damage, working with facilities management for proper cleanup actions, and facilitating conservation of collections following an emergency.
• Helps manage digitization projects, digital asset archiving, and digital asset metadata preservation in collaboration with Interim Director/Curator.

• Works collaboratively with the Heritage Center’s Interim Director/Curator to identify historical materials in the museum’s collection for research and digitization.
• Creates subject-specific internal research aids to streamline the research process for the 150th Anniversary.
• Coordinated with the 150th Anniversary Storytelling Committee and Strategic Relations Project Manager about research topics and…