A little bit about us…

The Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia (BHMVA) is located in the heart of Richmond, Virginia and serves patrons of all ages. Founded by Carroll Anderson in 1981, BHMVA celebrates the rich culture and moving histories of African American people in Virginia and their contributions to our magnificent country. The museum's mission is to provide, develop, and partner in the creation of educational resources, services, and opportunities to promote and advance understanding of the history and culture of Black people and African Americans in the Commonwealth of Virginia. For the last 40 years, BHMVA has achieved its mission by telling untold, and often forgotten, inspirational stories in the full context of American history so that there is a greater understanding of our history, leading to a more diverse and inclusive society.

A little bit about the role…

The Registrar will establish and oversee the registration function at BHMVA, ensuring the proper care, documentation, and accessibility of the museum's growing collection of more than 5,000 archival records. This role is responsible for cataloging, managing loan agreements, overseeing permissions requests, and coordinating collection digitization efforts in partnership with outside institutions. The Registrar will also manage interns and assist in securing new collection pieces alongside the Director of Curatorial Services. This position requires strong archival and museum services expertise, with specific experience in rare books and collections management.

The Registrar will be responsible for…

• Managing all aspects of the museum's collections, including both digital and non-digital holdings, across headquarters and off-site storage locations.
• Developing and maintaining loan agreements; overseeing the museum's participation as both a lending and borrowing institution.
• Cataloging and inventorying collection pieces, ensuring accuracy and accessibility.
• Managing permissions requests (e.g., photo borrowing and reproduction), ensuring adherence to museum policy.
• Supporting acquisition of new collection pieces in partnership with the Director of Curatorial Services.
• Overseeing conservation practices, with particular attention to rare books and archival materials.
• Coordinating weekly with the Virginia Museum of History & Culture digitization team.
• Providing supervision and guidance for interns.
• Supporting photography and documentation of collection items.
• Developing agreements and partnerships with external institutions as needed to support collection use and access.

Along with a demonstrable passion for BHMVA's mission, the strongest candidates will bring many of the professional experiences, knowledge and skills outlined below:

• Bachelor's degree in museum studies, library sciences, archival studies, or related field required; Master's preferred.
• 3–5 years of post-graduate experience in museum services, archival research, or collections management (hint: we're open to recent grads with relevant experience).
• Demonstrated experience with rare books collections is required.
• Familiarity with conservation practices for archival and rare book materials.
• Experience managing permissions, rights, and reproduction requests.
• Strong organizational and cataloging skills, with comfort managing both physical and digital collections.
• Experience with museum databases and digitization workflows.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills; able to manage relationships with external institutions.
• Team-oriented mindset; willing to step in wherever needed.
• Commitment to and alignment with BHMVA's mission and values, including celebrating and honoring Black history and culture.

You will receive bonus points for having…

• Photography experience
• Cultural knowledge of regional and African American history.

BHMVA North Star Principles:

Balance

• Inclusive Representation & Partnerships: Foster opportunities for diverse voices to be heard and included, ensuring every story is represented and every community has a seat at the table.

Presence

• In-House Programming & Community Engagement: Establish a robust presence through

dynamic in-house programming, active participation in steering committees, and serving as connectors within the community.

Premiere & Exclusivity

• Strategic Collaborations & Partnerships: Cultivate premier collaborations, exclusive partnerships, and influential committees that elevate our mission and broaden our impact.

Storytelling, Truth, and Narration

• Innovative Storytelling: Utilize creative and innovative methods to uncover and share undertold stories. Amplify our collections through social media campaigns and curate continuous, themed local exhibitions to educate and inspire.

Programming

• Community-Driven Programs: Develop and implement programs that resonate with and are driven by the Virginia community, ensuring relevance and engagement.

Call to Action

• Active Community Involvement: Encourage and sustain continuous community involvement, inviting everyone to contribute to and benefit from our initiatives.

Direct Impact

• Engagement & Support: Focus on retaining members, increasing subscriptions, and optimizing rental opportunities to ensure our sustainability and direct impact on the community.

In addition to a competitive salary, dynamic team and supportive work environment, you will also receive:

• PTO policy, with additional time off for educational pursuits
• Healthcare stipends for medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Relocation package

Sandbox and BHMVA are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, physical and mental disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/assignment, citizenship, pregnancy or maternity, protected veteran status, or any other status prohibited by applicable national, federal, state or local law.

Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every. single. qualification. We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and just workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with 100% of the qualifications listed, we encourage you to still apply. Our hiring philosophy looks to weed people INTO our process, not weed them out! Who knows, you may be just the right candidate for a future role with us. Just go for it... submit your resume!