Collections Manager

Work4CA: Start Your State Career

Applications will be reviewed beginning Friday, November 28, 2025, and every Friday thereafter until filled.

Please read the job bulletin thoroughly to understand application submission requirements. This position is in Los Angeles and is eligible for a hybrid telework schedule for employees who have passed their probationary period and can satisfactorily perform their essential work functions independently and remotely as determined by management. Specific telework schedules may be discussed further during the hiring process.

Please Note: All information provided on the STD 678 application is subject to verification at any time during the recruitment process, hiring process, and even after employment has been offered or begun. Incomplete or vague information may delay the review process or impact your eligibility.

To ensure your application is complete and accurately reflects your qualifications, please make sure to include the following:

Detailed Duties: For each position listed, clearly describe the specific duties you performed.
Specific Dates: Provide the exact start and end dates (month/day/year) for each job.
Hours Worked: Indicate the number of hours worked per week for each position, including part-time work.

While not required, a resume is strongly encouraged to provide additional details about your skills and experience. Resumes will not replace the required Std 678 Employment Application or the Statement of Qualifications (SOQ).

This is an exciting opportunity to join our team at the California African American Museum (CAAM). Founded in 1977, the California African American Museum's (CAAM) mission is to research, collect, preserve, and interpret, for public enrichment, the history, art, and culture of African Americans. In 1984, CAAM moved to its 44,000-square-foot home at Exposition Park, South of Downtown Los Angeles. With an emphasis on California and the western United States, the museum's permanent collection houses 4,000 objects, including paintings, photographs, film, sculpture, historical documents, and artifacts. CAAM avidly supports the work of under-represented artists of color to genuinely represent how people of the African diaspora have contributed to American culture and the world at large through temporary art and history exhibitions and public programming for visitors of all ages.

CAAM seeks a Program Manager to fill the role of Collections Manager. Under the general direction of the Deputy Director of the California African American Museum (CAAM), the Program Manager, under the working title of Collections Manager, is a senior level manager responsible for leading and overseeing the museum's collections management program. This role provides strategic direction and administrative oversight to support CAAM's collections initiatives.

The Collections Manager is responsible for supervising the comprehensive care, conservation, inventory, documentation, research, and presentation of the museum's collections in alignment with professional museum standards and goals. The Collections Manager directs the planning, implementation, and oversight of collections management, database development, collections exhibitions, and scholarship while overseeing all aspects of collection loans and image permissions. The incumbent leads and coordinates the museum's acquisition efforts for visual art, historical objects, and archives by overseeing the collections committee, donation inquiries, and art purchases. The Collections Manager works with various internal and external partners to enhance public access to CAAM's collection through database development, digitization, metadata structuring, and website integration while also coordinating software upgrades and system migrations. The manager oversees research in collaboration with curators and scholars, prepares grant proposals, supervises collections access for research and exhibitions, and supports publishing efforts.

If you're a strategic and detail oriented professional with a passion for collections stewardship, program development and project management, and a commitment to advancing curatorial and institutional goals through well executed, impactful initiatives, we invite you to apply. This position is full-time permanent. We especially encourage veterans and persons with disabilities to apply.

CAAM is a small department located in Los Angeles, south of Downtown Los Angeles within Exposition Park. We actively cultivate an inclusive atmosphere that embraces individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and life journeys, empowering them to excel and flourish. We enthusiastically welcome your distinctive contributions to our organization and the meaningful work we undertake.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement .

Working Conditions
PLEASE REFER TO DUTY STATEMENT IN THE WORK ENVIRONMENT SECTION.

Office/Museum setting

Minimum Requirements You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• PROGRAM MANAGER, CALIFORNIA MUSEUM OF AFRO-AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist
• Duty Statement

Position Details Job Code #:
JC-499308

Position #(s):
317-211-5844-002

Working Title:
Collections Manager

Classification:
PROGRAM MANAGER, CALIFORNIA MUSEUM OF AFRO-AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE $7,498.00 - $9,317.00
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions:
1

Work Location:
Los Angeles County

Telework:
Hybrid

Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time

Work Shift:
8am - 5pm

Work Week:
Monday - Friday

Department Information The mission of the California African American Museum (CAAM) is to research, collect, preserve, and interpret for public enrichment the history, art, and culture of African Americans with an emphasis on California and the western United States.

Founded in 1977, as the first African American museum of art, history, and culture fully supported by a state, CAAM moved to its 44,000-square-foot home in Exposition Park, just south of Downtown Los Angeles, in 1984. The museum's permanent collection houses 4,000 objects that span paintings, photographs, film, sculpture, historical documents, and artifacts.

CAAM has a strong mandate to support the work of under-represented artists of color and to think expansively about the way that people of the African diaspora have contributed to American culture and the world at large. That is achieved through a rotating schedule of temporary art and history exhibitions and public programming for visitors of all ages.

caamuseum.org

Please note: In July 2025, the State of California implemented the Personal Leave Program (PLP) 2025. This program temporarily reduces employees' monthly base pay in exchange for paid leave credits. This position is subject to PLP 2025 and will have a monthly base pay reduction of 3% in exchange for 5 hours of leave credits through June 2027. The salary ranges shown on this job posting do not reflect the salary reduction.

Special Requirements The selected candidate will be required to submit to pre-employment hiring clearances which include the following: Department of Justice Livescan fingerprint and medical testing for tuberculosis, within three business days of receipt of a conditional offer of employment.

Application Instructions
Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.
Final Filing Date: Until Filled
Who May Apply
Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply. Temporary Appointments may be considered if conditions warrant. Temporary Appointments may be made to anyone regardless of eligibility. Temporary Appointments may not exceed 9 months and will require eligibility to be obtained through an examination process in order to transition to a permanent appointment.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply
Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

California African American Museum
Maria Hernandez
Attn: State Human Resources
700 Exposition Park Drive
3rd Floor
Los Angeles , CA 90037

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

California African American Museum
Maria Hernandez
State Human Resources
700 Exposition Park Drive
3rd Floor
Los Angeles , CA 90037
Loading Dock mail attendant in sealed envelope labeled: CONFIDENTIAL/STATE HR
08:00 AM - 03:30 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
• Degree and/or School Transcripts
• Statement of Qualifications - All applicants must provide a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ), see STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS section.
  

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Desirable Qualifications In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

* 5-15 years of progressive experience in museum collection management or a related archiving field, preferably within the museum or gallery sector, or non-profit organization.
* A Master's Degree from an accredited college with specialization in American History, Fine Arts, Art History, Afro-American History, or Black Studies.
* Demonstrated experience with project management, condition reporting, and collection inventory.
* Experience in managing vendor performance, contracts and familiarity with donation and acquisition sequencing and museum preservation practices as per museum standards and guidelines.
* Demonstrate ability to apply and interpret policies, regulations, and laws.
* Creative problem solving skills.
* Ability to communicate with tact and diplomacy.
* Proven ability to establish and maintain effective professional working relationships.
* Ability to use tact and good judgment while communicating and working with customers, co-workers, management, and other government agency representatives.
* Experience working in a fast-paced and changing environment.
* Strong computer skills and experience with the Microsoft Office suite.
* Excellent business writing skills.
* Strong interpersonal skills and experience working in a team environment.
* Ability to speak clearly and effectively in front of a group.

Benefits Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Free parking is available to employees. The building is within close distance to public transportation, including the Metro Expo Line and a variety of restaurants.

ELIGIBILITY AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
To be considered for the job vacancy you MUST satisfy one of the following requirements:

List Eligibility - Successfully complete the civil service exam for the classification (see Examination Information section below).

Transfer Eligibility - Must have current employment with the State of California in the same classification or in a classification that is comparable. If in a different classification, you must meet the minimum qualifications (see Minimum Qualifications section and associated links above).

Reinstatement Eligibility - Previously obtained permanent employment with the State of California in the same classification or in a classification that is comparable. If in a different classification, you must meet the minimum qualifications (see Minimum Qualifications section and associated links above).

STATE CLASSIFICATION EXAM INFORMATION: At this time there is not an active examination for this classification listed on CalCareers . The department will be administering an examination at a later date. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications but who do not have one of the types of eligibility listed above are encouraged to apply for the position and may be hired as a TAU.

What Is A TAU? Temporary Authorization Utilization (TAU): Appointments in a temporary, full-time position that are not hired from a civil service employment list.

When no eligible list exists for the classification of the vacant position, at the time when an employee is needed, this type of TAU appointment is utilized.

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications for the class. Employees hired in lieu of a permanent are permitted to work up to nine (9) months pending the completion of a new examination for the class.

A TAU in lieu of permanent appointment triggers an examination. The hiring department will host an examination within 2-3 months of the expiration of the appointment. Therefore, the employee should be made aware of this and is encouraged to compete in the examination. The employee must successfully compete in the examination and be reachable in order to continue employment beyond the 9-month limit.

TAU employees are not permanent and do not serve a probationary period.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS will be verified based on the information listed on the State application* prior to being scheduled for an interview. Please refer to Minimum Qualifications in the class specifications.

EDUCATION INFORMATION : If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must submit a copy of your transcript or diploma. An official transcript will be required prior to appointment.

Foreign Degrees: Applicants who completed their education outside of the United States (with foreign degrees/transcripts) must obtain and submit verification of United States course/degree equivalency by the application deadline. Foreign education credential evaluation services can be found at https://www.naces.org.

*Applications with "SEE RESUME" or "SEE ATTACHED" will not be considered.

Statement of Qualifications
Instructions: All applicants must provide a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ), which must be submitted as a separate file, written in narrative style with no more than two (2) pages in length, single-spaced, using 12 pt. font, 1-inch margins and titled "Statement of Qualifications", with your name and Job Control (JC) number. Please use specific and concrete examples.

**Failure to include an SOQ conforming to these instructions will disqualify an applicant from consideration. Resumes and/or cover letters may be submitted but do not replace the required SOQ. A standard or generic SOQ will disqualify an applicant from consideration.**

SOQ Exercise:
Explain, based on the duty statement and the desirable qualifications, how your work experience, skills and education are relevant to the Program Manager (Collections Manager) position. Please be specific and detailed in your response.

Equal Opportunity Employer
The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

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