Collection Curator & Asset Archivist (UHNWI Principal)

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Category
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Posted Date
May 7, 2026

Collection Curator & Asset Archivist (UHNWI Principal)

USA with Extensive Global Travel

Responsible for the end-to-end management of the principal’s collectible assets, including documentation, preservation, acquisitions, and selective disposal, delivered to institutional standards with full oversight and control.

Core Responsibilities

Inventory Creation & Management

  • Build and maintain a centralized digital registry of all collectible assets
  • Catalogue across watches, fine art, sculpture, and related categories
  • Maintain standardized metadata, including:
    • Provenance
    • Purchase details and valuation history
    • Condition reports
    • Location and movement logs
  • Conduct periodic physical audits

Documentation & Archiving

  • Travel across residences, storage facilities, and galleries
  • Produce museum-grade photography and visual records
  • Digitize certificates, appraisals, and historical documentation
  • Maintain a structured and accessible archive

Database Development & Control

  • Design and manage a secure, searchable asset database
  • Implement tagging, categorization, and reporting functionality
  • Integrate insurance, valuation, and transaction data
  • Ensure data integrity, redundancy, and strict access control

Condition Monitoring & Preservation

  • Conduct routine condition assessments
  • Coordinate conservation, restoration, and specialist interventions
  • Oversee storage, handling, and environmental standards

Market Intelligence & Acquisition Support

  • Monitor auction houses, galleries, and private markets
  • Track inventory across Sotheby’s, Christie’s, Phillips, and key dealers
  • Identify assets aligned with the principal’s collecting strategy
  • Prepare concise acquisition briefs covering:
    • Historical context
    • Provenance
    • Comparable market data
    • Pricing guidance and bidding strategy

Disposal & Sales Execution

  • Identify assets for strategic divestment
  • Manage the full sales process, including:
    • Timing and positioning strategy
    • Auction house/vendor selection
    • Fee and guarantee negotiation
    • Oversight of cataloguing and marketing
  • Optimise outcomes across value, positioning, and discretion

Logistics & Movement Tracking

  • Oversee movement of assets across locations, storage, and exhibitions
  • Coordinate shipping, installation, and security
  • Maintain full chain of custody records

Stakeholder Management

  • Act as primary point of contact for auction houses, galleries, advisors, insurers, and storage providers
  • Lead due diligence and execution across acquisitions and disposals

Success Metrics

  • Complete, accurate, audit-ready inventory across all assets
  • Demonstrable value creation through acquisitions and disposals
  • High-quality, actionable market intelligence delivered proactively
  • Zero asset loss, mismanagement, or documentation gaps
  • Efficient execution with leading market counterparties

Candidate Profile

  • Proven experience managing high-value private collections or within major institutions
  • Academic background in art history, collections management, or a related field
  • Strong network across auction houses, galleries, and dealers
  • Commercial acumen, including buying and selling experience
  • Exceptional attention to detail and organisational capability
  • Ability to build structured systems from the ground up
  • Absolute discretion and a highly execution-focused mindset

Compensation & Structure

Full-time position. Compensation in the range of $150,000–$200,000, depending on experience. Travel expenses fully covered.

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