Collections Registration Unit Head JOB

About DCT:

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) regulates, develops, and promotes the emirate of Abu Dhabi as an extraordinary global destination, rich in cultural authenticity, diverse natural offerings, world-class hospitality, and unparalleled leisure and entertainment attractions.

Our Culture Sector leverages Abu Dhabi's heritage to advance the emirate's development as a world-class, sustainable cultural destination. From safeguarding UNESCO World Heritage Sites to building world-leading museums and cultural institutions, our commitment drives us to preserve, protect, and share Abu Dhabi's story with the world.

At DCT, we believe in investing in people. We nurture an environment of innovation, diversity, and collaboration, empowering our teams to deliver meaningful work that enriches communities and leaves a lasting impact.

Collections Registration Unit Head

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Collections Registration Unit Head to lead the development and implementation of world-class registration standards across our museums and cultural institutions.

This is a strategic leadership role, responsible for unifying practices across multiple venues, ensuring that our collections are documented, safeguarded, and made accessible in line with the highest international standards.

As the Unit Head, you will:

• Provide strategic oversight of registration and documentation across multiple institutions.

• Develop and implement policies, procedures, and standards that shape how cultural heritage is preserved and managed.

• Oversee the centralized collections database, ensuring integrity, accuracy, and compliance.

• Support acquisitions, loans (incoming and outgoing), inventories, audits, and cultural property restitution.

• Collaborate closely with conservation, curatorial, legal, and logistics teams to deliver effective and ethical cultural stewardship.

If you are seeking an opportunity to join a dynamic department working on a national scale, contributing to meaningful cultural preservation, and leaving a legacy for future generations, we encourage you to apply.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership for registration and documentation across all DCT cultural institutions.

• Harmonize workflows, practices, and standards across venues of varying scale and capacity.

• Lead and mentor registration teams, supporting their growth and professional development.

• Ensure compliance with international and national regulations governing collections care and documentation.

• Drive modernization of registration systems, including the adoption of metadata standards (SPECTRUM, CIDOC-CRM, Dublin Core).

• Liaise with stakeholders internally and externally to promote best practices and ensure compliance.

• Report regularly on activities, performance, and challenges to senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Museum Studies, Cultural Heritage Management, Archival Science, or a related field (Master's degree preferred).

• Substantial leadership experience in collections registration, ideally across multiple institutions or national cultural environments.

Professional Certifications

• Certifications in collections care, documentation standards, or cultural heritage/art law (e.g., NEMO, AAM, ICOM).

• Project management certification is an advantage.

Experience

• Proven experience leading registration or collections teams in a multi-institutional or national context.

• Strong background in collection management systems (e.g., SPECTRUM, EMu).

• Deep knowledge of legal and ethical frameworks governing cultural property.

• Demonstrated success in large-scale coordination and modernization projects.

Key Skills and Competencies

• Strategic thinking and systems-level vision.

• Strong leadership, collaboration, and diplomacy skills.

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work across multi-stakeholder environments.

• Expertise in data management, metadata standards, and digital transformation in collections.

• Commitment to cultural preservation, ethical stewardship, and innovation.