Location: Denver Metro

Salary: $2,715.38 - $3,000.00 Biweekly; $5,883.33 - $6,500.00 Monthly

Closes: 02/23/2023

Description of Job:

History Colorado is hiring a Lead Curator to lead a team of 13 Curators, implement a new Collection Plan, and focus on proactive community partnerships and collaborations alongwith contemporary dialogue.

History Colorado (HC) has been building and refining The Collection since 1879. The Collection is a tangible point of connection between the present and the past. It reflects who we are and what we value today, and records what will be of interest to Coloradans in the future. The value of The Collection lies in the powerful stories it holds, and in its potential for aiding public awareness and understanding of the state’s history through uses including: research, educational programming,exhibitions, loans, design inspiration, and community building. The Collection currently comprises approximately 225,000 artifacts, 1,000,000+ photographs, and 9,000+ linear feet of archival materials.

The Collection holds countless stories centered on the idea that Colorado fits one or many of the following themes.

• Home (Domestic Life)
• Innovative (Business and Industry)
• Many Voices (Community Life)
• Natural (Natural Realm and the Environment)
• Creative (Leisure and the Arts)
• Service (Government and the Military)

Our Curatorial staff experience and work reflect these themes and include staff in African American History and Cultural Heritage; Archives; Military History; Photographs; Serials; Business and Industry; LGBTQ+ History; Oral History; Hispano, Latino, and Chicano History and Culture; Art and Design; Clothing and Textiles; Indigenous Heritage and Culture; and Architecture.

Focused on building significantly more robust collections with diverse and contemporary perspectives, HC is seeking a dynamic museum professional with experience in curation,collaboration, and programs that elevate the understanding and appreciation of collections and the stories they can tell. This position is also responsible for interpretation methods, developing unique opportunities for scholarship, increased access to and engagement with collections, and the intellectual management/expertise for a part of the collection, ideally fitting within the themes mentioned above.

The successful candidate will be a forward-thinking and dynamic individual with a passion for history work and a belief in the power of collections and the stories they embody to engage people in making personal connections. A creative imagination, the ability to recognize and deal with sensitive issues and diverse cultures, and a willingness to step outside the traditional curatorial role are highly desirable.

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

• Provide leadership for a team of 13 Curatorial staff, with direct supervision of several staff
• Work with communities, including through community advisory groups, community engagement, collecting initiatives, exhibitions, online platforms, and public programs
• Work to ensure collections are interpreted inclusively with multiple voices, focused on community authorship and perspectives, and prioritizing different ways of knowing
• Intellectually manage and process a part of the larger HC Collection, fitting with your area of expertise
• Work to build a meaningful Collection through the pursuit of a purpose-driven acquisition and deaccession program tied to the Collection Plan
• Conduct original research and collaborative documentation projects–making the results available to the public through access and outreach initiatives, exhibitions, public programs,and publications
• Participate in the exhibit development process by serving on exhibit teams (helping develop content, drafting labels, writing articles, consulting on design decisions, developing, and participating in programs)
• Serve as a curatorial resource for HC’s historic sites, structures, and nine museums across Colorado
• Assist with other projects as needed

Preferred Candidate Can Successfully Demonstrate:

• Considerable experience with community work, navigating cultural sensitivities, and co-authorship and co-creation
• Experience with large collections or high volumes of activity at a medium to large institution(or experience that is comparable)
• Proven ability in processing, preservation, and digitization of collections
• Experience working with donors, communities, and an acquisition process
• High levels of experience in project management, meeting deadlines, and flexible multi-tasking in a fast-paced and sometimes ever-changing environment
• Strong abilities to make decisions, be self-directing, show motivation, and work both independently with minimal supervision and collaboratively in a team environment
• Collaborative skills working with other staff, such as Collections Management or other Curators, on projects like improving physical and intellectual control of and access tocollection resources
• Innovative and/or motivated approaches for collections programs, community or donor engagement, and providing access to collections
• Experience working with and managing volunteers, contractors, and interns

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS, SUBSTITUTIONS, CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT & APPEAL RIGHTS:

• Master’s degree in History, Anthropology, Art History, Museum Studies or other relevant graduate degree OR 3+ years of relevant and practical full-time experience
• Minimum of 3-5 years of progressive curatorial experience supervising and leading other Curatorial staff as well as working with collections in a museum or other collecting institution with a public audience
• Demonstrated knowledge of a Colorado/Western area of history appropriate to our collections, and a thorough understanding of museum ethics and best practices
• Good communication skills, both written and oral, including evidence of writing and presenting public programs for a variety of audiences
• Experience developing exhibits or exhibit content in a team environment including demonstrated knowledge and experience with serving as a content developer
• Experience with database systems used in museums
• Position requires periodic travel by car, van, or truck to storage facilities and museums throughout the state, typically for periods of less than one week in duration