Position Title: Curator,Univ Museum
Employee Classification: Curator,Univ Museum
College/Division: Arts and Sciences College
Department: 331750-MUSEUM UNIVERSITY
Internal or External Search: External – Open to all applicants
Location: Las Cruces
Offsite Location (if applicable):
Target Hourly/Salary Rate: Competitive
Appointment Full-time Equivalency: 1.0
Exempt or Non-Exempt: Exempt
Summary: The University Museum invites applications for a collegial and enthusiastic museum curator.
Classification Summary:
Under supervision of the Director of the University Museum, directs the development, care, maintenance, exhibition, loan, and use of University collections, overseeing compliance with state and federal law. Serves as liaison between the University, other University departments and administrative units, the NMSU Foundation, and external agencies/groups. Direct and coordinate various projects and administrative duties; supervises special project staff, students, volunteers, and visiting researchers and lecturers. Participates in the writing of grant proposals and administers resulting projects. Participates in acquisitions and the solicitation of gifts to the University Museum and facilitates their transfer, inventory, and long term curation. Participates in both short and long-term planning for the University Museum, the department, and the Museum’s articulation to and cooperation with other departments and administrative units across campus.Classification Standard Duties:
Directs, supervises, and participates in daily collections management activities; determines and implements methods for preservation and conservation of items which may include artifacts, art, samples, and/or documentary records; manages database development for accessioning, loan, condition assessment, maintenance, and deaccessioning respective collections. Maintains security and conditions for the curation of human skeletal remains, associated artifacts, and documentary records of inventory under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. Negotiates repository agreements and deeds of gift; evaluates and receives donations and acquisitions; manages inventorying, conserving, repacking, cataloging, transporting, and storing incoming collections. Facilitates, conducts and encourages research on university collections, according to museum policy. Participates in professional meetings and presents and publishes papers; administers loan agreements and ensures adherence to established policies. Develops exhibits and supervises graduate and undergraduate research and internships in Museum Studies; serves on graduate committees; teaches courses on Museum Studies. Manages collections and working relationships with federal and other external agencies/groups including consultation, inventory, conservation, preservation, research and publication; organizes work flow to meet deadlines and ensure compliance with laws covering collections management standards and provisions. Oversees the supervision of staff, students, and volunteers to include: work allocation, training, promotion and enforcement of internal procedures, controls, and problem resolution; monitors building maintenance and security; evaluates performance and makes recommendations for personnel actions; motivates employees to achieve peak productivity and performance.Required Education, Experience, Certification/License, Equivalency
Required Education:Master’s degree in a related field. Required Experience:Three (3) years of professional experience related to the standard duties as outlined.; Equivalency:None; Required Certification/License:Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
KNOWLEDGE:Knowledge of conservation and preservation techniques and/or procedures for museum collections. Knowledge of procurement rules and regulations. Knowledge of research principles, protocol, techniques, and standards within area of expertise. Knowledge of federal and state policies and procedures relating to collections.; SKILLS:Skill in organizing resources and establishing priorities. Strategic planning skills.; ABILITIES:Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Ability to serve on task forces and/or committees. Ability to create, compose, and edit written materials. Ability to supervise and train employees, to include organizing, prioritizing, and scheduling work assignments. Ability to negotiate and manage contractual arrangements. Ability to organize and prioritize work. Ability to develop project budgets and projections.Job Duties and Responsibilities
Prepares budget for proposals for projects; monitors budget; plans and develops strategies for generating funds and other resources for the department, the College of Arts and Sciences, and other departments and administrative units across campus that work with the University Museum. Writes annual reports for the department, College of Arts and Sciences, the museum, and federal agencies; write repository agreements, deeds of gift, and programmatic agreements for state and federal agencies and private parties in collaboration with the NMSU Foundation. Encourages and facilitates exhibitions, programs, classes, and publications based on respective collections; may plan or assist in planning exhibits, coordinate outreach programs, and public education events. Participates in short-term and long-range planning for the museum and serves on committees. Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.Preferred Qualifications
MA in Anthropology, Museum Studies, or related field; Ph.D. favored; and 3 years of professional experience.
The University Museum at New Mexico State University (NMSU) invites applications for a collegial and enthusiastic museum curator who is broadly trained to direct the development, care, maintenance, exhibition, loan, and use of collections in compliance with state and federal law. Successful applicants will supervise undergraduate and graduate student interns and volunteers and teach Museum Studies courses that foster experiential learning. Preferences given to applicants with expertise in one or more of the following areas: collections management, collections-based scholarship, preventative conservation, and exhibit development or collaborative public engagement. Scholarly and educational philosophies that are collaborative and participatory are strongly preferred. Knowledge and experience working with Native American and/or Latin American border communities is preferred. Abilities to teach foundational courses in museum studies are strongly preferred.