Curatorial Assistant (FIXED TERM)

Fixed-term, full-time staff position for 20 months.

About the role

The University of Southern California Libraries seeks a Curatorial Assistant to support the ONE Archives at the USC Libraries. Working closely with the Curator, the Curatorial Assistant will help research, plan, and produce exhibitions and public programs while providing day-to-day curatorial and administrative support. The position serves as a liaison with artists, scholars, donors, and colleagues across the Libraries and University in support of exhibitions, public programs, and collections management.

The Curatorial Assistant will provide research, organizational, and logistical support for the planning and implementation of exhibitions, including scholarly research; preparation of exhibition checklists; coordination of loan requests; management of rights and permissions; transcription projects; exhibition catalogs; interpretive materials; related public programs; and other exhibition-related materials. The position will also assist the Curator with responding to research and donor inquiries, drafting communications and publicity materials, supporting social media outreach, and cataloging works of art in the Archives' new collections database.

The Curatorial Assistant will contribute to both permanent collection exhibitions and larger loan exhibitions, including projects accompanied by scholarly publications. The successful candidate will possess excellent research, organizational, and project management skills, with exceptional attention to detail. They should be able to work both independently and collaboratively, communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Responsibilities

• Assists with data collection through independent secondary and primary research.
• Conducts object-based and archival research and synthesizes this research for exhibitions.
• Produces written scholarship for publication and coordinates and assists in the production of exhibition catalogs, including securing image rights and coordinating texts from multiple sources.
• Supervises production work performed by internal staff or interfaces with vendors to negotiate and contract for production services.
• Monitors vendor performance to ensure quality and timeliness of contracted work.
• Creates reports, correspondence, and other materials as needed.
• Assists with reports required by grant-giving institutions that support this position.
• Arranges and attends meetings, seminars, symposia, and other events related to project efforts.
• Stays informed of developments in the field.
• Assists in the organization and production of grant proposals, gathering documentation such as annual reports and detailed budgets for inclusion.
• Hosts national and international visiting scholars.
• Assists in the creation of exhibition checklists and coordinates exhibition loans.
• Demonstrates, through ideas, words, and actions, a strong commitment to USC’s Unifying Values.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree (Master's degree preferred) in Art History or related field.
• Minimum of one year of experience (preferred experience supporting collections curators and archivists).
• Experience with collections databases.
• Demonstrable specialized knowledge pertinent to materials in collection(s) and archival equipment.
• Experience utilizing digital reproduction technologies (e.g., scanners and digital cameras for preservation, access, and/or exhibition).
• Excellent organizational skills with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office suite and Adobe suite of applications (e.g., Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, PowerPoint, Photoshop, and InDesign).
• Interest in Queer History.

Benefits

• Health benefits for employees and their families with access to the renowned university medical network.
• Eligibility for retirement plans with employer contributions after six months of employment.
• Tuition benefits for employees and their families.
• Access to professional development opportunities.
• Central Los Angeles location with easy access to commuter trains, buses, and tram pick-up services at no charge to employees.
• Discounts to a wide variety of cultural, sporting, and other campus events.

Pay

The hourly rate range for this position is $24.44 - $28.00. When determining an offer, the University of Southern California considers factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate’s experience, education, training, key skills, internal peer alignment, applicable laws, contractual requirements, grant funding, and market conditions.