Senior Museum Curator

About the role

The Senior Museum Curator at The Grove Museum, Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, is responsible for managing and curating historical collections, developing and implementing exhibitions, and providing public education on historical topics.

Responsibilities

• Serves as curator or historian on collaborative exhibit and project teams, including research, exhibit planning, initiating/facilitating the loan or acquisition of artifacts, preparing/installing exhibit artifacts and writing interpretive material on historical topics, exhibits, and collections.
• Prepares, reviews, and edits exhibit scripts, reports, brochures, newsletter articles and other printed and electronic interpretive and publicity materials.
• Creates media presentations; provides public presentations; and gives tours on American history and civil rights, material culture, and the care and preservation of collections.
• Affords assistance with the care and management of The Grove Museum collections and collections database.
• Performs research and documentation on collections, which may include condition reporting, cataloging, photographing, scanning, marking, and inventory.
• Works with staff/volunteers on collection management projects.
• Assists with care and management of museum equipment, facilities, and grounds.
• Meets with and observes contractors, including regular maintenance and historic preservation projects.
• Researches and responds to public requests for information on objects in The Grove collection, as well as for historical information, object identification, and methods of preservation.
• Provides written and/or verbal input on acquisitions, conservation, and collections policy.
• Affords assistance with the care and management of the Knott House Museum as allowed with consideration of Grove responsibilities.
• Performs other related duties as required, including contributing to the care and maintenance of the museum, grounds, objects, and exhibits; preparing for and cleaning up from the impacts of extreme weather conditions; assisting at museum public events; and performing site opening and closing procedures, light housekeeping, recordkeeping, and overall administrative support.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in history, American studies, anthropology, art history, humanities, public history, museum studies or related field.
• Minimum of two (2) years full-time paid work in a museum or arts and culture organization with duties that included managing collections, curating exhibitions, and assisting with exhibition installation.
• Minimum of one (1) year full-time paid work with historical collections and research.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of American History, obtained through course work or on the job.
• Knowledge of a variety of historical artifacts.
• Knowledge of museum terminology and programs.
• Knowledge of techniques used in conducting research.
• Knowledge of the basic principles of artifact and site care, conservation, and exhibition.
• Knowledge of museum exhibit planning and implementation.
• Knowledge of personal computers and software.
• Knowledge of the principles and techniques of effective verbal and written communication.
• Knowledge & Ability to use correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar usage.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to collect and maintain artifacts.
• Ability to identify, analyze, and interpret historical objects.
• Ability to photograph objects.
• Ability to proofread text for typewritten and grammatical errors and to make corrections.
• Ability to use a computer for word processing, collections research, digital image and audio data management, and preparation of exhibit plans, reports, and media presentations.
• Ability to organize information in a logical sequence.
• Ability to compose correspondence.
• Ability to handle telephone calls in a courteous and effective manner.
• Ability to work with other people on projects and teams.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to organize and maintain paper and electronic filing systems.

Special Note

Responses to qualifying questions must be clearly supported in your employment history.

Prior Experience

• Knowledge of history museums, historic house museums or arts and culture sites with history collections.
• Knowledge of the history of slavery and civil rights in the United States and skills related to engaging with the public about these histories.
• Knowledge of the care and management of historical objects.
• Curatorial knowledge and exhibition installation knowledge and skills.
• Strong technology skills including Microsoft Office products and collections management systems.
• Strong writing, collaboration, and public speaking and engagement skills.