Chief Curator & Director of Collections (Museum of African American History)

JOB TITLE: Chief Curator & Director of Collections
REPORTS TO: President & CEO
DATE: February 2024
FLSA STATUS: Exempt
COMPENSATION: $80,000 - $90,000
LOCATION: Boston/Nantucket, MA
ONSITE: This hybrid role entails working both remotely and on-site. The position mandates presence at the museum for 3 to 4 days weekly, with a flexible option to work remotely for 1 day each week. The work location alternates between two sites in Boston and Nantucket.

Mission:

The Museum of African American History connects colonial and early African American history & culture in Boston and the larger New England area with the abolition of slavery and current explorations of race and the struggle for human rights.

Vision:

Home to four original African American buildings built at the birth of the nation and still standing, the museum illuminates, interprets, and preserved the birthplace of the abolitionist movement and the continuing struggle for human rights.

History:  

The Museum is a not-for-profit history institution that began holding exhibitions and public gatherings in 1963 and is nationally and internationally known for its collection of historic sites in Boston and Nantucket, including two African Meeting Houses Abiel Smith School, Seneca Boston- Florence Higginbotham House, Black Heritage Trails.

General Purpose:
The Chief Curator & Director of Collections oversees the museum’s curatorial and collections efforts on both campuses Boston and Nantucket. The Chief Curator & Director of collections has demonstrable level of experience in curatorial core competencies of preservation (collections planning, care and management); research (scholarly, object-based, and applied research), and communication (exhibition design and development, and public engagement) while also ensuring its historical and cultural accuracy This position will work across departments and with partners including area depositories currently holding part of MAAH’s collections like the National Park Service, and University of Massachusetts – Boston.  This position may also serve as a museum spokesperson on relevant subject-matter.

This position will be responsible for facilitating/ helping museums prepare areas of curation and collections for the accreditation process.

Essential Functions:

• Member of the museum’s senior leadership team
• Reports to the President & CEO
• Leads & manages curatorial & collections team
• Works collaboratively across museum departments
• Collaborates with Marketing on outreach promotions
• May serve as museum spokesperson on specific topics
• Plays key role in museum accreditation process

Collections Management

• Oversee acquisition, cataloging, and preservation of museum collections including those located at partner repositories
• Develop & implement policies and procedures regarding collections care that brings museum into accreditation compliance
• Ensure compliance with legal and ethical standards regarding accessioning and deaccessioning
• Oversees collections committee

Exhibition Development

• Oversee planning, design, and installation of exhibitions related to the museum’s mission
• Develop innovative and compelling exhibits using dynamic interactive technology
• Leads renovation of museum’s current exhibitions in Boston and development of permanent exhibits at the Nantucket campus.
• Oversees exhibition contractors and vendors

Digital literacy

• Work collaboratively with staff and external vendors to develop compelling exhibitions and digital experiences using curatorial ethics and standards
• Implement creative and innovative ideas using modern technology including augmented and virtual reality, digital immersion, and artificial intelligence

Research and Scholarship

• Conduct research related to museum properties, communities, mission, and objects within museum’s collections including archeological artifacts
• Present research at events and conferences
• Foster partnership with academic institutions, historians, and researchers to enhance museum’s intellectual contributions

OTHER FUNCTIONS
The Chief Curator & Director of Collections performs additional functions (essential or otherwise), which may be assigned from time to time. The position may require work on weekends, nights, and holidays to accommodate facility programming and utilization.

TYPICAL PHYSICAL / SOCIAL REQUIREMENTS
KEY COMPETENCIES

• Accuracy: Maintain a high level of detail and accuracy in interpretive media and presentations including but not limited to exhibitions, research articles, interviews, and tours
• Adaptability: Adjust to changing situations, learns new and different tasks, res