Curator

POSITION: CURATOR

DEPARTMENT: HOWARD COUNTY MUSEUM

WORK SCHEDULE: M-F 8-4, hours may vary. Total hours/week: 35

STATUS:  Full Time

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

The Howard County Historical Society and Museum is seeking a focused, enthusiastic leader with a passion for local history as its Curator. The successful candidate will be an employee of Howard County in partnership with the Howard County Historical Society and, as such, is the curator of the Howard County Historical Society and the Howard County Museum. They will be report directly to the Executive Director.

To perform in this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed in this document are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

DUTIES:

• Assist the Executive Director with staff management of the Assistant Curator and Photo Tech. Assist the Executive Director in the hiring, evaluation, and termination of staff in related areas.
• Assist with day-to-day operations, event planning and execution, grant writing and fundraising, oversee internships, and assist with membership and volunteer communications while representing the organization in a professional manner. Assist the Executive Director with marketing/media/ communications/public relations as needed. Assist with programming of all kinds, not just curation or exhibits.
• Work with other local history and preservation groups and with state historical society and museum groups to exchange information concerning curatorial best practices, collections, research, and educational programs. Oversee and communicate knowledge of the museum’s collections and additional acquisitions, in addition to the development, production, and maintenance of interpretive exhibits together with the Executive Director.
• Manage, preserve, maintain, and handle the Howard County Museum’s collections, communicating knowledge concerning them, and analyzing and recommending acquisition and deaccessioning of the Museum collections and loans from and to the Museum.
• Catalog, record, document, and register collections, in a timely and accurate manner.
• Plan, prepare, and interpret educational displays for viewing by the public, ensuring orderly rotation of inventory.
• Undertake research, articles, exhibition text, catalogues, lectures, and workshops in areas of expertise.
  Establish policies in conjunction with appropriate standing committees and the Board of Trustees approval.
• Develop, implement, and monitor the Museum’s Collection and Interpretation Plans, as well as collections-related aspects of the long-range plan.
• Work with the Collections Management Committee of the Board of Trustees on all matters related to collections and with the Exhibits Committee of the Board on exhibit planning and fabrication.
  Participate in professional organizations.

SKILLS:

• Ability to supervise and work effectively with staff and volunteers, as well as productively interact with members of the Board of Trustees. Ability to collaborate successfully.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from citizens, regulatory agencies, or businesses. Ability to write speeches and articles for publications. Ability to effectively present information to top management and public groups.
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volumes.
• Computer skills are mandatory, including the ability to work with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Adobe Acrobat, and Past Perfect software, among other standard programs. Proficiency in social media and website management is a plus.
• A basic knowledge of the techniques of selection, evaluation, preservation, restoration, conservation, and exhibition of museum objects, following standards of ethical collecting.

RESPONSIBILITY:

• Directly supervises numerous employees, volunteers, and interns in the museum.
• Serves as Acting Executive Director in their absence.
• Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with Howard County’s policies and applicable laws.
• Responsibilities include training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
  Maintaining the collections records, including the database, database software, and all physical records.
• Understanding of the techniques of selection, evaluation, preservation, restoration, conservation, and exhibition of objects, along with knowledge of standards of collecting ethics and current museum practices.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:  Master’s Degree (MA/MS/MLS/MLIS) or equivalent or Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) and three years experience and/or training.

PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS:

• Ability to communicate tactfully, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team environment.
• Ability to take direction from the Executive Director. Ability to oversee the Assistant Curator, Photo Tech, and interns.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and sit. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:  Duties are performed mostly in a standard building environment with moderate noise levels. Some public events require working outside with the public.

COMPENSATION: $48,439 plus benefits (health insurance, paid vacation, retirement plan).

Apply by July 1, 2024 with a resume and cover letter to:

Howard County Historical Society

Attn: Anne Shaw

1200 West Sycamore St.

Kokomo, Indiana 46901

anne.shaw@howardcountymuseum.org.

Howard County Historical Society is an equal opportunity employer.  Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.