Assistant Curator at The Contemporary Jewish Museum

POSITION TITLE: Assistant Curator
DEPARTMENT: Exhibitions and Curatorial
REPORTS TO: Senior Curator
STATUS: Regular, Full time, Non–exempt
DATE: July 2019

Position Summary

Reporting to the Senior Curator, the Assistant Curator at The Contemporary Jewish Museum (The CJM) serves as an integral member of the team that originates contemporary art exhibitions of specific Jewish interest and presents traveling exhibitions from other institutions that advance the mission of The CJM to make the diversity of Jewish experience relevant for a twenty-first century audience. The Assistant Curator supports the work of departmental colleagues and on occasion, may take the lead on exhibition projects while working collaboratively with the Chief Preparator and Exhibitions Designer, Registrar, Exhibitions Coordinator, and the Creative Services Manager, and in partnership across other Museum departments.

The Assistant Curator assists with developing plans for exhibitions often up to three years in advance, providing essential support and needed research, often interfacing with other institutions on The CJM’s behalf. This professional also provides supervision for departmental interns.

The successful individual in this role will thrive in a creative and collaborative environment with experienced professionals who work closely together on exhibition planning and development, conducting research critical to mounting world class exhibitions, and representing The CJM to the artistic and cultural community of the Bay Area, nationally, and internationally. The ideal candidate will demonstrate superb research and writing skills, knowledge of curatorial best practice, knowledge of art history, history, and familiarity with Jewish culture, history, art and ideas.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Assist curators in the research and organization of exhibitions and related meetings, including planning of exhibitions calendar.
• Provide general curatorial administrative support including assisting with report writing, maintenance of exhibition files, spreadsheets, and correspondence.
• Initiate and confirm loans of art and artifacts including communication with lenders as needed in coordination with The CJM’s Registrar.
• Assist with writing, editing, and production of exhibition labels and supplemental texts.
• Review unsolicited artist submissions with Curatorial team and draft responses for review.
• Suggest and arrange departmental studio and exhibition visits.
• Prepare PowerPoint or other presentations of planned exhibitions and occasionally present to staff and volunteers.
• Participate in cross–departmental planning meetings and provide exhibitions related information and materials to Education, Marketing, and Development teams.
• Assist in the writing and production of exhibition publications, including brochures, newsletters, and catalogs.
• Liaise with artists and guest curators as needed.
• Contribute to and help coordinate exhibition installation.
• Collaborate with design staff including Creative Services and Exhibition Design.
• Assist in management and task assignments of departmental interns.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Art History, Curatorial, Jewish, or Museum Studies.
• 3–5 years curatorial experience in museum, arts space, or gallery. At least one year of supervisory experience desirable.
• Informed understanding of a museum’s responsibilities to serve the public and its communities.
• Demonstrated superior writing and editorial ability.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word), database management, and Photoshop.
• A team player committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful work environment.
• Commitment to the mission and core values of The CJM.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Exceptional research and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of Jewish visual culture, Jewish philosophy, ideas and history; intellectual curiosity regarding comparative cultures.
• Proven project management and exceptional organizational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to work well in a team and across departments.
• Ability to perform detailed tasks accurately, manage multiple projects, and to meet deadlines and budget requirements.

Application Process

Send cover letter and resume to:

The Contemporary Jewish Museum
Email: jobs@thecjm.org

Please indicate “Assistant Curator” in subject line.

The Contemporary Jewish Museum is an equal opportunity employer.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, The CJM will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.