Curator

The Montana Museum of Art & Culture invites applications for a Curator to join their team. The Senior Curator of the Museum of Art and Culture (MMAC) is responsible for the management, care, research, display, and interpretation of the museum’s Permanent Collection (PC), close to 12,000 art and cultural artifacts valued at $30 million.

A key figure in the organization and community, the Curator is an ambassador for both the museum and university. Responsibilities include the following:

• Enforces the MMAC Collections Committee’s Directive on Social Justice (attached)
• Recommends policies and implements procedures related to collections management and exhibitions
• Prepares and is responsible for project budgets
• Makes recommendations on acquisitions, deaccessions, loans, and all other issues related to the management, care, and development of the PC
• Ensures the safekeeping of the PC by assessing risk and planning for mitigation; monitors environmental conditions in all storage facilities, galleries, and exhibition spaces, ensuring that art handling, storage, and exhibition methods adhere to current museum standards
• Prepares and updates ongoing conservation plans for the PC
• Develops and implements a coherent plan for moving and installing the PC in a new facility
• Plans installations, deinstallations, and other preparations for exhibitions in the museum galleries and other locations
• Provides expert handling, hanging, framing/matting, photographing and maintenance of art and prepares condition reports
• Supervises interns and volunteers and provides oversight for the registrar duties of the PC
• Researches works of art to expand knowledge and awareness of the PC and generates texts, publications, and/or other didactic materials; gathers data and writes reports
• Researches future exhibitions and cultivates loans
• Follows developments in art history and museum studies so expertise and knowledge remain current
• Represents the museum and university by serving on committees and boards as designated by the director
• Cultivates and meets with patrons, lenders, colleagues and other constituents
• Interacts with the media on behalf of the museum
• May serve as the Instructor of Record for one class per year (adjunct faculty)
• Enforces the MMAC Collections Committee’s Directive on Social Justice
• Hires, trains, supervises, and evaluates gallery attendants and curatorial and educational interns
• Works with staff to oversee docents and volunteer assistants on curatorial and educational projects
• Hires and supervises curatorial contract personnel and other independent contractors in all aspects of collections management and development and installations and deinstallations of exhibitions.

The University of Montana provides a culture that values hard work, intellectual curiosity, diversity, collegiality, innovative thinking, and teamwork, making it a great place to grow and develop professionally. The University of Montana is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity in all areas. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified people who would assist the University in demonstrating its essential values of innovation and creativity, impact, openness, and partnership.

Position Details
Position is full-time, 1.0 FTE, Letter of Appointment and includes a comprehensive and competitive benefits package including Insurance package, mandatory retirement plan, partial tuition waiver, and wellness program.

Salary for this position is $45,000 – $50,000 per year, commensurate with qualifications.

Required Skills

• Ability to create and implement strategies for increasing the scope of museum activity and scale of operations
• Demonstrated record of research, scholarship, exhibitions, and publications
• Considerable knowledge of research methods, identification, and execution of findings
• Knowledge of collections management, exhibition development and current museum practices
• Excellent organizational skills, including project and budget management
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills
• Knowledge of museum administration and site management
• Grant writing experience preferred
• Ability to conceive, research, design and install exhibitions
• Ability to plan, organize, direct and coordinate the work of others, speak before large groups, and communicate effectively
• Ability to build effective relationships through individual interaction, teamwork, and committees on campus and in the community
• Work schedule is nontraditional, sometimes requiring evening and weekend hours, and limited travel

Minimum Required Experience
Master’s degree in art history or a related field such as museum studies as well as at least four (4) years of experience in a related professional position; or any combination of experience and education that would provide the competencies required to successfully discharge the duties assigned to this position

Preferred Qualifications
Ph.D. in art history

About the Montana Museum of Art and Culture and UM

Mission
The Montana Museum of Art and Culture acquires and preserves art that expresses the spirit of the American West and its relationship to the world. As a university and state museum, the MMAC presents exhibitions and educational programs that explore local, regional, and global themes.

Vision
The Montana Museum of Art and Culture is:

• a celebrated fine arts and cultural museum and a model for university museums around the world,
• a bridge between University of Montana students, faculty, and staff and the greater community,
• a place for learning and reflection where significant works of art and compelling ideas come together,
• a steward of the state’s artistic legacy for generations to come, employing the highest professional standards to develop and preserve its Permanent Collection and make it accessible to all free of charge, and
• a champion for a diverse, inclusive, democratic, and pluralistic society.

The University of Montana is a unit of the Montana University System with over 10,000 students. It is located in Missoula, a culturally vibrant community of about 72,000, surrounded by mountain grandeur which was recently ranked in the “top 20 best college towns with a population of less than 250,000” by the American Institute for Economic Research and ranked 9th in Outside Magazine’s “The 16 Greatest Places to Live in America” in 2014. Many national publications recognize Missoula for its high quality of life. Abundant recreational opportunities in surrounding state and national forests and nearby Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park complement a thriving intellectual atmosphere. The University of Montana offers eligible employees a generous benefits package that positively separates UM from other local employers and offers many programs and policies to support work-life balance for its employees.

Criminal Background Investigation is required prior to the Offer of Employment In accordance with University regulations, finalists for this position will be subject to criminal background investigations. ADA/EOE/AA/Veteran’s Preference Reasonable accommodations are provided in the hiring process for persons with disabilities. For example, this material is available in alternative format upon request. As an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, we encourage applications from minorities, veterans, and women. Qualified candidates may request veterans’ or disabilities preference in accordance with state law. References: References not listed on the application materials may be contacted; notice may be provided to the applicant. Testing: Individual hiring departments at UM may elect to administer pre-employment tests, which are relevant to essential job functions. Employment Eligibility: All New Employees must be eligible and show employment eligibility verification by the first date of employment at UM, as legally required (e.g., Form I-9).

How to Apply
Priority Application Date: Sunday, July 18, 2021 by 11:59 PM (Mountain Time)
Complete applications received by the ‘Priority Application Date’ will be guaranteed consideration. The position will remain open until filled. Candidates are required to submit the following materials online.

A complete application Includes:

• Letter of Interest – addressing your qualifications and experience related to the stated required skills for the position. A general letter salutation such as “Dear Search Committee” or “Dear Hiring Manager” is acceptable.
• Detailed Resume – listing education and describing work experience
• Professional References – names and contact information for three (3) professional references