Assistant Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art

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Job Title: Assistant Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art
Department: Curatorial
Reports to: Director of Curatorial Affairs, Senior Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art
FLSA Status: Exempt
Job Status: Full-Time
Toledo, OH

The Toledo Museum of Art is seeking an Assistant Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art to join the museum’s Curatorial Team. Founded in 1901, the Toledo Museum of Art is home to a collection of nearly 25,000 objects of exceptional quality, housed in buildings of architectural significance on a 40-acre campus in downtown Toledo, Ohio. Over its more than a century of existence, the Toledo Museum of Art has been consistently defined by its dedication to art education, community, and art of the highest quality. The museum is strongly committed to a curatorial program that celebrates the traditional strengths of the permanent collection and actively seeks to promote the inclusion of a diverse array of narratives and perspectives and embrace contemporary art and artists.

Reporting to and working closely with the Director of Curatorial Affairs, Senior Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, the Assistant Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art will work to support the museum’s ambitious program of Modern and Contemporary acquisitions, exhibitions, and innovative gallery displays and presentations. The role will be best suited to a candidate with both generalist and specialist knowledge of Modern and Contemporary Art, strong research skills, and a genuine desire to engage a broad range of 21^st century audiences by balancing tradition and convention with innovation and experimentation.

This position will play a vital role in the origination, coordination, development, and successful implementation of the Toledo Museum of Art’s Modern and Contemporary Art curatorial projects, both immediate and long term. The Assistant Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art will conduct art historical research and serve as a thought partner to the Director of Curatorial Affairs, Senior Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, in support of numerous and multi-faceted Modern and Contemporary Art curatorial endeavors. Additionally, the position will serve as the logistics point person for relevant projects, and assist in the creation, tracking, and execution of interpretive plans related to Modern and Contemporary curatorial initiatives, large and small. The Assistant Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art will liaise with departments across the museum to keep them informed of relevant curatorial activities and work to coordinate cross-departmental exchange and collaboration as needed.

This will be a highly visible role in the museum, interacting frequently with both internal and external constituents, and therefore it is essential that the individual cultivates and maintains positive relationships across departments and with those outside the institution, including donors, sponsors, and visiting scholars/artists/curators.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

In collaboration with the Director of Curatorial Affairs, Senior Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, the Assistant Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art will work to support the museum’s ambitious program of Modern and Contemporary acquisitions, exhibitions, and innovative gallery displays and presentations by:

Serving as a thought partner to the Director of Curatorial Affairs, Senior Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, in support of numerous and multi-faceted Modern and Contemporary Art curatorial endeavors.
Conducting art historical research primarily focused on the permanent collection, acquisitions for the permanent collection, exhibitions, and artist projects.
Providing project management support for Modern and Contemporary curatorial projects, and assisting in the creation, tracking, and execution of interpretive plans related to Modern and Contemporary curatorial initiatives, large and small.
Coordinating and overseeing arrangements related to visiting scholars/artists/curators, including, but not limited to museum-hosted symposiums and curatorial-driven events.
Liaising with other museum departments as needed to communicate updates and key information about curatorial projects in an as needed and timely manner.
Providing tours of the Modern and Contemporary collection and speaking with visitors, donors, and museum support groups about curatorial initiatives and activities as needed.
Performing other duties as assigned or required.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND COMPETENCIES

Education— Master’s degree in Modern or Contemporary art history or related field is required. Ph.D. strongly preferred.
Expertise — The ideal candidate will demonstrate both generalist knowledge of Modern and Contemporary Art as well as specialist knowledge in a particular area of either Modern or Contemporary Art.
Work Experience–At least 2 years of curatorial and collections experience; minimum 1 year working in a museum setting. Previous experience realizing complex projects with contemporary artists is highly desirable.
Confidentiality – Acts with integrity and maintains confidentiality in all matters, at all times.
Builds Relationships – Collaborates and interacts effectively with internal and external audiences; proactive relationship management. Develops and uses collaborative relationships to facilitate curatorial and cross-departmental goals.
Planning and Organizing – establishes courses of action for self and others to ensure that work, meetings and events are efficient. Prioritizes, schedules and leverages resources as needed; ability to multi-task and manage time efficiently, including meeting deadlines.
Attention to Detail – accomplishes tasks by considering all areas involved, shows concern for all aspects of work with the initiative for follow through.
Technical ‐ Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel; knowledge of museum collections management software (TMS) preferred.
Reliability – Excellent work attendance required.
Communication – Must communicate effectively with other Museum staff and the public, in small and large groups, in writing and in speech. Ability to speak publicly and represent the Museum in a professional manner.
Innovation – An unrestrained approach to problem-solving that generates new solutions and applies existing knowledge/practices in new ways; should constantly be seeking ways to improve the Museums processes and offerings.
Initiative– The vision and ability to make substantial changes at the Museum; takes prompt action to accomplish objectives; taking action to achieve goals beyond what is required; being proactive.
Adaptability – Ability to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends and occasional overnight travel; maintain effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or the work environment; adjust effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures.

RELATIONSHIPS

Works collaboratively across all departments and with the executive leadership team.
Reports to the Director of Curatorial Affairs and works closely with Curatorial and Collections staff as well as the Director’s Office, Development, Education, Marketing, Library, and Finance.
Cultivates and maintains positive relationships across departments and with outside constituents, including donors, sponsors, and visiting scholars/artists/ curators.