Santa Clara University

Curator of Exhibits and Collections

de Saisset Museum
Full-Time
Salary Grade: 9 - Hiring Range: $50,264-$58,195
Requisition Number (please reference): 1000536

Purpose:

The Curator of Exhibits and Collections reports to the Director of the de Saisset Museum and is responsible for conceptualization, formulation and presentation of exhibitions and related programs that meet the de Saisset Museum's programmatic and/or administrative goals. Major responsibilities include: Serve as liaison to SCU faculty and academic departments in order to provide exhibitions and educational programs which offer a vital resource for faculty teaching, student learning, and community engagement; organize, research and curate in-house and traveling exhibitions; write and prepare grants for exhibition and program support; manage budgets, contracts, publications and exhibition materials; conceptualize and implement educational programs; handle publicity, marketing, community outreach and audience development for exhibitions and educational events; manages docent programs; assists with permanent collection development, interpretation, and acquisitions; and acts as Team Leader for exhibitions and educational programs and supervises museum staff in these areas, in addition to student staff and volunteers.

I. Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Conceptualizing, Curating, Organizing and Implementing Exhibitions which offer a vital resource for faculty teaching and student learning
2. Conceptualizes and Implements Educational Programs
3. Publicity, Marketing, Outreach and Audience Development
4. Permanent Collection Development, Interpretation and Acquisitions
5. Supervision, Budgeting, and Grant Writing
6. Other Responsibilities

II. Specific Responsibilities

1. Conceptualizing, Curating, Organizing and Implementing Exhibitions which offer a vital resource for faculty teaching and student learning
   1. Curates and conceptualizes internally generated exhibitions for the Museum and coordinates packaged exhibitions, approximately four to eight exhibitions annually.
   2. Generates exhibitions from the de Saisset Museum permanent collection and from greater Bay Area artists and organizations.
   3. Actively engages SCU faculty by providing museum exhibitions which offer a vital resource for faculty teaching, student learning, and community engagement. Develop regular interdisciplinary collaborations across varied academic departments in order to create integrated educational opportunities within the academic setting.
   4. Serves as Team Leader to the Collections Manager and Preparator on all components related to exhibition projects.
   5. Manages exhibition timelines and/or task lists; all exhibition related correspondence and text, checklists, installation photography, exhibit budgets, exhibition labels and interpretive text, and e-newsletter descriptions.
   6. When applicable, organizes publications for exhibitions and writes exhibition essays.
2. Conceptualizes and Implements Educational Programs
   1. Conceptualizes, manages, and evaluates all educational programs, approximately four to eight programs annually.
   2. Serves as Team Leader to the Administrative Assistant to the Director on educational programs, receptions, or special events related to exhibitions.
   3. Manages budgets, timelines and/or task lists for all educational programs, receptions, or special events related to exhibitions.
   4. Manages student Explore with Me and California History exhibit docents and conducts training and recruitment for programs.
   5. Actively engages SCU faculty by providing educational programs which offer a vital resource for faculty teaching, student learning, and community engagement. Develop regular interdisciplinary collaborations across varied academic departments in order to create integrated educational opportunities within the academic setting.
   6. Serves as Museum liaison to de Saisset Museum Educational Advisory Committee comprised of faculty members.
3. Publicity, Marketing, Outreach and Audience Development
   1. Actively promotes Museum in Santa Clara University community (among faculty, staff, and students) and greater Bay Area communities.
   2. Distributes information about the de Saisset Museum exhibitions and public programs via email and other distribution mechanisms to the SCU campus and greater Bay Area communities.
   3. Writes, maintains, and implements Audience Development Plan for the Museum.
   4. Works with SCU Office of Marketing and Communications to create press releases for exhibitions and to develop media strategies for key Museum projects.
4. Permanent Collection Development, Interpretation and Acquisitions
   1. Works with permanent collection to organize exhibitions and provide interpretation.
   2. Conducts regular research on permanent collection objects for exhibition purposes and to increase content knowledge of permanent collection.
   3. Provides assistance with development of permanent collection policies and procedures.
   4. Provides recommendations for potential acquisitions and deaccessions, and works regularly with permanent collection donors.
   5. Writes regular Collection Spotlight articles for newsletter on recent acquisitions.
5. Supervision, Budgeting and Grant Writing
   1. Acts as Team Leader for exhibitions and educational programs with Collections Manager, Preparator, and Administrative Assistant to the Director.
   2. Supervises student employees and volunteers.
   3. Manages all budgets pertaining to exhibits and educational programs
   4. Writes grants for exhibition, public programs, and occasionally for collection projects.
   5. Assists Director with fund development and membership campaigns and Museum Enhancement Board projects.
6. Other Responsibilities
   1. Other responsibilities as assigned by the Museum Director.

III. Qualifications

1. A. Education and Experience:
   1. Master's Degree in Museum Studies, Art, Art History, History or a closely related field.
   2. Preferred five years curatorial experience.
   3. Detail-oriented, flexible, resourceful and self-motivated.
   4. Demonstrated excellence in organizing exhibitions and educational programs and publications; and extensive knowledge of professional museum principles, practices and procedures.
   5. Previous supervisory experience required.
   6. Skill in organizing resources and establishing priorities
   7. Strong written and verbal communication skills.
   8. High level of interpersonal skills.
   9. Knowledge of research tools and methodology.
   10. Experience in donor/patron cultivation.
   11. Possesses a valid California driver's license.
   12. Flexible to work evenings and weekends.
   13. Proficiency with: Microsoft Office Suite; FileMaker Pro; Excel; Adobe Photoshop; and Adobe PageMaker

PROCESS TO APPLY:
Please submit your letter of application and resume through our web site at http://www.scu.edu/hr/careers/staff.cfm Please mail your letter of application, complete resume, names and contact information for three references, and a minimum of three writing samples, catalogues, or research publications to: Rebecca M. Schapp, Director, de Saisset Museum, Santa Clara University, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA. 95053-0550. Applications received by May 1, 2009 will receive full consideration.

Santa Clara University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, committed to excellence through diversity and inclusion, and, in this spirit, particularly welcomes applications from women, persons of color, and members of historically underrepresented groups. The University will provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with a disability.

Santa Clara University annually collects information about campus crimes and other reportable incidents in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. To view the Santa Clara University report, please go to the Campus Safety Services website at http://www.scu.edu/cs/. The report includes the type of crime, venue, and number of occurrences.