Museum Curator

The Department of Museum, Arts & Culture is searching for a creative, organized, proactive and community-oriented individual to join the team as a Museum Curator. This is a great opportunity for an emerging art or history curator to play a leading role in shaping the Museum’s efforts to create a distinctive exhibitions program that garners critical attention while fulfilling our mission to advance an understanding of regional history and art.

Examples of Essential Functions

The essential functions typically performed by the Museum Curator include the following:

Researches, analyzes, and recommends new policies; implements existing policies.
Supervises and directs the activities of staff including employee selection, work assignment, performance evaluation, employee development, disciplinary action, and complaint resolution.
Coordinates, schedules, and provides direction and training to volunteer staff and docents.
Corresponds with and assists various agencies and individuals regarding Museum business and information requests.
Reviews and follows correspondence, documents, and material, relating to public inquiries.
Attends meetings of the Board of Trustees, Board committees, City administration, community groups and organizations as required and/or in the absence of the Museum, Arts & Culture Director.
Represents the museum at events, meetings, and gatherings, of the City and general public.
Assists with developing content for promotional, outreach, and informational materials.
Assists in grant writing and other sources of resource development.
Works closely with museum staff, other City departments, contracted consultants and vendors, to ensure continued physical preservation of the museum building (a historic structure) and to ensure the proper care and conservation of the museum collections which it houses.
Develops and maintains maintenance procedures, logs and schedules, in accordance with professional standards and procedures.
Works with Museum, Arts & Culture Director, committees of the Board of Trustees and other City departments in the planning and development of capital improvements which will affect the care and management of the museum’s collections.

When assigned to Collections, functions may also include:

Works closely with the Board of Trustees Collections Committee to review and update collections policy and procedures.
Cares for, manages, accessions, establishes and maintains registration practices, cataloging, inventory, and information systems procedures in accordance with the museum’s collection policy.
Protects and preserves collections against physical, chemical, and biological damage or decay (including cleaning, protecting and storing of articles) in accordance with museum’s collection policy.
Works with artists, collectors, and other institutions in the loan of objects.
Arranges shipping, assesses condition, assigns loan numbers and arranges for appropriate insurance.
Works closely with the Collections Committee to contact and solicit community sources and potential lenders and donors of artifacts, material, information and assistance.

When assigned to Exhibitions, functions may also include:

Coordinates the planning, design, and installation of exhibitions developed internally and externally with guest curators and other cultural organizations.
Works closely with other museum staff, community representatives, academic scholars and others in developing exhibits.
Works with professional colleagues to make arrangements for temporary/traveling exhibitions including shipping, receiving, insurance, condition assessment, etc.

When assigned to Educational Programs, functions may also include:

Develops public educational programs such as school tours, lectures, workshops, family programs, docent programs and publications.
Works closely with other museum staff, community representatives, academic scholars, and others in developing these programs.
Partners with regional school districts and educators, to develop and implement exhibit and programming activities related to core curriculum standards for students K-12.
Coordinates and participates in public outreach activities to promote museum exhibits, programs and events.
Compiles and tracks audience participation information.

Qualification Guidelines

Education

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in U.S. or California History, Museum Studies, American Studies, Art History, Anthropology, or closely related field.

NOTE: Proof of successful completion of a Bachelor’s Degree must be provided by way of attachment to your online application or as an email attachment sent to the Hiring Agency Representative at, or before, time of the reference check process. Acceptable forms of proof include Unofficial Transcripts, Official Transcripts, Photos and/or Photocopies of Institutional Degree/Certifications. Failure to provide the required documentation at, or before, time of the reference check process will result in disqualification.

Experience

Three years of museum experience, including collections management, exhibition development, or the development of public education programs. A Master’s Degree may substitute for two years of related experience.

Licenses

Valid Class C California driver’s license and an acceptable driving record at the time of appointment and throughout employment.

Special Requirement

Ability to climb ladders and stairs while carrying heavy or bulky loads.
Ability to safely use hand and power tools.

Desirable

Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university in U.S. or California History, Museum Studies, American Studies, Art History, Anthropology, or closely related field.
Ability to read and speak Spanish.
Previous experience curating exhibitions in art or history.
Knowledge of artists in the Inland Empire and/or regional history related to the Inland Empire.
Supplemental Information

How to Apply

Apply online by clicking on the “Apply” link at the top of this announcement. If this is the first time applying for a position using governmentjobs.com, you will be prompted to create a new user account; otherwise, log in with your username and password. Your application and responses to any supplemental questions will be used to evaluate your qualifications for this position. It is suggested that your application include the following:

List any relevant experience and education that demonstrates that you qualify for the position.
List all periods of employment for at least the past 10 years, beginning with your most recent or present employer (including, if applicable, all employment with the City of Ontario).
Separately list each position held, including different positions with the same employer.

A resume may be attached to your application but will not substitute for the proper completion of your application. Applications that are not properly completed may be rejected.

NOTE: Transcripts from colleges, universities or technical schools outside of the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. Failure to provide a transcript or credential evaluation report will result in your application being rejected and you will not be able to continue in the selection process for this position.

Recruitment Schedule

Application Deadline: Thursday, 7/20/2023 at 11:59 PM
Application Review: Week of 7/31/2023
Tentative First Round of Interviews: Week of 8/07/2023
Tentative Second Round of Interviews: Week of 8/14/2023