Job Listing: Museum Director and Chief Curator

The museum, which welcomes visitors throughout the year, organizes special exhibitions and educational programming for all ages and maintains a permanent collection of more than 20,000 objects reflecting the material culture and social history of the United States prior to 1840. The professional in this role will oversee staff and a volunteer docent program. 

The Museum Director and Chief Curator will have proven effectiveness as an executive or senior-level professional in nonprofit organizations such as museums, historic sites, preservation institutions, or other similar mission-driven organizations. The successful candidate will demonstrate accomplishment as a strategic thinker, team builder, innovator, and leader adept at translating vision into organizational action. 

Responsibilities - 

1. Operational and programmatic oversight
   1. Planning, preparing, and implementing approved exhibitions, education and public programs related to the organizational mission. This includes overseeing review and approval processes prior to implementation and making recommendations for revisions when necessary.
   2. Overseeing the loan program and requests to publish Museum objects.
   3. Providing leadership in collection management, evaluating digitization and access, conducting regular reviews of policies and procedures for collection care and growth, and overseeing acquisition recommendations, deaccessioning, and related research. 
   4. Overseeing and evaluating visitor services which includes tours, wayfinding, and the Museum Shop, and making recommendations for continuous improvement.
2. Outreach and Collaboration
   1. Keeping Senior Director abreast of departmental activities, projects, or potential future initiatives by providing regular updates and reports and developing strategies and recommendations for achieving department objectives. 
   2. Working cross-departmentally to develop a comprehensive plan to raise the visibility of the Museum through onsite and virtual programs and online resources. 
   3. Collaborating with the Development staff on funding opportunities for Museum programs and collections
   4. Overseeing, developing, and reviewing Museum-related communications and outreach, including, but not limited to, press releases, publications, blogs, social media, exhibition collateral, and educational resources. 
   5. Representing the museum at professional conferences, NSDAR programs, allied museum groups, and other events when required.
   6. Ensuring the Museum’s online content is fresh, accessible, and reflective of the larger mission of the DAR.
3. Supervision and Staff Development
   1. Managing staff and overseeing all human resources actions for staff including hiring, training, and regular evaluation to ensure all staff members achieve the goals of the department.  
   2. Developing regular training and professional development opportunities for staff and counseling subordinates. 
   3. Setting work expectations, reviewing and monitoring staff work quality and productivity, appraising performance, and resolving conflicts. 
4. Administration and Fiscal Management
   1. Reviewing and maintaining standard office procedures, making modifications and updates as necessary.
   2. Developing, preparing, and monitoring annual department budget to achieve programmatic and financial objectives, initiating corrective actions as needed.  
   3. Formulating Museum policy recommendations or revisions for the Senior Director and Curator General and overseeing implementation if/when approved.

• Minimum of 5 years curatorial experience, preferably at an institution with a decorative arts or history focus, is required. 

• Two years of required museum management or supervisory level experience, which should include budgetary/fiscal management. 

• MA or higher  in art history, American studies, or American history, or a related field of study, is required. 

• Demonstrated experience in exhibit and museum planning and programing. 

• Exceptional communication skills, both oral and written. 

• Experience in using electronic media including website(s) and social media to promote and display museum collections and programs. 

• Applied knowledge of current professional museum principles, practices, and procedures put forth by the American Alliance of Museums and other relevant organizations in the field. 

• Strong organizational, resource management, and interpersonal skills.  

• Proactive, innovative, and flexible leadership style. 

• Proficiency in MS Suite, and applicable use of museum collection management systems.