Curatorial Associate, Permanent Collections

Job Summary

The Curatorial Associate, Permanent Collections is a one-year position, with the possibility of renewal, that supports the full range of the Curator's collection-focused responsibilities, with particular emphasis on three active institutional priorities: the development of the Museum's new collection plan; the research and project management of a collection handbook publication; and the physical reorganization of the collection across on-site and off-site storage in partnership with the Feitler Center for Academic Inquiry and Registration. This position performs original research on collection objects, maintains and enhances collection records, and serves as a key inter-departmental liaison for collection-related projects.

Responsibilities

• Assists the Curator in supporting the development of the Museum's new collection plan, including benchmarking peer institution policies, conducting object- and collection-level research to identify strengths and gaps, and drafting sections for curatorial and senior leadership review.
• Prepares written summaries, meeting materials, and decision records to support curatorial and stakeholder consultations throughout the planning process.
• Serves as primary project manager for the production of the Smart's collection handbook, tracking milestones, deadlines, and deliverables across curatorial, editorial, and design workflows.
• Conducts original research on collection objects for handbook entries, including provenance, exhibition history, material technique, conservation history, artist biography, and bibliography; maintains accuracy of this documentation in the Museum's collections management system.
• Drafts and edits object entries, introductory texts, and supporting handbook materials for curatorial review; helps coordinate image rights, reproduction permissions, and image delivery in partnership with the appropriate Museum staff and external partners.
• Liaises with external editors, designers, and the press as directed by the supervising Curator.
• In close partnership with the Feitler Center for Academic Inquiry and Registration, supports the Curatorial department in planning the reorganization of the collection between the Museum's on-site and off-site storage facilities.
• Assists in evaluating objects for long-term loan, de-accession consideration, or re-installation as part of the collection reorganization process.
• Helps respond to internal and external research inquiries about the collection from faculty, students, scholars, and the public, consistent with Museum policies.
• Maintains and updates object files, bibliographic records, and curatorial correspondence files in both digital and paper formats.
• Assists with drafting loan correspondence, exhibition checklists, and collection-related grant applications as directed.
• Participates in training and mentoring of curatorial interns and student employees under the guidance of the supervising Curator.
• Attends and contributes to curatorial team meetings, departmental meetings, and cross-departmental working groups as relevant.
• With guidance from others, helps commission new work and develops exhibitions to advance the University's visual arts efforts.
• Coordinates support for museum programs through fundraising efforts.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• College or university degree in related field.
• Knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in art history, museum studies, or a related field.
• A minimum of two years of experience in a museum curatorial department or comparable research institution, with direct experience supporting collection documentation, publications, or exhibition preparation.
• Background supporting the production of a scholarly catalogue, handbook, or collection publication.
• Background working with collections management databases; familiarity with TMS preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace.
• Knowledge of image rights and reproduction permissions workflows.
• Reading knowledge of one or more languages relevant to the collection.
• Demonstrated original research and writing skills to produce clear, accurate, and engaging texts for scholarly and public audiences.
• Strong project management skills; demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, track deliverables, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, comfortable handling confidential and sensitive information.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a collaborative working style; serve as a reliable liaison across departments.