African American Museum in Philadelphia
Director of Curatorial Services
The Director of Curatorial Services manages and directs the curatorial and interpretive initiatives and activities of the African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP). The Director of Curatorial Services has primary oversight of AAMP’s exhibition, collection, and conservation functions. The Director of Curatorial Services provides the leadership necessary for the presentation of intellectually rigorous and compelling exhibits that fulfill AAMP’s mission while fostering civic engagement. The Director of Curatorial Services also oversees AAMP’s collection; ensuring its on-going preservation, daily management, and accessibility to diverse audiences. The Director of Curatorial Services works with the President and CEO and AAMP’s Board to ensure the development, adoption and implementation of policies and procedures to that adhere to established standards of stewardship. The Director of Curatorial Services works directly with the President and CEO and is part of the Museum’s Senior Management Team
Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
• Exhibitions. Lead the development of exhibition proposals and ensure they meet intellectual, interpretive, audience, and mission goals; identify and hire outside curators, artists, art historians, and historians to develop or consult on exhibition proposals and exhibition development; lead research phase of exhibition development; develop three- to five-year exhibition schedule; oversee exhibition design, production, and installation. Collaborate with AAMP’s Education and Public Programming Departments to ensure that exhibits create compelling and meaningful educational experiences for visitors to the Museum; oversee regular and ongoing audience research and evaluation of exhibitions and partnerships; oversee written, visual, and oral interpretive tools and collateral materials; assist in fundraising efforts for exhibitions..
• Collection and Conservation Management. Supervise the management of AAMP’s collection, including registrarial activities (loans, accessioning, deaccessioning, recordkeeping, inventory); preservation activities; and making the collection accessible through exhibition and online resources; oversee the updating and implementation of collection policies, procedures, and practices that meet prescribed national standards; assist the AAMP Board in to develop a collection strategy to build the collection to ensure it reflects the Museum’s mission; assist in fundraising efforts for collection preservation and access activities and programs.
Also:
• Oversees training and supervises professional staff, including the Exhibit Manager and the Collections Coordinator
• Develops annual goals and objectives for the exhibitions, and collection and conservation management in accordance with the institutional mission and strategic plan
• Serves as staff liaison to AAMP’s Collections and Acquisitions Committees;
• Represents, as assigned, the Museum on external committees, panel, or councils
• Develops and implements an annual budget
• Assumes other duties as appropriate for the operation of the Museum, or as assigned by the President and CEO
Qualifications:
• MS/MA in African American Studies, American History, Art History (African or American Art focus preferred), or a related humanities field
• Ten years experience in museum collection and curatorial work
• Seven years experience as a supervisor
• Record of scholarly research and publications and intellectual leadership
• Experience writing foundation and state and federal grants
• Knowledge of standard collection museum policies and procedures
• Experience managing exhibition development, production, and installation
• Experience leading and managing partnerships with other cultural organizations and community groups
• Ability to plan and manage budgets
• Ability to supervise people and manage complex programs and projects
• Ability to plan and implement new programs
• Ability to solve technical, administrative, and personnel problems creatively
• Ability to think strategically
• Superior verbal and written communication skills
• Commitment to the mission, values, and programs of the African American Museum in Philadelphia
To apply, send cover letter, resume and any supplemental materials to Patricia Wilson Aden via email at pwilsonaden@aampmuseum.org or via the post at:
Patricia Wilson Aden
President & CEO
African American Museum in Philadelphia
701 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Inquiries via email only.
ACRAH 