Curator

Job Title:

Curator

Organization:

Vancouver Maritime Museum

Deadline:

Until Filled

Organization Description:

Our mission is to inspire learning about the past, present, and future of the maritime cultures, industries and journeys connected to the Pacific Northwest and Arctic.
Our vision is to transform the museum with innovation and diversity.

We seek to:
• Create powerful experiences that are accessible and inclusive
• Address racism, and colonialism in our work
• Make learning fun by approaching all we do with a sense of play, interactivity, curiosity and joy
• Work collaboratively in all we do
• Ensure respectful treatment of belongings and stories
• Advance research through public access to archives and collections

Website:

http://www.vacouvermaritimemuseum.com

Job Description:

This is an exciting opportunity for the right candidate interested in playing a leadership role in a small museum that works at the crossroads of a community connected institution and visitor attraction. The priorities currently shaping the museum’s development over the next five years include decolonization and reimagining permanent exhibits.

You will be playing a key role in our renewal, be part of a great team of committed and passionate people and will be working in one of the most beautiful locations in Vancouver.

This is an opportunity to have a significant impact on Vancouver’s cultural landscape. As one of the City of Vancouver’s core cultural institutions, we play a leading role in the implementation of the City’s Culture Shift plan

As curator, you will be responsible for shaping the stories we tell in a way that creates relevance for contemporary audiences. You will use traditional museum practices as well as new technology and thinking to challenge audiences about their relationship to belongings of the past and to the institutions that hold them.

You will work closely with the Curator of Collections to maintain a high standard of cataloguing and collection management. You will constantly work to improve systems and to maximize the museum’s storage facilities.

You will develop relationships with community partners to expand the diversity of voices represented in the museum. You will prioritize anti-racism, decolonization and inclusion in all your work.

Responsibilities:

• Works closely with the museum’s Executive Director, Director of Development and Marketing Manager to promote the museum’s mandate and community profile.

• Interprets the museum’s key exhibit themes through permanent and special exhibits.

• Takes the lead in the creation of a new museum interpretive plan in line with VMM strategic goals.

• Develops and expands the museum’s audience by connecting with the community in the development of exhibits.

• Develops and implements policies and procedures to manage the exhibition schedule.

• Prepares storylines and design concepts for special exhibits for approval by Executive Director and/or exhibit committee.

• Develops and administers annual exhibition schedule and departmental budget, including project budgets for special exhibits.

• Maintains current knowledge of the latest developments in exhibit design concepts, techniques, technology, innovations, etc.

• May prepare sketches, models, detailed working drawings and specifications (as required).
  • Manages all aspects of the changing exhibition schedule to ensure downtime between exhibits is managed to avoid a negative impact on the visitor and educational experience.

• Updates permanent displays and interpretive materials.

• Demonstrates knowledge of museum conservation methods and standards.

• Supervises Creative Designer, Museum Display Technician and other seasonal or volunteer positions as necessary.

Qualifications:

Demonstrated knowledge of maritime and Indigenous history and archaeology, especially as related to museum studies and the lower mainland of British Columbia, the Pacific Northwest and the Arctic.

• Strong skill set in museum registration and cataloguing methods including database management.

• Strengths in graphic design and exhibit design.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, the ability to disseminate information to the academic community and the public.

• Database management skills, Adobe Creative Suite as well as basic office software.

• Supervision of seasonal and full-time staff.

• University graduate in a discipline appropriate to museum work, preferably post-graduate training plus experience in museum setting or equivalent combination.

• Desirable Training and Experience:

• Experience leading community engaged projects.

• Experience with Indigenous cultural protocols and Indigenous communities

• Experience in museum acquisitions.

• Experience with procurement and contract management processes.

• Project management experience working with architects and designers on permanent exhibit renewal.

How to Apply:

Interested and qualified applicants should submit a cover letter together with their resume to the Search Committee at the email address below. Please write “Curator Search” in the subject heading. No telephone calls please.

David Jordan director@vanmaritime.com

Remuneration:

Full time, five days per week at Pay Grade 26 ($64,410.00 - $75,493.00) plus benefits (extended health and dental care, pension, employee savings plan) Union position with CUPE Local 15.