Curator

Curator The City of Alexandria is located in northern Virginia and is bordered by the District of Columbia (Potomac River), Arlington and Fairfax counties. With a population of approximately 156,000 and a land area of 15.75 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Alexandria has a charming waterfront and is a unique and historic place to live and work. About one-quarter of the city’s square miles have been designated as a national or local historic district. We proudly embrace our rich history and seize the endless opportunities that lie ahead. If you are interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we invite qualified candidates to apply for our Historic Resources Specialist II (Curator) position in the Office of Historic Alexandria. An Overview Help us make history! The Historic Resources Specialist II (Curator) is responsible for the professional acquisition, documentation, care and interpretation of museum collections as part of a curatorial team in the Office of Historic Alexandria’s Division of Collections and Exhibitions. This position works collaboratively with other division and department staff on collections and exhibitions projects, but with a focus on managing the collections of Alexandria’s History Museum at The Lyceum, and the Friendship Firehouse Museum. The Curator serves as a content specialist on Alexandria’s broad, diverse history, and must have demonstrated experience in collections management and interpretation, exhibition development, and working with the community that contributes to OHA’s mission of sharing and fostering an appreciation for Alexandria’s rich history. This position reports to the director of the Division of Collections and Exhibitions. A commitment to diversity, accessibility, inclusion, and public service is at the core of this position and the department. What You Should Bring To be considered an ideal candidate, applicants should possess skills that reflect an understanding of and experience with museum collections management and curation, including processing and cataloguing collections, using digital platforms and collections software, and assessing and interpreting material culture. They will have experience with exhibition development and installation, and working collaboratively with an exhibit team. Candidates must possess strong knowledge of the history of Alexandria and the region, demonstrated research and interpretive skills, and excellent oral, written and design skills. The ability to effectively work with the public is a must, including donors, lenders, community stakeholders and researchers, as well as contractors and consultants. The Opportunity: Examples of Work Acquire, document and maintain the collections of the Office of Historic Alexandria according to American Alliance of Museums (AAM) professional standards; Serve on OHA’s Collections Advisory Committee to assess collections acquisitions and manage collections issues; Digitize collection materials and curate digital data for public access; Cultivate relationships with residents, donors, lenders, community-based institutions, and organizations to document, collect, research and interpret Alexandria history; Collaborate on departmental exhibits, to include creating an exhibition schedule, conceptualizing themes, researching and writing content, and installation; Create, write, and edit content for interpretive projects, communications, publications, social media, and website; Respond to public inquiries, support other OHA divisions and City initiatives, and supervise interns and volunteers; Perform related work as required. About the Department The Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA) enhances the quality of life for city residents and visitors by preserving and interpreting Alexandria’s historic properties, archaeological sites, cultural resources, artifact collections, objects, archives, records, and personal stories, and by encouraging audiences to recognize Alexandria’s diverse historic heritage and its place within the broader context of American history. Four-year college degree in History, African American History, Public History, Art History, Museum Studies, Archaeology, Museum Education, American History and/or other closely related field. Two (2) years preservation and/or collections management experience; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. An M.A. in American History, American Studies, American Decorative Arts, Museum Studies, Public History or related field is preferred. At least three (3) years of experience with museum collections management and curation, including processing and cataloguing collections (using PastPerfect or equivalent software program), and assessing and interpreting a broad range of material culture objects. Demonstrated experience developing and installing exhibitions as part of a team, including hands‑on fabrication skills. #J-18808-Ljbffr