Museum Curator

Job Duties

Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following:

• Oversees all museum operations, establishes program priorities, and ensures that activities comply with National Park Service (NPS) and professional standards. The collections managed may span a range of disciplines, including archeology, ethnology, history, archives, biology, geology, and paleontology.
• Acts on behalf of the superintendent regarding museum-related matters and maintains effective relationships with relevant groups, agencies, individuals, and the public. Participates in professional and management events to exchange information and promote stewardship of the park.
• Provides consultation to park divisions and, when appropriate, engages with cultural groups such as tribes to ensure compliance with applicable laws, NPS policies, and preservation requirements.
• Develops and implements museum programs and plans in accordance with NPS accountability requirements, including NPS-28, NPS-77, the NPS Museum Handbook, and other relevant guidance.
• Collaborates with cultural and natural resource personnel to address compliance and preservation issues involving historic structures, archeological sites, and natural resources. Contributes to documentation and planning under Section 106 and Section 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and related NPS policies. Conducts collections research as needed.
• Reviews staff projects, recommends approvals to park managers, and assists other units with collections management issues.
• Negotiates cooperative and interagency agreements and serves as the Contracting Officer's Technical Representative for related projects.
• Develops plans, schedules, project statements, scopes of work, cost estimates, and funding proposals. Tracks expenditures and prepares accomplishment reports.
• Recommends acquisitions consistent with the scope of collections statement and available funding, encourages donations, and deaccessions unneeded holdings in accordance with NPS policy.
• Accessions and catalogs objects, verifies collection records, conducts annual inventories, and maintains required documentation.
• Maintains collections data in Service-wide systems, prepares reports, provides reference services, and analyzes inventory and monitoring information.
• Oversees collection use for research, loans, and reference services; enforces applicable policies and evaluates research requests.
• Works with the records manager to classify official and unofficial records and directs management of park archives, including maps, photographs, plans, data, papers, and resource records.
• Conducts scholarly, technical, and applied research to expand knowledge, support preservation, and fulfill educational and public service responsibilities. Research products may include articles, reports, exhibit materials, labels, publications, and responses to public inquiries.
• Research museum objects to establish identification, authenticity, catalog information, dates, provenance, historical and scientific data, legal information, and preservation requirements.
• Supports visitor services and develops interpretive and educational programs utilizing museum collections.
• Supports curatorial training programs, develops and teaches courses, and participates in professional meetings and seminars related to museums and historic preservation.