Museum Collections Manager/Curator - Buffalo Bill Museum

Overview This Collections Manager/Curator position at the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave will oversee caring for, protecting, and curating the artifact and archival collections, and support online sharing and inclusive storytelling of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show. The museum is part of the Denver Mountain Parks system and is located at Lookout Mountain Park in Golden, Colorado. The typical schedule for this position will be Monday through Friday, 8:45MST to 5:15MST, with some evening and weekend hours required. Responsibilities Care for the museum’s collection of objects, photos, and archives, adhering to established professional standards regarding acquisition, documentation, housing, and exhibition. Develop and implement collection-oriented plans and procedures (Collections Management Policy, Housekeeping Plan, Integrated Pest Management Plan, and cataloging procedure guide). Protect the collection through proactive emergency management planning, preparedness, and response protocols. Evaluate the conditions and historical significance of items in the collections. Assist in the development of the museum’s collection through donations and purchases. Accession newly acquired collection items and manage incoming and outgoing loans. Train and direct volunteers, interns and museum support staff in collections work. Carry out or oversee cataloging, scanning, photographing, and storing artifacts and archival items by contractors, support staff, and volunteers according to established professional standards. Maintain catalog records in PastPerfect Web Edition and publish records online. Serve as the primary lead for Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) compliance. Respond to inquiries and photo or information requests from the public, researchers, and other institutions. Write or support grant applications. Participate in the development and installation of exhibits, including developing themes, writing and editing exhibit text, selecting and properly installing artifacts, and repacking items after exhibits close. Assist with educational and outreach programming. Serve as the designated Manager on Duty on a rotating schedule, managing front‑end responsibilities and resolving operational issues. Develop and steward relationships with tribes, community members, organizations, collectors, scholars, and donors. Develop collegial relationships with other collection professionals in the area. Lift and move collection objects weighing up to 50pounds, and safely climb stairs and ladders. Qualifications Education : Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college in history, art history, public history, museum studies, or a related field. Experience : Four years of collections experience aligned with professional museum best practices. NAGPRA Expertise : Demonstrated knowledge of NAGPRA legal compliance regulations and experience directly facilitating consultations with Tribal representatives and THPOs. Leadership : Proven experience overseeing volunteers, contractors, or museum staff. Planning : Direct experience writing and implementing collection-related plans, policies, and procedures. Software Proficiency : Mastery of PastPerfect Web Edition (or similar collections software), including accessioning, cataloging, exhibits, contacts, loans, reporting, and publishing online. Collections Expertise : Knowledge of artifact and archival care, handling, environmental controls, and standardized documentation. Historical Knowledge : Familiarity with the history of the American West or late 19th- and early 20th-century American history. Collaboration : Experience building meaningful, collaborative relationships with coworkers, community members, and Tribal representatives. Conservation Knowledge : Understanding of the Ten Agents of Deterioration and preventative conservation techniques. Autonomy : Ability to work independently, problem‑solve, and make sound, collections‑based decisions without direct supervision. Minimum Qualifications High School graduation or possession of a GED, HiSET, or TASC Certificate. Five (5) years of technical or administrative experience performing standard research and evaluation, case management, and/or implementing work processes. Equivalency: One (1) year of the appropriate type and level of education may be substituted for each required year of experience. Compensation & Benefits Competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. New hires are typically brought on between $30.20–$33.86/hour based on experience and education. Benefits include: Guaranteed life‑long monthly pension once vested after 5 years of service. 457B Retirement Plan. 140 hours of PTO earned within the first year + 11 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday and 1 volunteer day per year. Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date. Bonus: Candidates fluent in Spanish may qualify for an extra $50 per pay period stipend upon passing the City and County of Denver’s official bilingual assessment. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law. It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real‑time captioning via CART, or disability‑related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io with three business days’ notice. Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish. #J-18808-Ljbffr