Chief Curator

Overview The Colby College Museum of Art, located in Waterville, Maine, seeks an experienced, visionary, and highly collaborative Chief Curator to join the Museum’s senior leadership team. The Chief Curator will establish and direct curatorial strategy at a time of institutional transformation, develop and steward the Museum’s art collection, and lead an ambitious staff of five while contributing to the overall vitality of the museum. Key Opportunities Curatorial Vision – Envision a long‑term museum exhibition program and collaboratively develop an innovative model for care and access to the collection. Leadership – Mentor the next generation of curators and scholars, inspiring and motivating the curatorial team. Collection Development – Strengthen the collection through a mission‑aligned acquisitions strategy and cultivate donations from artists and collectors. Relationship Building – Inspire and connect with stakeholders across the museum, the college, local communities, and a global network of scholars and garner support for the museum’s initiatives. Responsibilities Partner with the Museum Director, balancing creative vision with day‑to‑day team and project management. Lead development of a visionary and sustainable multi‑year exhibition schedule, including traveling shows, in collaboration with Museum leadership. With input from the Board’s Collections and Impact Committee, guide the Museum’s collection development strategy, ensuring ongoing documentation and care of the collection with the Collections team. Work with the Engagement team to develop accessible interpretive approaches and support fundraising efforts with the Advancement team. Collaborate with the Lunder Institute for American Art on mission‑aligned fellowships, programs, and research initiatives. Curate select exhibitions and publications and contribute original scholarship. Advise and model institutional values and mission alignment, lead special projects, and communicate priorities to staff and stakeholders. Define and implement a curatorial vision grounded in the museum’s context, art field, and larger questions in contemporary life, ensuring relevance and prioritizing engagement. Manage and mentor staff with clarity and purpose, fostering a collaborative, high‑performing work environment. Build and maintain relationships with artists, collectors, dealers, and donors, representing the museum locally, nationally, and internationally. Develop and refine effective collaborative processes for curatorial work, including annual and multi‑year budgets and contracts. Model and encourage self‑awareness in matters of equity and access and support staff learning and growth. Develop and execute the long‑term strategy for the Museum’s collection, ensuring excellence and distinction. Set policies and practices in collaboration with key staff, guided by the Museum Board. Lead acquisition and deaccession processes and serve as liaison to the Board’s Collections and Impact Committee. Direct the full acquisitions cycle—identifying, evaluating, and proposing artworks—and cultivate relationships with artists and collectors. Guide the curatorial team’s role in documentation, storage, conservation planning, and maintenance of archives, and develop digital access and workflows. Contribute curatorial expertise to the development of educational and collection‑based initiatives in art conservation. Contribute curatorial leadership to the College’s art‑on‑campus program. Plan a robust and multi‑year exhibition program. Guide curatorial staff in creating exhibitions and programs that leverage the collection. Initiate or serve as venue curator for selected projects. Develop inclusive, effective processes for proposing exhibitions. Shape interpretive and pedagogical strategies, create content, serve as art department liaison, contribute to faculty outreach. Produce and edit scholarly publications, essays, exhibition texts, labels, and digital content. Participate in cross‑departmental and community initiatives. Represent the museum locally, nationally, and internationally. Engage collectors and donors to support exhibitions, acquisitions, and priorities, coordinating with advancement. Cultivate donors, solicit gifts of art, partner with Director, and report on donor engagement. Provide content for fundraising, drafting grants and reports. Represent the museum through media, digital platforms, and public appearances. Participate in local, regional, and art‑world events. Build positive relationships with the Board of Governors. Experience, Skills, and Attributes Master’s degree required. Knowledge of American art history required. Track record of scholarship and of working relationships with living artists, exhibition making, and collections. At least seven years of experience working in the arts, culture, and/or education; minimum five years of progressive leadership experience in curatorial practice (exhibition, publications, collections, artistic program). Distinguished track record of planning and realizing exhibitions and publications, conducting strategic collections research and development, and collaborating on interpretation and public programs. Demonstrated ability to motivate, manage and mentor staff, students, and emerging professionals. Strong organizational skills and ability to establish and communicate priorities; well‑developed project and budget management skills; cross‑departmental leadership and negotiation skills. Exceptional written and oral communication skills, including public speaking, and ability to compellingly communicate the museum’s mission, vision, and artistic program to diverse audiences. Ability to identify opportunities that expand the narratives offered by the museum’s collections and programs. Ability to foster an environment supportive of people from different cultures, backgrounds, and life paths. Commitment to the museum’s mission, vision, values, and belief in liberal arts education. Even if you do not meet all the qualifications for this position, we encourage you to apply if the majority of the job description aligns with your skills and experience. Compensation The salary range is $130,000–150,000 commensurate with experience, plus an attractive benefits package. #J-18808-Ljbffr