Director of Curatorial Affairs & Initiatives

Job Description

About Cincinnati Art Museum

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Founded in 1881, the Cincinnati Art Museum (CAM) is one of the oldest art museums in the United States and a cornerstone of the cultural life of Cincinnati and the region. Located in scenic Eden Park, the museum is home to an encyclopedic collection of more than 73,000 works spanning 6,000 years of artistic achievement, alongside a dynamic program of exhibitions, scholarship, education, and community engagement. General admission to the museum is free, reflecting CAM’s commitment to making art accessible to everyone.

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CAM is deeply rooted in Cincinnati and part of a thriving, welcoming arts community, with a strong philanthropic infrastructure that supports the museum’s ambitious vision for the future. Its work reflects a commitment to being innovative, intentional, visible, and deeply interwoven into civic life. The museum’s Cincinnati Wing, the first permanent display in the country dedicated to the art history of a single city, celebrates the region’s artistic legacy while connecting Cincinnati’s story to the broader history of American art. CAM has also earned national recognition for its visitor experience, ranking #3 among art museums in USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice rankings for two consecutive years.

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At the heart of this work is CAM’s mission: Through the power of art, we contribute to a more vibrant Cincinnati by inspiring its people and connecting our communities. The museum embraces the idea that art can bring people together, broaden perspectives, and enrich the life of a city.

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The Opportunity Ahead

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Cincinnati Art Museum is entering an exciting new chapter as it looks toward its 150th anniversary in 2031. Building on 145 years of service to the region, CAM’s 2026–2029 strategic plan places the museum at the heart of civic life and champions art's power to support wellness, with priorities centered on Deep Community Connections, Wellbeing and Sustainability, and Radical Hospitality and Learning.

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For the Director of Curatorial Affairs & Initiatives, this moment presents an opportunity to help shape what a leading, encyclopedic art museum can be for its community and for the field. Working alongside the Museum Director and a collaborative artistic leadership team, the Director will help advance CAM’s mission and evolving vision, bringing together scholarly excellence, curatorial innovation, and meaningful public engagement.

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Position Summary

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CAM’s Director of Curatorial Affairs & Initiatives will lead and inspire the senior curatorial team in the development, implementation, and management of innovative and engaging collaborative museum-based work to connect communities and inspire people through the power of art. This position requires a robust background in art and cultural history, strong academic credentials, and demonstrated leadership in engaging diverse public audiences and communities, as well as strong leadership skills to advance institutional projects with the Museum Director and team, establish and coordinate curatorial goals, spark museological innovation, and establish responsible and ethical stewardship.

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The individual will serve on the museum’s Artistic Leadership Team with the Museum Director, Director of Academic Partnerships & Research, Director of Collections & Exhibitions, and Director of Learning & Interpretation to promote and facilitate work that aligns with the museum’s mission and goals. The Director will work across curatorial, collections, exhibitions, learning, interpretation, and research functions to advance shared institutional priorities. The Director of Curatorial Affairs & Initiatives will also serve on the museum’s weekly senior leadership team.

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The successful candidate will engage in strategic team building and build relationships with communities internally and externally. The individual in this role will demonstrate skills in Communication, Authenticity, Relationships, Excellence, and Stewardship, supporting the museum’s CAM CARES strategic plan goals.

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Key Responsibilities

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1. Team and Time Management

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- Lead, mentor, and inspire the curatorial staff, fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment. With individual department curators as applicable, set and evaluate goals, guide senior and early career professional development, and assign available resources. Conduct annual evaluation of senior curators, and curatorial assistants through their direct supervisors, as applicable per museum CAM Human Resources and Museum Director.

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- Coordinate with all CAM departments to ensure seamless execution of exhibitions, projects, and programs.

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- Develop annual departmental Curatorial budgets with the Chief Financial Officer.

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2. Collections Development

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- Coordinate processes regarding collections and acquisitions for the institution.

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- In collaboration with the Director of Collections & Exhibitions, Museum Director, and Board Collections Committee, manage and implement strategies and plans for collection development, ethical and responsible stewardship, and acquisitions resources.

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3. Community and Donor Engagement

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- Build and maintain relationships with collectors, artists, donors, museum staff, and visitors.

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- Develop programs and outreach initiatives to enhance multivocality of museum projects, programs, and initiatives.

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-Partner with Philanthropy on fundraising efforts to support museum operations and projects.

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4. Leadership

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- Coordinate hiring, separation, disciplinary, and succession planning within the department for applicable positions, in communication with the Museum Director and CAM Human Resources. Supervise and evaluate the division employees and assure proper supervision and performance feedback is being provided to staff.

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- Initiate and maintain regular communication with the Museum Director all significant matters affecting CAM, organizational strategies, CAM employees, and institutional reputation.

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- Act as liaison to leadership teams regarding Curatorial Affairs and Initiatives, communicating and reporting regularly, exemplifying collaborative decision making.

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- Other duties as they arise and are assigned, including some evening and weekend programs and events.

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5. Curatorial Impact

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- Conduct original research related to collections and exhibitions, particularly in the individual’s core area of academic expertise.

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- Lead one or more curatorial disciplines and associated support staff in alignment with the museum’s strategies and initiatives.

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- Collaborate closely with the Director of Learning & Interpretation to formulate and evaluate interpretive plans for exhibitions and the museum as a whole.

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- With the Director of Academic Partnerships & Research and the Director of Collections & Exhibitions, publish curatorial texts, exhibition catalogs, and articles to enhance the institution's scholarly impact.

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- Organize lectures, panels, and discussions to promote scholarly engagement with the public.

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Qualifications

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- Master’s degree in art history, or a related field; PhD preferred.

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- Minimum of 12 years of curatorial experience in a museum or gallery setting.

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- Demonstrated experience should include a history of exhibition planning, budget and project management, publications, lectures, leading installations, and supervisory experience.

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- Excellent communication, organizational, strong management, and interpersonal skills.

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- Proven ability to work collaboratively with donors, trustees, staff, and volunteers.

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Compensation & Benefits

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The salary range for this position is $115,000–$130,000 , commensurate with experience, and includes a comprehensive benefits package.

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To Apply

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Interested applicants should submit a resume and statement of interest to Jonathan McIntosh, Partner, or Rachael Holloway, Recruiter, with ThinkingAhead Executive Search.

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Jonathan McIntosh, Partner

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ThinkingAhead Executive Search

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View phone number on ziprecruiter.com

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View email address on ziprecruiter.com

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Rachael Holloway, Recruiter

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ThinkingAhead Executive Search

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View phone number on ziprecruiter.com

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View email address on ziprecruiter.com