Montana State University
Curator of Cultural History
Montana State University, Virginia, Minnesota, United States, 55792
Overview
Museum of the Rockies ( MOR ) seeks a creative and experienced curatorial professional to be its next Curator of Cultural History. This position will work closely with the Executive Director, the Senior Director of Exhibits, and colleagues across the institution to oversee the interpretation, care, and strategic development of the cultural collection at MOR. This is an exceptional opportunity to shape the interpretation, exhibitions, and acquisitions strategy of a remarkable collection that documents over 12,000 years of human history in the Northern Rockies. Both strategic and hands-on, the position requires a blend of scholarly excellence, collaborative leadership, strong communication, and a deep passion for making history accessible and meaningful to broad audiences. MOR anticipates having a new building for history exhibits in the coming years; the Curator will play a pivotal role in shaping content and how history is shared by the museum.
Location: Museum of the Rockies, Montana State University (MSU) – a college-level division, independent nonprofit, Smithsonian Affiliate, and AAM-accredited museum.
Responsibilities Exhibitions and Research
Be accountable for the timely execution of exhibitions, with clear deliverables and milestones.
Collaborate with the Executive Director, Senior Director of Exhibits, and other staff to develop a vision and schedule for Cultural History long-term, changing, and traveling exhibits.
Lead the coordination of accurate and dynamic research and script writing for exhibits; ensure department deadlines and provide content (labels, images, artifacts, multi-media assets, etc.) for other departments and outside collaborators/vendors.
Partner with the Exhibits Department, providing clear communication and establishing timelines and deliverables.
Perform, publish, and support scholarly research on the collection and its topic areas, promoting the Cultural History Department’s reputation.
Programs and Interpretation
Inspire the public, students, and scholars with history through teaching, programs, and publishing.
Lead the department’s virtual and in-person programs, ensuring high quality and alignment with the museum’s priorities.
Collaborate with Education, Development, and other departments to present Cultural History in a creative, thoughtful, and engaging way for diverse audiences.
Conduct tours of MOR’s history collection, lectures, gallery talks, and presentations for broad audiences including scholars, VIPs, students, and the public.
Develop and implement MOR’s history lecture series and other curatorial-led programs.
Collaborate with tribes to develop Indigenous exhibits and programs to share narratives and histories.
Leadership and Management
Serve as a collegial member of the organization’s executive team; engage in strategic decision-making and implementation.
Set annual priorities and strategies with definable outcomes in collaboration with departmental staff.
Foster an environment of cohesiveness and collaboration across museum departments.
Develop, track, and manage the department and special project budgets; provide accurate and timely reports.
Supervise and mentor curatorial staff, students, interns, and volunteers; manage workflows and delegate projects and tasks.
Ensure the curatorial team meets project goals and timelines through regular communication and performance tracking.
Oversee tribal relations for the department, working cooperatively with curatorial staff.
Collections
Oversee the cultural history collection in accordance with museum standards and best practices.
Encourage and promote research on the collection.
Collaborate with registration and collections management staff to ensure accurate information, cataloging, and documentation.
Work with staff and the Collections Committee to establish focus areas and growth; identify and propose acquisitions aligned with collecting goals, emphasizing Northern Rocky Mountain cultural history.
Develop departmental guidance and policies with staff; act as a resource for other organizations and individuals.
Other Duties
Coordinate with Education, Exhibits, Marketing, and Development to align content and deliverables with museum-wide goals and timelines.
Assist in grant writing and fundraising to support exhibitions, acquisitions, and research projects.
Respond to public inquiries about the collections and build positive relationships with donors.
Stay current with field developments and participate in professional organizations to incorporate trends and new approaches to history and curation.
Qualifications Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
MA in American History, Native American Studies, Museum Studies, or equivalent.
Five years of leadership experience as a curator in a history museum or comparable setting.
Experience developing and implementing dynamic and innovative history/culture-based exhibits engaging broad audiences.
Experience managing museum collections (registration, databases, IPM, etc.), aligning with AAM best practices, and working with NAGPRA.
Proven track record of guiding a professional team (working with volunteers and students a plus).
Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
PhD in American History, Native American Studies, Museum Studies, or equivalent.
Deep understanding of Western US History.
Experience working with collections, donors, research, publications, and exhibition development.
Demonstrated commitment to inclusive storytelling.
Experience working in an AAM-accredited museum.
The Successful Candidate Will
Be dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories of all people in the Northern Rockies.
Demonstrate collaborative, flexible, self-directed, organized leadership with accountability to deadlines.
Be a creative, accurate, and organized researcher capable of timely exhibit and program development.
Communicate effectively with team, staff across the museum, and the public in person and virtually.
Have experience working with Tribes and other entities.
Possess analytical and strategic skills with experience handling diverse collections and bringing stories to life.
Show proficiency with technology, database systems, and fiscal data analysis.
Be able to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends.
Position Special Requirements / Additional Information MSU offers a robust benefits package including retirement matching, health and dental coverage, and more. For more information, see the MSU benefits overview.
This job description is not exhaustive and MSU reserves the right to assign or reassign duties as needed.
EEO Statement MSU is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, disability, or any other protected status. Veterans and disabled veterans may receive preference under applicable laws.
Required Documents
Resume
Cover Letter addressing each of the Required and Preferred Qualifications
Supplemental Questions Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*)
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Location: Museum of the Rockies, Montana State University (MSU) – a college-level division, independent nonprofit, Smithsonian Affiliate, and AAM-accredited museum.
Responsibilities Exhibitions and Research
Be accountable for the timely execution of exhibitions, with clear deliverables and milestones.
Collaborate with the Executive Director, Senior Director of Exhibits, and other staff to develop a vision and schedule for Cultural History long-term, changing, and traveling exhibits.
Lead the coordination of accurate and dynamic research and script writing for exhibits; ensure department deadlines and provide content (labels, images, artifacts, multi-media assets, etc.) for other departments and outside collaborators/vendors.
Partner with the Exhibits Department, providing clear communication and establishing timelines and deliverables.
Perform, publish, and support scholarly research on the collection and its topic areas, promoting the Cultural History Department’s reputation.
Programs and Interpretation
Inspire the public, students, and scholars with history through teaching, programs, and publishing.
Lead the department’s virtual and in-person programs, ensuring high quality and alignment with the museum’s priorities.
Collaborate with Education, Development, and other departments to present Cultural History in a creative, thoughtful, and engaging way for diverse audiences.
Conduct tours of MOR’s history collection, lectures, gallery talks, and presentations for broad audiences including scholars, VIPs, students, and the public.
Develop and implement MOR’s history lecture series and other curatorial-led programs.
Collaborate with tribes to develop Indigenous exhibits and programs to share narratives and histories.
Leadership and Management
Serve as a collegial member of the organization’s executive team; engage in strategic decision-making and implementation.
Set annual priorities and strategies with definable outcomes in collaboration with departmental staff.
Foster an environment of cohesiveness and collaboration across museum departments.
Develop, track, and manage the department and special project budgets; provide accurate and timely reports.
Supervise and mentor curatorial staff, students, interns, and volunteers; manage workflows and delegate projects and tasks.
Ensure the curatorial team meets project goals and timelines through regular communication and performance tracking.
Oversee tribal relations for the department, working cooperatively with curatorial staff.
Collections
Oversee the cultural history collection in accordance with museum standards and best practices.
Encourage and promote research on the collection.
Collaborate with registration and collections management staff to ensure accurate information, cataloging, and documentation.
Work with staff and the Collections Committee to establish focus areas and growth; identify and propose acquisitions aligned with collecting goals, emphasizing Northern Rocky Mountain cultural history.
Develop departmental guidance and policies with staff; act as a resource for other organizations and individuals.
Other Duties
Coordinate with Education, Exhibits, Marketing, and Development to align content and deliverables with museum-wide goals and timelines.
Assist in grant writing and fundraising to support exhibitions, acquisitions, and research projects.
Respond to public inquiries about the collections and build positive relationships with donors.
Stay current with field developments and participate in professional organizations to incorporate trends and new approaches to history and curation.
Qualifications Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
MA in American History, Native American Studies, Museum Studies, or equivalent.
Five years of leadership experience as a curator in a history museum or comparable setting.
Experience developing and implementing dynamic and innovative history/culture-based exhibits engaging broad audiences.
Experience managing museum collections (registration, databases, IPM, etc.), aligning with AAM best practices, and working with NAGPRA.
Proven track record of guiding a professional team (working with volunteers and students a plus).
Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
PhD in American History, Native American Studies, Museum Studies, or equivalent.
Deep understanding of Western US History.
Experience working with collections, donors, research, publications, and exhibition development.
Demonstrated commitment to inclusive storytelling.
Experience working in an AAM-accredited museum.
The Successful Candidate Will
Be dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories of all people in the Northern Rockies.
Demonstrate collaborative, flexible, self-directed, organized leadership with accountability to deadlines.
Be a creative, accurate, and organized researcher capable of timely exhibit and program development.
Communicate effectively with team, staff across the museum, and the public in person and virtually.
Have experience working with Tribes and other entities.
Possess analytical and strategic skills with experience handling diverse collections and bringing stories to life.
Show proficiency with technology, database systems, and fiscal data analysis.
Be able to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends.
Position Special Requirements / Additional Information MSU offers a robust benefits package including retirement matching, health and dental coverage, and more. For more information, see the MSU benefits overview.
This job description is not exhaustive and MSU reserves the right to assign or reassign duties as needed.
EEO Statement MSU is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, disability, or any other protected status. Veterans and disabled veterans may receive preference under applicable laws.
Required Documents
Resume
Cover Letter addressing each of the Required and Preferred Qualifications
Supplemental Questions Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*)
#J-18808-Ljbffr