Job Posting

Reporting to the Chief Curator, the Curator is a strong collaborator and member of the Exhibitions, Research and Collections (ERC) management team. The Curator is responsible for the management of the Museum’s Temporary and Travelling Exhibitions department and acts as a key source of knowledge on immigration, diversity and identity-related topics. The Curator is responsible for the Temporary and Travelling Exhibitions department’s programs and projects; proposes and curates exhibitions and curatorial content for a variety of platforms, ensuring that content reflects high quality and integrity, and that content is engaging, meaningful and responsive to audience needs; leads or contributes to the development of content, updating and rotating exhibits or components within the Museum’s permanent exhibitions; is responsible for the preparation and monitoring of the Temporary and Travelling Exhibitions department’s budget, goals and overseeing department staff (Curatorial Projects Coordinator, as well as a team of casual on-call Preparators), volunteers, interns and service providers; is responsible for the development and implementation of policies and procedures relating to temporary and travelling exhibitions; and nurturing existing relationships and growing networks and partnerships.

Principal Responsibilities

Curatorial & Exhibitions Management

• Acts as a key source of knowledge on immigration, diversity and identity-related topics;
• Proposes and curates exhibitions and curatorial content for a variety of platforms supporting the Museum’s mandate and goals;
• Responsible for the management of the Museum’s temporary and travelling exhibition programs, including monitoring of all processes to ensure high quality of content, product and service: timelines and scheduling, conceptualization, content development, text writing and editing, design, production, installation/de-installation, associated logistics, related monitoring and reporting, administration, evaluation, care and maintenance;
• Responsible for the Museum’s Community Presents partnership program (a component of temporary exhibitions);
• Leads the Exhibitions Committee in long-term temporary and travelling exhibitions planning guided by Museum strategic goals and priorities and develops and updates the Museum’s Temporary and Travelling Exhibitions Plan;
• Works in collaboration with key team members in content planning for permanent exhibitions;
• Leads or contributes to the development of content, updating and rotating exhibits or components within permanent exhibitions;
• Works in collaboration with key team members to determine the scope and parameters of information required for exhibition content development;
• Conducts primary and secondary research (locating, evaluating, analyzing and synthesizing information from diverse sources) for the development of exhibitions and curatorial content for a variety of platforms;
• Works in collaboration with key team members to develop interpretation strategies to present exhibitions and curatorial content in innovative and engaging ways;

Accessibility & Partnerships

• Works in collaboration with key team members to identify innovative ways of increasing accessibility to, and engagement with, the Museum’s collection and research;
• Works in collaboration with the New Media Manager and other key team members on virtual projects requiring curatorial content;
• Takes part in collection planning in collaboration with the Collection Manager and other key team members, to establish Museum collection areas of development both in terms of volume and subject matter;
• Works in collaboration with the Collection Manager to ensure the care, preservation, preventative conservation, and security of Museum collection items and loans on display within Museum temporary and travelling exhibitions, and for permanent exhibition rotating content when required;
• Leads or participates in partnership-based exhibitions-related projects, including collaboration with community members and organisations, government departments, museums and other cultural and heritage organizations;
• Presents to and exchanges knowledge with colleagues, members of the public, professional organizations, partners and colleagues in the cultural and heritage sector or to support academic programs;
• Represents and promotes the Museum’s exhibition-related activities by participating in regional and national professional networks;
• Nurtures existing donor and partner relationships and networks to expand existing partnerships and contact lists pertaining to temporary, travelling and permanent exhibitions.

Administration

• Manages and provides leadership and guidance to Temporary and Travelling Exhibitions department staff, volunteers and interns and is responsible for related project contracts and service providers;
• Prioritizes among competing activities, focusing efforts and determining the most appropriate allocation of the Temporary and Travelling Exhibitions department resources to achieve results;
• Conducts training and orientation of new Museum staff, volunteers and interns;
• Develops and implements policies and procedures for the Temporary and Travelling Exhibitions department;
• Prepares and monitors the Temporary and Travelling Exhibitions department’s annual budget, goals and associated reports;
• Ensures compliance with Canadian Acts as they relate to the Museum’s exhibitions and curatorial projects;
• Maintains a high level of knowledge of current trends and best practices at national and international levels in areas of curation, exhibition planning and development;
• Represents the Curatorial discipline within the organization and to external bodies;
• Participates in appropriate committee activities and meetings as required;
• Reports risk issues to the Chief Curator;
• Other tasks as assigned by the Chief Curator.

Education, Knowledge & Experience

Skills and Qualifications –Required

• Master’s degree in History, Anthropology, Museum Studies or field relevant to immigration;
• Minimum of five years of experience working in a museum and thorough understanding of professional museum principles, practices and standards;
• Minimum of five years of experience in exhibition curation including planning and development in a museum, other public historical institution or gallery setting;
• Management and leadership skills gained through a minimum of five years of experience in supervising staff, volunteers, interns and service providers;
• Demonstrated ability working in and creating a team environment focused on enriching visitor experience;
• Strong interpretive writing skills for a museum audience with varying learning needs;
• Experience working with both physical and digital collections in a museum, other public historical institution or gallery setting;
• Demonstrated research skills: abilities in locating, evaluating, analyzing and synthesizing historical information from diverse sources;
• Ability to engage in dialogue with people of varying viewpoints and to exercise tact and diplomacy in working on projects of a difficult, specialized or highly sensitive nature;
• Demonstrated broad knowledge of Canadian immigration patterns and history;
• Strong attention to detail and excellent organizational skills: ability to plan, organize, prioritize and handle multiple projects and deadlines;
• Experience coordinating and executing exhibition projects of varying terms with internal and external partners;
• Ability to develop strong networks, relationships and partnerships;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Strong understanding of exhibition design, production and preparation and experience in exhibition installation/de-installation and safe handling of power tools;
• Valid Class 5 driver’s licence;
• Legally eligible to work in Canada.

Skills and Qualifications – Desired

• Fluent in both official languages, French and English, both spoken and written;
• Post-secondary education in Museum Studies;
• Expert knowledge of specific episodes or events in the field of Canadian immigration history, and/or on topics of identity and diversity;
• Strong presentation and public speaking skills;
• Experience in project management;
• Experience in policy and procedures development and implementation;
• Leadership experience in inter-organizational exhibition projects;
• Experience in digital humanities projects.

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

• Combination of work in an office environment, onsite in exhibition spaces as well as occasional work offsite.
• Requires lifting and moving objects from 20 to 50 pounds. Must be able to safely climb inclines, negotiate uneven surfaces, stairs and ladders.
• Occasional use of hand tools and basic power tools.
• May require irregular hours (evening, weekends).

Competencies

• Teamwork - Ability to work both independently and in a team environment. Ability to work professionally with a diverse group of people including visitors, partners, scholars and service providers.
• Ethics - Exercises sound ethical judgment and discretion in the handling of confidential matters, applies ethical principles to research and dissemination of information.
• Problem-Solving - Knowledge of problem-solving and decision-making techniques, and the ability to anticipate, generate solutions to problems and decide on a course of action.
• Responsiveness - Ability to respond to and learn from new developments and
  initiatives, ability to deal with sensitive and difficult personal issues that may arise with tact, sensitivity and confidentiality.
• Customer Focus - Knowledge and ability to provide high levels of service to both internal and external customers, leading to high customer satisfaction and established relationships.
• Integrity and Trust - Ability to operate with a high degree of honesty and openness, such that respect and trust is earned by coworkers, customers and partners.
• Communication - Well developed communication skills: knowledge of various communication methods, and the ability to present and receive information in the most appropriate manner.
• Adaptability - Knowledge and ability to effectively manage one’s own behaviour and positively influence the actions of others during times of change, stress or uncertainty.
• Planning & Organizing - Effectively manages resources (time, people, funding, material, support) and eliminates roadblocks to achieve goals.
• Creative & Innovative Thinking - Develops fresh ideas that provide solutions to all types of challenges.
• Research & Analytical - Possesses demonstrated research skills: abilities in locating, evaluating, analyzing and synthesizing historical information from diverse sources.
• Developing Direct Reports - Works with employees to understand and set career goals.
• Motivation - Encourages others to do their best through empowerment, reward and recognition, delegation, and the creation of a positive work environment and strong team development opportunities and support.
• Impact & Influence - Ability to assume leadership, even under challenging or difficult situations, and provide direction and impact the behaviour of others in a positive way.

Compensation for this position is commensurate with experience and includes a comprehensive benefit package.

If you are interested in this opportunity please send a resume and a cover letter to Ms. Tanya Bouchard, Chief Curator at tbouchard@pier21.ca

Competition closes at 5 p.m. on Sunday, January 12, 2014

We thank all the applicants for their interest. However only those selected for an interview will be contacted.