Curator Of History

City of Riverside•Riverside, CA

5h•Onsite

About The Position

The City of Riverside is accepting applications for the position of Curator of History to fill one (1) vacancy in the Museum Department. The eligibility list established may be used to fill the current and/or upcoming vacancies within this classification for up to six (6) months. The Curator of History is responsible for curating exhibitions, developing and presenting programs, and building the local history collections for the Museum of Riverside. Also included are curatorial responsibilities relating to informed care and interpretation of the Museum’s Victorian-era Heritage House (the only property currently open to the public and the location of the Curator of History’s office) and National Historic Landmark Harada House, and ensuring alignment with federal, state, and local historic preservation standards. In addition, the Museum of Riverside is under way on an exciting project to renovate and expand its historic main downtown museum site. The successful candidate for the position of Curator of History will be an experienced curatorial professional and will possess a distinguished curatorial record of achievement, creative storytelling skills, exceptional interpretive writing abilities, a commitment to scholarly integrity, and an engaging manner with the public. The Curator of History must be able to handle a demanding workload, managing multiple projects simultaneously within a work environment that will be in flux for several years until the new downtown site reopens. The successful candidate will be an analytical thinker and have a strong work ethic, sense of humor, can-do attitude, and the desire to be part of the team who will bring about momentous change for the institution. Collections care and management experience will be important, and experience with historic structures is a strongly encouraged. The Museum of Riverside has a long history of collecting, exhibiting, and publishing in its areas of disciplinary expertise, which include Riverside area history, Indigenous resources, culture, and natural science. The Curator of History will develop and execute a robust schedule of exhibitions, community programming, and public communications relating to the region’s history. This position will work with the Curatorial Services Manager, the Museum Director, colleagues, and the community to successfully accomplish these tasks, and to steward the permanent collection of historic artifacts. The Curator of History is also a key liaison to an active volunteer corps. The Curator of History may assist with the museum's ongoing effort to seek and administer grants and private donations and support execution of the Museum’s major events. The Curator of History, u nder general supervision, performs a variety of technical and professional duties in the assembling and caring for museum collections in anthropology, history, historic structures, or natural history; to plan and provide materials for museum exhibitions and educational programs; to provide public access to history collections and answer research inquiries; work closely with all facets of the community to preserve this region’s legacy; and to do related work as required. In summary, the Museum is looking for a motivated individual who works well under pressure and can manage a diverse array of job responsibilities, working with artifacts one moment, historic structures the next, planning a public program, and developing an exhibition all in the same week. It is crucial for this person to be able to work well with their colleagues, direct supervisor, and department head to successfully complete these tasks to advance the mission and goals of the Museum and provide the best experiences for the local community as well as City visitors. Actual Classification Title: Museum Curator. Please refer to the Museum Curator job description for more clarification. 4 % salary increase effective the first pay-period following July 1, 2026

Requirements

Equivalent to a Master's Degree from an accredited college or university with major work in museology, history, anthropology, archaeology, geology, natural science, zoology, or a closely related field of specialization.
Three years of experience in the collection, preservation, interpretation, presentation of materials for Museum exhibitions and the presentation of public programs.
Ability to work irregular schedules, including evenings and weekends.
Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid Class “C” California Motor Vehicle Operator’s License.

Nice To Haves

Three years of experience in the field and the interest to pursue graduate studies may substitute for the partial fulfillment of the Master’s Degree requirement.
Experience in the interpretive and management concerns that are particular to historic sites.
Experience in the collection, interpretation, and presentation of materials for museum exhibitions and public programs.
Knowledge of American material culture history (southern California history preferred), the principles of collection preservation, and contemporary museum practices.
Experience with collections management relational databases, TMS Collections in particular.
Experience with program delivery by means of in-person programs, publications, and digital modes.
Proficiency in computer programs such as the Microsoft Office Suite, basic graphic design programs, and collections management software.
Experience in training and managing volunteers.
Experience leading preservation and maintenance efforts for the Museum’s historic structures and the history collections within them and associated with them.

Responsibilities

Work effectively on teams to implement the Museum of Riverside’s mission.
Locate, acquire, and house appropriate artifacts or specimens, in accordance with the Museum’s Collections Development Plan.
Conduct detailed analysis and research to identify and catalog items.
Prepare and maintain proper collection records.
Oversee necessary maintenance, preservation, and conservation of collected materials.
Select artifacts and specimens and continuously plan exhibitions within assigned field of responsibility.
Develop content to promote and market programs to encourage public participation and engagement.
Provide content for labels to emphasize exhibition features.
Participate in museum and/or community-sponsored programs and events.
Present lectures or other programs to community groups, Museum audiences, and professional organizations.
Includes the development of digital programs and videos
Contribute articles to the Museum newsletters and scholarly publications.
Research and prepare content for grant applications.
Advise the public regarding the care of historic objects in their ownership (not to include authentication or appraisal).
Confer and cooperate with other resource and Museum personnel regarding materials sources, object data, exhibition details, publications, and programs.
When assigned to History or Anthropology, manage the documentation, care, and interpretation of artifacts that include, but are not limited to, historic and contemporary artifacts and documents in a range of media, relating to the Riverside and surrounding area.
When assigned to Historic Structures, manage the general upkeep of the Museum’s historic structures (including, but not limited to the Heritage House, Harada House, and Robinson House); maintain maintenance and capital improvements schedules.
Instruct interns and volunteers.
Performs related work as required.