Curatorial Associate, Permanent Collections

University of Chicago•Chicago, IL

About The Position

The Curatorial Associate, Permanent Collections is a full-time, benefits-eligible, one-year position with the possibility of renewal. The role supports the Curator’s collection-focused responsibilities, particularly development of the Museum’s new collection plan, research and project management for a collection handbook, and reorganization of the collection across on-site and off-site storage in partnership with the Feitler Center for Academic Inquiry and Registration. The Associate conducts original research on collection objects, maintains and enhances collection records, and serves as an interdepartmental liaison for collection-related projects. The position is suited to a detail-oriented emerging scholar with strong research and writing skills, project management experience, and the flexibility to work across tasks in a dynamic, small-team environment. The role is part of the Smart Museum of Art at the University of Chicago, whose collection of more than 17,000 objects supports teaching, scholarship, and public engagement.

Requirements

College or university degree in a related field.
Two to five years of work experience in a related job discipline.
Strong original research and writing skills, producing clear, accurate, and engaging texts for scholarly and public audiences.
Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects, track deliverables, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail; comfort handling confidential and sensitive information.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills and a collaborative working style, including ability to serve as a reliable liaison across departments.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in art history, museum studies, or a related field.
At least two years of experience in a museum curatorial department or comparable research institution, with direct experience supporting collection documentation, publications, or exhibition preparation.
Experience supporting production of a scholarly catalogue, handbook, or collection publication.
Experience working with collections management databases; familiarity with TMS preferred.
Knowledge of image rights and reproduction permissions workflows.
Reading knowledge of one or more languages relevant to the collection.

Responsibilities

Support development of the Museum’s new collection plan by benchmarking peer institution policies, researching objects and the collection to identify strengths and gaps, and drafting sections for review.
Prepare written summaries, meeting materials, and decision records for curatorial and stakeholder consultations.
Manage production of the Smart’s collection handbook, tracking milestones, deadlines, and deliverables across curatorial, editorial, and design workflows.
Research collection objects for handbook entries, including provenance, exhibition history, material technique, conservation history, artist biography, and bibliography; maintain accurate documentation in the collections management system.
Draft and edit object entries, introductory texts, and supporting handbook materials for curatorial review.
Help coordinate image rights, reproduction permissions, and image delivery with Museum staff and external partners.
Liaise with external editors, designers, and the press as directed by the supervising Curator.
Partner with the Feitler Center for Academic Inquiry and Registration to plan reorganization of the collection between on-site and off-site storage facilities.
Assist in evaluating objects for long-term loan, de-accession consideration, or re-installation as part of the collection reorganization.
Respond to internal and external collection research inquiries from faculty, students, scholars, and the public, consistent with Museum policies.
Maintain and update object files, bibliographic records, and curatorial correspondence in digital and paper formats.
Assist with drafting loan correspondence, exhibition checklists, and collection-related grant applications as directed.
Participate in training and mentoring curatorial interns and student employees under the supervising Curator’s guidance.
Attend and contribute to curatorial, departmental, and relevant cross-departmental meetings and working groups.
With guidance from others, help commission new work and develop exhibitions advancing the University’s visual arts efforts.
Coordinate support for museum programs through fundraising efforts.
Perform other related work as needed.