Head of Collections and Curatorial

Agua Caliente Casinos•, CA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Head of Collections & Curatorial is a department head and member of the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum’s Senior Management Team, reporting to the Executive Director. The role sets direction for and leads the Collections & Curatorial Department, which includes curatorial programming, exhibition development, collections management, registration, and NAGPRA compliance. The Head supervises department staff, Tribal interns, and independent contractors or vendors, delegates day-to-day operations, and remains directly involved in detailed, object-level work when projects require it. The position is accountable for the care, documentation, and stewardship of museum collections and loans. It develops department policies, processes, systems, and workflows; prepares reports and recommendations for museum leadership and the Tribal Council; and works with other museum and Tribal departments. The role leads curatorial planning and exhibition development, oversees collection-related activities and compliance, manages departmental and temporary exhibition budgets, and coordinates contractors and staff across multiple museum sites. The Agua Caliente Cultural Museum is a 48,000-square-foot facility in downtown Palm Springs, California, with permanent and changing galleries, collections storage, a retail space, classrooms, meeting rooms, and an outdoor education garden. The employee is typically housed in an office, frequently works in a climate-controlled vault, and may occasionally work outdoors or participate in exhibition installations. The person must regularly drive to and from collection storage facilities.

Requirements

M.A. degree in art, art history, anthropology, archaeology, history, museum studies, or a related field, plus eight years of related experience including supervisory experience, or an acceptable equivalent.
Sound knowledge of and experience with museum registration methods, cataloging, conservation, and storage practices; legal and insurance issues; and NAGPRA.
Demonstrated experience in exhibition development and departmental leadership, including supervision, delegation, and budget management.
Strong organizational skills.
Ability to maintain accurate records and documentation.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including preparing reports for executive and governing bodies.
Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Office, Photoshop, and PastPerfect.
Ability to work respectfully and effectively within a tribal organization.
Self-motivated, able to work independently, and able to work effectively as a team member.
Must be able to drive to and from collection storage facilities regularly.
Able to sit, stand, walk, reach, climb a ladder, lift at least 25 pounds, talk, hear, and use hands to type.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic direction for the Collections & Curatorial Department and contribute to museum-wide planning and decision-making as a Senior Management Team member.
Supervise and evaluate department staff, part-time and temporary employees, Tribal interns, and contractors; set priorities, delegate work, and review quality and consistency.
Oversee department hiring and onboarding, and prepare transition and handover materials.
Generate and manage department and temporary exhibition budgets.
Manage external contractors for exhibition design, conservation, rigging, packing, crating, shipping, framing, and mount-making.
Design and implement department systems and workflows, including interdepartmental request processes.
Lead curatorial planning and development of permanent, temporary, and digital exhibitions with the Executive Director, including concepts, object selection, interpretation, and layout.
Oversee exhibition production from planning through installation, including installation plans, label and text review, name verification, and coordination with designers, preparators, archive staff, and other departments.
Direct exhibition and loan registration and logistics, coordinate staff duties, execute loan agreements and deeds of gift, and ensure preservation standards during transport, installation, and handling.
Develop exhibition- and collection-related proposals and materials for review by the Executive Director and Tribal Council.
Direct safe handling, preservation, storage, and security of cultural objects, artworks, and artifacts in the museum’s collection and custody.
Oversee object-based activities, including acquisitions, purchases, gifts, loans, outdoor sculpture, and deaccessions.
Direct condition assessment and conservation planning and develop collections documentation standards and templates.
Oversee digital collections work, including cataloging, record updates, location tracking, digital imaging, and uploading metadata and images for internal and external access.
Develop, implement, and update collections disaster preparedness, response, and recovery plans with relevant museum staff; supervise emergency supplies and preparedness for collections areas, outdoor sculpture, and off-site storage.
Oversee NAGPRA compliance, documentation, research, and consultation on cultural items, and prepare related reports and recommendations for the Executive Director and Tribal Council.
Promote compliance with applicable laws relating to collections management and liaise with the Executive Director, General Counsel’s Office, and Risk Management on ethical, legal, and risk issues.
Develop, implement, and update collections policies and procedures according to American Alliance of Museums standards and best practices, including revisions to the Collections Management Policy.
Prepare reports, briefings, and presentations for the Executive Director, Senior Management Team, and Tribal Council, and produce or contribute to the museum’s Annual Report.
Drive regularly to and from collection storage facilities.
Occasionally participate in exhibition installation.