OKPOP Curator of Storytelling

State of Oklahoma•Tulsa, OK

1d•$65,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Curator of Storytelling is OKPOP’s chief narrative strategist and public champion. This role leads the development, integration, and delivery of the museum’s stories across exhibitions, collections interpretation, media, and public programs. Equal parts editor-in-chief, showrunner, and producer, the Curator of Storytelling turns Oklahoma pop-culture history into compelling, accurate, and accessible visitor experiences—on site, online, and on tour. This position provides direct leadership and operational oversight of the Production, Education, and Exhibits teams—aligning people, budgets, schedules, and deliverables—and collaborates deeply with Curator and Collections/Registration to ensure ethical, accurate, and inclusive storytelling. The role also stewards relationships with artists, estates, studios, lenders, and community partners.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and four (4) years of professional experience in museum or public administration.
Strong written and verbal communication skills; demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex schedules/budgets.

Nice To Haves

2+ years’ experience crafting interpretive content through historical/journalistic research, narrative or documentary production, or related storytelling roles.
Experience in museums or cultural organizations; familiarity with registration/loan practices, rights/permissions, and ethical storytelling.
Proficiency with media workflows (pre-pro through post) and basic familiarity with Adobe Creative Cloud or similar tools.
Demonstrated commitment to inclusive practice, community collaboration, and accessibility.
Editorial excellence: clear, audience-aware writing and rigorous fact-checking.
Producer mindset: organized, deadline-driven, and solutions-oriented.
Collaborative leadership: empathetic, communicative, and good at giving/receiving feedback.
Cultural fluency: deep interest in Oklahoma’s contributions to music, film/TV, comics, literature, design, and broader pop culture.
Public presence: confident presenter and facilitator for diverse audiences.
Bachelor’s or higher in History, Museum Studies, Film/Media Production, Journalism, Public History, or related field.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of the preparation of informational material; of Oklahoma history; of principles of living history; of appropriate costuming styles; of education theories and applications; of survey development; ability to managing multiple projects; and of supervisory principles and practices.
Ability is required to train; to establish and maintain working relationships with others; to communicate effectively both orally and in writing; to perform historical research; to coordinate and supervise the production of large scale living history events; and to manage program funds.

Responsibilities

Narrative Strategy & Leadership Own the museum-wide storytelling vision, standards; ensure alignment with OKPOP’s mission, values, and audience goals.
Collaborate with Curator to lead interpretive planning for permanent galleries, rotating shows, and pop-ups; set success criteria and KPIs for visitor understanding, engagement, and accessibility.
Manage and mentor a multidisciplinary team (writers, producers, editors, educators, exhibit developers); oversee contractors and creative partners.
Manage schedules for exhibits, media, and interpretive deliverables; track progress and report to leadership.
Exhibitions & Collections Interpretation Translate collection assets, loans, and archival materials into clear interpretive frameworks (themes, story arcs, key objects, multimedia).
Partner with Curatorial, Registrar, and Collections on loans, rights, and documentation; ensure accurate label copy, credits, and provenance.
Guide exhibit scripts, digital labels, interactives, and AV content; review for accuracy, clarity, tone, and ADA/accessibility compliance.
Maintain high standards of inclusivity, cultural sensitivity, and community consent (e.g., FPIC principles where applicable).
Media & Content Production Serve as executive producer for OKPOP media (short-form video, podcasts, oral histories, social storytelling, in-gallery films).
Oversee pre-production, production, and post—including editorial calendars, scripts, interviews, rights/permissions, and delivery specs.
Ensure all media is versioned appropriately for in-gallery, web, and social platforms; steward a modern metadata and asset-management workflow.
Education, Programs & Community Engagement Oversee Education to develop tours, curriculum, talks, and workshops that extend exhibit narratives and media literacy.
Present OKPOP stories at conferences, festivals, and partner events; host or moderate select public programs and recordings.
Cultivate collaborative relationships with artists, estates, tribal nations, schools, studios, and cultural organizations.
Brand, Access & Evaluation Uphold a unified interpretive voice across galleries, print, web, and social.
Champion accessibility (ADA compliance, multiple reading levels, bilingual or multilingual approaches where appropriate).
Define and track engagement metrics (e.g., dwell time, interactive completion, learning outcomes, digital reach); iterate using visitor feedback and evaluation.
Management Duties Hire, train, schedule, and evaluate staff; foster a positive, growth-minded culture with clear goals and feedback.
Administer policies consistently; prepare required reports and documentation on time.
Supervise and coordinate the day-to-day work of the Production, Education, and Exhibits teams, setting priorities, clearing blockers, and aligning deliverables to schedule and budget.
Coordinate closely with Marketing/Communications on editorial calendars and content launches.