Chief Curator

Chief Curator & Director of Collections
The Museum of African American History connects colonial and early African American history & culture in Boston and the larger New England area with the abolition of slavery and current explorations of race and the struggle for human rights.
Home to four original African American buildings built at the birth of the nation and still standing, the museum illuminates, interprets, and preserved the birthplace of the abolitionist movement and the continuing struggle for human rights.
History:
The Museum is a not-for-profit history institution that began holding exhibitions and public gatherings in 1963 and is nationally and internationally known for its collection of historic sites in Boston and Nantucket, including two African Meeting Houses Abiel Smith School, Seneca Boston- Florence Higginbotham House, Black Heritage Trails.
The Chief Curator & Director of Collections oversees the museum’s curatorial and collections efforts on both campuses Boston and Nantucket. The Chief Curator & Director of collections has demonstrable level of experience in curatorial core competencies of preservation (collections planning, care and management); research (scholarly, object-based, and applied research), and communication (exhibition design and development, and public engagement) while also ensuring its historical and cultural accuracy This position will work across departments and with partners including area depositories currently holding part of MAAH’s collections like the National Park Service, and University of Massachusetts – Boston. This position may also serve as a museum spokesperson on relevant subject-matter.
This position will be responsible for facilitating/ helping museums prepare areas of curation and collections for the accreditation process.
Member of the museum’s senior leadership team
Leads & manages curatorial & collections team
Works collaboratively across museum departments
Collaborates with Marketing on outreach promotions
May serve as museum spokesperson on specific topics
Plays key role in museum accreditation process
Collections Management
Oversee acquisition, cataloging, and preservation of museum collections including those located at partner repositories
Develop & implement policies and procedures regarding collections care that brings museum into accreditation compliance
Ensure compliance with legal and ethical standards regarding accessioning and deaccessioning
Oversees collections committee.
Oversee planning, design, and installation of exhibitions related to the museum’s mission
Leads renovation of museum’s current exhibitions in Boston and development of permanent exhibits at the Nantucket campus.
Oversees exhibition contractors and vendors
Digital literacy
Work collaboratively with staff and external vendors to develop compelling exhibitions and digital experiences using curatorial ethics and standards
Implement creative and innovative ideas using modern technology including augmented and virtual reality, digital immersion, and artificial intelligence
Research and Scholarship
Conduct research related to museum properties, communities, mission, and objects within museum’s collections including archeological artifacts
Foster partnership with academic institutions, historians, and researchers to enhance museum’s intellectual contributions
The Chief Curator & Director of Collections performs additional functions (essential or otherwise), which may be assigned from time to time. The position may require work on weekends, nights, and holidays to accommodate facility programming and utilization.
Ability to work with diverse staff, and outside stakeholders
Balance departmental priorities with museum-wide goals and objectives
Interpersonal: Comfortable interacting with diverse audiences including the general public, the department, and across the museum. Requires the ability to operate general office equipment
Provide leadership and mentorship to curatorial& collections staff and volunteers, fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment.


Advanced degree in African American history, African American/ Africana studies, public history, Museum Studies, Art History, or a related field.
Minimum of 7 years of curatorial experience in a museum setting, with a focus on African American history and culture in eighteenth and nineteenth century America.
Demonstrated knowledge of African American history
Demonstrated success in curatorial leadership, exhibition development, and collection management.
Strong research and scholarship background with a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Strong interpersonal, time management, and organizational skills
Strong customer service experience
Experience with collections management and project management software
Effectively use Microsoft Office Suite

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