Senior Curator

Swiss Institute (“SI”) is an independent non‑profit contemporary art institution dedicated to promoting forward‑thinking and experimental artmaking through innovative exhibitions, education, and programs. Committed to the highest standards of curatorial and educational excellence, SI serves as a platform for emerging artists, catalyzes new perspectives on celebrated work, and fosters appreciation for under‑recognized positions. Open to the public free of charge, SI is committed to being an organization that is diverse, equitable, accessible, and sustainable in its work, structure, and programming.

Job Summary

SI seeks an accomplished, visionary, and globally engaged curator to serve as Senior Curator. As a key member of SI’s leadership team, the Senior Curator plays a central role in shaping and advancing the institution’s artistic vision and mission.

Working in close partnership with the Director, the Senior Curator leads the curatorial department and develops and delivers an ambitious program of exhibitions, new commissions, off‑site projects, public programs, publications, and digital initiatives. The Senior Curator serves as a prominent public representative of SI, cultivating relationships across local and international artistic communities and with institutional partners worldwide. The position requires extensive knowledge of contemporary art and artistic practices globally, as well as demonstrated experience commissioning new work, collaborating closely with artists, and managing the full cycle of exhibitions and interdisciplinary programs from research and conceptual development through production, installation, and public presentation.

Working collaboratively across all departments, the Senior Curator ensures that SI’s artistic program is rigorous, distinctive, and realized to the highest standard.

The Senior Curator reports to the Director and supervises the Head of Gallery Operations and the Associate Curator, Public Programs & Residencies.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

Lead the development and delivery of SI’s exhibition season and related programs, publications, and commissions, working closely with artists and collaborators from conceptual development through production, installation, and presentation as well as managing relationships with external partners

Develop and deliver a multi‑year curatorial strategy and research pipeline, in close dialogue with the Director, that advances SI’s mission and strategic goals through ambitious artistic and interdisciplinary programs responsive to emerging and under‑recognized practices

Provide effective leadership and management of the curatorial program in collaboration with the Director, Associate Curator, Public Programs & Residencies, and Head of Gallery Operations

Supervise, mentor, and evaluate curatorial staff; establish clear priorities and workflows; and foster a collaborative, inclusive, and accountable departmental culture that supports professional growth

Develop and oversee project plans, schedules, and workflows for exhibitions and related programs, coordinating artists, galleries, lenders, vendors, and internal teams; manage loans, traveling exhibitions, contracts, production, shipping, customs, insurance, and installation to deliver each project safely, on time, and within budget

Oversee exhibition design and gallery management in collaboration with the Head of Gallery Operations

Oversee and collaborate with the Associate Curator, Public Programs & Residencies, to curate and produce public programming

Collaborate with the education department, visitor services team, and freelance staff and vendors to deliver accessible programs and events aligned with SI’s artistic vision; assess audience engagement and program outcomes to…