Senior Curator, History

OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA (OMCA) MISSION

We inspire understanding and empathy with stories and experiences of California’s art, history, and natural environment to build more equitable and connected communities.

OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA (OMCA) VISION

We envision a just and vibrant future where our communities value and honor one another and the world around us.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Curator of History conducts and manages the acquisition, documentation, research, and

development of OMCA history collections and content across diverse delivery platforms, including

multidisciplinary exhibitions, public programs, publications, and online activities. The Senior Curator serves as facilitator, engaging multiple communities in dynamic conversations and explorations of content, including the highest quality research on history reflecting the diversity and complexities of the California experience.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The following reflects OMCA’s definition of essential functions for this position, but does not restrict the tasks that may be assigned. OMCA may assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons.

INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the Museum’s mission, values, vision, and core commitment to the visitor experience, community engagement, and institutional relevancy for the future
• Contribute to and support the OMCA strategic plan, annual priorities, and institutional initiatives such as diversity advancement
• Contribute to a positive organizational culture based on mutual respect, a spirit of collegiality, cooperation, and openness to many perspectives
• Participate in a culture of ongoing learning, collaboration, innovation, creativity, and community engagement
• All positions will have core functional responsibilities, cross functional team activation and learning and development as a core function of each role.

POSITION DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Collections, Exhibition, and Program Development

• Envision, research, document, and develop OMCA’s collections devoted to California’s histories and cultures, with particular emphasis on Northern California.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with regional specialists, as well as regional historical societies, archives, and repositories, to support and facilitate the development of institutional projects, collaborations, and partnerships, commissions and acquisitions.
• Partner in the development of creative approaches for using collections and interpretation to support diverse types of visitor experiences, delivery platforms, interdisciplinary strategies, and topics representative of multiple viewpoints and perspectives.
• Provide conceptual vision to leverage and to extend the interpretation of OMCA’s History collections with external partners and collaborators in impactful ways.
• Collaborate in development and execution of grant proposals to support OMCA’s priorities for History-related projects.
• Support work to identify and secure history-focused touring exhibitions that meet OMCA’s mission and, when feasible, create additional exhibition elements to deepen the local and/or California experience for visitors.
• Collaborate in the development and implementation of collections management systems, collection policies and procedures, and conservation activities for History objects and collections.
• Attend to the Museum’s policies, procedures, and professional standards regarding the acquisition, documentation, care, and presentation of collections.
• Support and perform general collections care work as directed by Collections Staff and as identified by Collections Plan.

Research and Facilitation of Content

• Develop, as lead curator, visitor-centered exhibits and programs that are driven by historical research, evaluation, interactivity, and a commitment to California communities
• Develop, as lead curator, visitor-centered exhibitions, installations and curatorial projects that are driven by historical research, evaluation, interactivity, and a commitment to California communities.
• Serve as liaison to OMCA’s Native Advisory Council, and in partnership with Collections staff,…