Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs — OMCA

Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs — OMCA

The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is a multidisciplinary museum dedicated to the art, history, and natural science of California. OMCA was founded in 1969 through the merger of three previously independent institutions — the Oakland Public Museum, the Oakland Art Gallery, and the Snow Museum of Natural History — with the groundwork for the merger dating back to a 1954 nonprofit association among the three organizations.

Voters approved a $6.6 million bond issue in 1961 to fund the museum's campus overlooking Lake Merritt in central Oakland. The museum's founding brought these three historically separate disciplines under one roof, a progressive multidisciplinary model designed to reflect the many facets of California. OMCA now sits on a seven-acre campus with 110,000 square feet of gallery space and terraced gardens, holding a collection of more than two million objects spanning art, history, and natural science.

The museum is currently led by Director Lori Fogarty. As described in the posting, OMCA's stated brand identity as a "museum, garden, and gathering place" reflects its mission of building trust, understanding, and connection between people and communities through its exhibitions and collections.

OMCA is seeking a Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs to set the overarching vision and strategy connecting the museum's exhibitions, collection gallery installations, and collection initiatives. The role is central to advancing OMCA's brand and its social impact goals of building trust, understanding, and connection between people and communities.

Working closely with the Director & CEO and other department managers, the Deputy Director leads development of a comprehensive content calendar for temporary exhibitions and collection installations that showcase OMCA's interdisciplinary collections, center equity and community voice, and tell the stories of Oakland and California. The role partners closely with the Senior Director of Learning, Experience and Programming to lead the museum's "Content and Experience" circle — the group of departments that collaborate on exhibitions and programs aligned with the museum's mission and its audience, social impact, and financial sustainability goals.

As a member of the Senior Directors Council, the position shares in overall institutional leadership, including strategic planning and policy-making. The role oversees approximately 35 employees across the Collections, Curatorial, Design, and Production departments, with direct supervision of 6 positions.

• Position Type: Regular Full-Time
• Contract Type: Regular Full-Time (permanent)
• Reports To: Director & CEO
• Department / Programme: Senior Directors Council; oversees Collections, Curatorial, Design, and Production departments
• Team Size Overseen: Approximately 35 employees, with 6 direct reports
• Requisition Number:

• Executive Responsibilities
  • Provide leadership to the overall institution as a member of the Senior Directors Council, contributing to policy-making and ensuring the museum's vitality through active communication, problem-solving, and decision-making
  • Provide leadership for institutional planning, annual priorities, and institutional initiatives
  • Contribute to prudent, ongoing monitoring of OMCA's annual budget and financial demands to ensure a sustainable future
  • Demonstrate exceptional leadership skills in motivating staff, delegating tasks, encouraging independent problem-solving, and communicating institutional vision
  • Keep apprised of trends and developments in the museum and non‑profit field, ensuring OMCA maintains leadership…