Museum Curator

The Museum Curator provides creative vision for the exhibition of the permanent collection and traveling exhibitions at the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art. Soundly committed to the University’s mission, values, and vision, the curator reports to the museum director and collaborates with the director, museum staff, and university leadership on a range of responsibilities related to the successful preparation, installation, and promotion of the museum’s permanent collection and traveling exhibitions.

• Exhibition Curation:
  • Serve as the curator for exhibitions of the permanent collection, temporary exhibitions (both original and traveling), and exhibitions organized by external sources.
  • Review exhibition proposals for artistic merit, mission fit, budget, and scheduling factors.
• Grant Management:
  • Execute and oversee tasks associated with grant‑funded projects, including, but not limited to, the Passages project funded by the Lilly Endowment.
• Exhibit Installation & Management:
  • In close collaboration with the Museum Director, manage all aspects of exhibit installation, including reviewing and editing interpretive materials and communicating with artists, institutions, and collectors for loan contracts, checklists, and schedules.
• Promotion:
  • Champion the museum as a welcoming place by serving as a positive museum representative through participation in programs with constituents.
  • Collaborate with the Museum Director and the university marketing team to prepare and distribute promotional materials.
• Patron Engagement:
  • Actively support donor cultivation initiatives by providing tours, research, and expertise for museum patrons.
  • Interact with visitors in a clear, courteous, and respectful way.
• Collection & Strategy:
  • In close collaboration with the Museum Director, maintain and implement research and collection strategies that support the university's mission, vision, and values.
  • Research and identify works for potential acquisition, provide professional recommendations, and ensure appropriate collection documentation and preservation practices are followed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Uphold University mission through work performed.

The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Required:

• MA in museum studies, art history, or related field.
• An appreciation for and commitment to the university’s Christian mission and a desire to contribute actively to that mission.
• One or more years of demonstrated excellence in conceiving and organizing successful exhibitions for wide audiences.
• Expertise in Modern/Contemporary, European, or Asian art, and demonstrated knowledge of the museum’s collecting areas.
• Knowledge of museum collection care, conservation, and research tools/methods.
• Sound judgment, emotional intelligence, and strong verbal/written communication.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, well-organized, self‑directed, motivated, and able to work independently or collaboratively.
• Effective management of complex issues, flexible, and adaptable.
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace, Zoom, and Adobe Acrobat.

Preferred:

• Three or more years of demonstrated exhibition curatorial experience, including demonstrated involvement in budget tracking, grant‑funded projects, and patron engagement.
• Knowledge of accessibility guidelines and best practices.
• Proficiency with Marq, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, and TMS.

This is a Regular, Exempt, 40 hour per week position.

Expected Pay Range: $70,304 - $75,000 per year

The above pay range reflects what Pepperdine University reasonably expects to pay for this position at time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on relevant factors such as work experience, market conditions, education/training, and skill level. In addition to base pay, Pepperdine offers a robust and highly competitive benefits package.

Pepperdine is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not…