Museum Curator | Albuquerque, New Mexico

Position: Museum Curator, National Museum of Nuclear Science & History

Organization: National Atomic Museum Foundation

Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Reports to: Deputy Director

Job Description: The Museum Curator will serve as the content expert for all areas of museum’s mission context as it relates to collections and exhibitions. This will include research, writing, editing, administration of technical advisory review process and setting curatorial collaboration of exhibitions, public programming, communications regarding collections, community engagement, participation in collections acquisition activities, and responses to external scholarly inquiry activities.

The Museum Curator plans and develops exhibition topic materials, seeks objects, photographic and graphic resources for use in exhibits and educational programs. The Curator develops and directs original knowledge-generating projects that advance the understanding of the histories and science of the nuclear age. This individual will be asked to build the museum’s collections in existing areas of strength and identify new and contemporary areas of growth for future efforts.

As a member of the museum’s leadership team, the Curator will collaborate with all the museum’s other departments with a goal of museum advancement through subject matter expertise and often public engagement initiatives. May at times plan and lead lectures, tours, and other inclusive community engagement opportunities. The Curator will collaborate and support teamwork while inspiring and developing connections with diverse constituents to broaden scholarly reach and expand museum audiences.

The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History preserves two collections; a federal collection of approximately 250 objects and a private collection of 20,000 objects, including an immense digital archive being actively expanded. The Curator will field loan requests for institutions seeking to borrow collections materials including required steps to secure restoration and shipping arrangements.

Requirements: The Museum Curator will have a high degree of personal energy and possess extremely strong writing and communication skills. This individual must possess at least a Master’s level degree from accredited University in the area of history of technology, military history, or nuclear sciences. The Curator must understand collection care, stewardship, and preservation while having a strong working knowledge of curatorial standards, museum presentation formats, and museum best practices. The Museum Curator should be capable of discourse in the areas of nuclear history including the Manhattan Project and Cold War, physics, mathematics, nuclear energy sciences, and applications such as medical, space propulsion, nuclear power generation, waste remediation, and other related topics describing these issues in terms for a general as well as scientific community. Must be exceptionally well organized, knowledgeable of data-management software – such as Past-Perfect - and be able to multi-task and work in a fast-paced museum environment with multiple projects competing for time and attention. Must possess a high-level research skills and have attention to detail with the unwavering ability to meet deadlines.

As a member of the museum’s management team, the Museum Curator will manage or participate in team meetings for a variety of departments and committees. Will manage the museum’s Curatorial Department, including the museum’s Registrar and Digital Collections Coordinator in collections acquisition and preservation activities while also chairing the museum’s acquisition committee. This individual must be very comfortable with topics involved in military history, nuclear energy, medicine, aeronautics, and other technical fields. Should be committed to presentation of ideas that do not present a bias. Should be comfortable speaking to large audiences and on camera as well as possess a comfort with social media communications platforms.

The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History: The museum is the largest of its topic area in the world, accredited by AAM and a Smithsonian Affiliations member since 2002. Chartered by congress as “America’s Museum resource for nuclear history and science”, it is owned and operated as a not-for-profit organization. In existence for 52 years, the museum presents unique exhibits and programs to persons of all ages with emphasis on science education.

Salary and Benefits: Salary is $62,500 annually for this full-time exempt senior professional position which is supported by major medical, dental, vision, 401k retirement savings program benefits.

Application: Interested persons should send a cover letter, current resume of experiences plus 3 references to National Atomic Museum Foundation, Attention: Deputy Director. jhayden@nuclearmuseum.org.  The National Atomic Museum Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.

Application due by October 1, 2021