Beatrice Fox Auerbach Chief Curator at The Mark Twain House & Museum

Job Title: Beatrice Fox Auerbach Chief Curator

Job Status: Full-time

Location: Hartford, CT

Salary: $60,000 – $65,000

Description
The Mark Twain House & Museum welcomes applications for the Beatrice Fox Auerbach Chief Curator (“Curator”) position. In 2001, the Beatrice Fox Auerbach Foundation Fund, through the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, designated funds for a permanent endowment to support a senior curator position: Chief Curator.

DEPARTMENT: Curatorial
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR: Executive Director
CLASSIFICATION: Full-time (Exempt)

This position supervises the following staff:

  • Assistant Curator
  • Gardens Coordinator

This position serves on the following Board of Trustee committees:

  • Collections Committee
  • Buildings & Grounds Committee              

POSITION PURPOSE:
The Curator will direct the maintenance and preservation of historical properties, management of archives and collections, and exhibition of artifacts, aligned with the museum’s mission, vision, and values.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Historical Properties: House & Carriage House 
Responsible for the care and preservation of the Mark Twain House, a National Historic Landmark and “one of the ten best historic homes in the world” according to National Geographic; the Carriage House; and the historic interpretation of the Grounds

  • Monitor and report condition of properties;
  • Work with the Buildings & Grounds Committee, Maintenance staff, and others (e.g., SHPO, DECD) to facilitate maintenance, repairs, preservation, and restoration efforts;
  • Organize and oversee seasonal updates to house décor, and provide information to historical interpretation staff to ensure accuracy;
  • Oversee and facilitate the reopening and/or reinterpretation of rooms and spaces;
  • Oversee volunteers for various maintenance projects related to buildings and grounds;
  • Perform other related duties as required.

Collections & Archives
Responsible for the museum’s major collection of furniture, artifacts, papers, books, photographs, and the adjunct collection of Tiffany glass with guidance from the Collections Committee

  • Maintain and sustain Collections Policy, Plan and Procedural Manual;
  • Monitor and report condition of collections and archives;
  • Remain current on all state, national, and international laws as they pertain to objects in the museum’s collection;
  • Manage accessions and deaccessions;
  • Prioritize conservation needs and work with appropriate consultants;
  • Maintain collections and archives records;
  • Oversee research projects and requests;
  • Perform other related duties as required.

Exhibitions
Responsible for mounting periodic exhibitions highlighting important elements of Mark Twain’s life and achievements, as well as related subjects in the fields of art and history

  • Oversee changing exhibits appropriate to the museum’s mission and resources;
  • Research and write wall texts and labels, plan layouts, secure loan objects;
  • Collaborate with other museum staff on related educational programs, outreach, publicity, website, communications, marketing, and grant writing by providing assistance and materials;
  • Facilitate loans of objects and/or images to other institutions;
  • Oversee smaller exhibitions on site and/or traveling exhibitions;
  • Perform other related duties as required.

General

  • Field information requests from researchers to support Mark Twain scholarship;
  • Develop and manage annual curatorial budget;
  • Represent museum as spokesperson within and without museum community in relation to Historical Properties, Collections, and Archives;
  • Oversee untrained volunteers on various projects;
  • Perform other related duties as required.

Requirements

Education and Experience:
The ideal candidate will have a Master’s degree in museum studies, history, archaeology, or related field and have experience in historic building preservation and as a museum generalist; this position requires knowledge of the methods, techniques, and procedures involved in the preservation and interpretation of an historic house site and related museum collection.

Skills and Abilities:

  • Understanding of collection and curatorial standards and knowledge of collection databases
  • Strong interpersonal, diplomatic, and negotiation skills
  • Excellent communication skills, written and verbal
  • Computer literacy
  • Strong organizational, planning, time and resource management, and research skills
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, visitors, volunteers, donors, collectors, professional colleagues, committee/board members, and others related to the museum community

TIME COMMITMENTS:
Hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. After hours and weekend work is required at times.

DISCLAIMER:
This description indicates the general aspects of the position and is not intended to be a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications of this position. Management may add to or modify the duties of this position or designate other functions as essential at any point in time.

HOW TO APPLY:

Apply via AAM