This Museum Curator role supports a museum focused on modern naval history. The Curator will be a hands-on professional, working with museum leadership and staff on a major inventory and digitization initiative for approximately 17,000 historical objects. The work involves applying current museum collection management and digital asset management practices while handling valuable historical materials with exceptional care.
Responsibilities
Inventory artifacts maintained in museum storage areas, including opening storage containers, identifying objects, reconciling contents, and documenting collection information
Catalog artifacts and create or update accurate object-level collection records using museum-approved terminology, procedures, and collection management practices
Produce consistent, high-quality digital photographs of artifacts for identification, documentation, research, and public-access purposes
Edit, process, name, organize, and manage digital image files using Adobe Photoshop Elements, Adobe Acrobat Professional, and other authorized applications
Carefully unpack, handle, clean, inspect, and repack artifacts using appropriate museum handling and preventive-conservation practices
Rehouse collection materials using suitable storage materials and commercial or professional museum practices
Support the museum’s broader collection digitization initiative and help improve access to collection information for Navy personnel, researchers, and the public
Apply current museum collection management standards, digital asset management practices, institutional policies, and professional ethical principles
Identify collection discrepancies, handling concerns, storage issues, damaged objects, incomplete documentation, or other risks and promptly elevate them to museum leadership
Maintain organized workspaces and protect Government-furnished equipment, supplies, collection records, and historical materials
Communicate effectively with the Museum Director, museum employees, Navy personnel, contractors, researchers, and visitors of varying ages and abilities
Complete routine work and special assignments independently while responding flexibly to Government priorities, training, and procedural direction
Requirements
U.S. citizenship
Bachelor’s degree in museum studies, public history, history, anthropology, archaeology, art history, library or information science, material culture, or a closely related discipline. Relevant specialized museum experience may be considered in place of part of the education requirement
At least three years of progressively responsible experience supporting museum collections, historical artifacts, cultural heritage collections, or a comparable institutional collection
Working knowledge of current museum collection management standards and professional best practices
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Demonstrated experience conducting museum inventories and maintaining accurate object-level documentation
Demonstrated proficiency in digital object photography, including lighting, image composition, focus, scale, file quality, and consistent photographic documentation
Proficiency with Adobe Photoshop Elements and Adobe Acrobat Professional
Working knowledge of digital asset management principles, including file naming, metadata, image organization, version control, storage, and access
Ability to advocate for and implement institutional policies and professional practices governing museum digital assets
Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to interact professionally with museum staff, Navy personnel, researchers, and visitors of varying ages and abilities
Ability to work collaboratively as part of a museum team and independently with limited procedural direction
Strong attention to detail, organizational ability, judgment, and commitment to protecting valuable historical and educational materials
Ability to walk, stand for extended periods, bend, stoop, reach, climb ladders, and lift or carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation
Nice to have:
Master’s degree in museum studies, public history, history, anthropology, archaeology, art history, library and information science, or a related field
Five or more years of professional museum collection management or curatorial experience
Experience working with military history, naval history, engineering, construction, material culture, industrial artifacts, uniforms, equipment, tools, or three-dimensional historical objects
Experience supporting a federal museum, military museum, government cultural heritage program, or other public-sector collection
Experience with museum collection management systems such as Axiell Collections, TMS, PastPerfect, Re:discovery Proficio, MuseumPlus, or a comparable platform
Familiarity with Naval History and Heritage Command collection management policies or comparable federal museum standards
Knowledge of preventive conservation, integrated pest management, environmental monitoring, object condition reporting, and appropriate storage materials
Experience creating controlled vocabularies, structured metadata, digital asset records, and standardized image-file naming conventions
Demonstrated ability to establish repeatable photography, inventory, quality-control, and digital-file-management workflows
Familiarity with professional guidance issued by organizations such as the American Alliance of Museums, International Council of Museums, or Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections
Experience training or guiding staff, interns, volunteers, or junior personnel in artifact handling, photography, inventory, or digitization procedures
Benefits
Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)
Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)
Short Term & Long-Term Disability
Training & Development
Important Details
Physical Requirements: Ability to stand, walk, bend, stoop, kneel, reach, climb ladders, and work in museum storage and collection areas for extended periods while inventorying, photographing, cleaning, and rehousing artifacts; ability to safely lift, carry, push, and move collection materials, storage containers, and museum equipment weighing up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation; ability to perform repetitive manual tasks requiring fine motor skills and visual acuity, including handling delicate historical artifacts, operating photography equipment, and using computer systems for cataloging, digital image processing, and documentation
About the Company
The company supports a museum focusing on modern naval history.
Library Systems & Services (LS&S) partners with local governments to operate public libraries and library systems.
