Museum Curator

About This Role

This curatorial role involves applying research skills and historical knowledge to identify, authenticate, and document records, objects, and specimens related to the Holocaust. The Curator conducts provenance research, searches for new materials, and makes recommendations for acquisitions, while also coordinating research efforts and representing the Museum at professional meetings.

Responsibilities

• Apply research skills and historical and material knowledge to identify and determine the authenticity of records, objects, or specimens, and materials related to the Holocaust
• Gather information, prepare documentation, and conduct provenance research on materials currently in the Museum’s Permanent Collection
• Determine history and provenance for Museum records
• Conduct searches for materials that align with the Museum’s collection priorities, including materials related to witnesses, victims, and perpetrators
• Prepare recommendations to accept or decline donations or purchases of materials and submit these for review by relevant stakeholders
• Facilitate the processing of already received materials, completing custody receipts, Deeds of Gift, and other required documents
• Coordinate research efforts by interns, curatorial assistants, and volunteers
• Respond to written and telephone inquiries about the collection and coordinate similar activities on the part of volunteers, curatorial assistants, and interns
• Represent the USHMM at meetings of professional museum organizations and curatorial committees
• Lecture on the collections to various public groups

Requirements

• U.S. citizen or national
• Suitable for Federal employment
• Registered for Selective Service, if applicable
• Degree in Museum work or an applicable subject-matter field; OR a combination of education and experience with courses equivalent to a major in Museum work or an applicable subject-matter field, plus appropriate experience or additional education; OR four years of experience that provided knowledge comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a 4-year course of study in Museum work or an applicable subject-matter field
• One year of specialized experience comparable to GS-09, directly related to the work of this position, including:
  • Documenting physical condition of materials in the Museum's Collection
  • Translating information, deciphering inscriptions, and conversing effectively with foreign donors or potential sources of materials or information
  • Preparing and delivering verbal and written presentations on behalf of the Museum on various topics
  • Organizing and preparing correspondence, reports, briefing papers, or other data on projects for internal and external constituencies