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Position Title: / Senior Curator
Section: / Curatorial and Research
Classification: / Executive Level 1
Immediate Supervisor: / Head, Australian Society and History (ASH)
Status:
Location: / Non-ongoing till 31 July 2019, Full time
Acton, Canberra
Application close date: / 11.30pm Sunday11 February 2018
Position contact: / Suzanne Bravery, Head ofASH
(02) 6208 5394,

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The Museum

Working environment and remuneration

The Museum offers:

  • creative and diverse work
  • a flexible and family friendly working environment
  • results that you can see and from which you can have immediate job satisfaction.

Annual salary of between $99,617 and $106,922 plus superannuation. Employment conditions are covered by The National Museum of Australia Enterprise Agreement 2017-2020. Other arrangements may be negotiated under an Individual Flexibility Agreement. The Museum supports the use of flexible working arrangements.

Responsibilities of the section

The Curatorial and Research section is responsible for the conceptual development of the Museum’s collections, research, exhibitions and public programs. It has three thematic areas – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories; Australian History and Society since 1788; and People’s interaction with the Environment. The section has the following responsibilities:

  • Building the National Historical Collection to represent Australian history and experience for present and future generations;
  • Maintaining and developing content for high-quality exhibitions and programs that are challenging and entertaining for national and international audiences;
  • Enhancing the NMA’s research standing as an authority on Australian history and experience;
  • Cultivating partnerships with leading cultural and academic organisations and associations;
  • Ensuring staff and the broader public have access to materials that support development of their intellectual and professional capabilities; and
  • Contributing to the development of a stimulating and productive workplace in which staff are valued and respected.

Responsibilities of the position

As a Senior Curator, you will be responsible for:

  • Leading a curatorial team with exhibition, collections, research and public programming responsibilities;
  • Developing work plans and managing budgets for the team;
  • Ensuring that you and your team have sufficient supervision, instruction and equipment to undertake their work safely;
  • Managing performance of the team and individual staff to ensure delivery of high quality results in a timely manner;
  • Liaising with external expertise and community stakeholders in respect of proposed projects; and
  • Participating in forums and discussions related to content development issues.

Senior Curators are encouraged to publish in one or more of the Museum’s three thematic areas and/or museology, and to participate in broader curatorial forums and events.

Selection criteria

Applicants must respond to each of the following selection criteria in their application:

  1. Demonstrated conceptual knowledge, and analytical and research skills in at least one of the Museum’s three key themes:
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures;
  • Australian social and cultural histories;
  • Australian environmental histories.
  1. Demonstrated knowledge, skills and experience in material culture and/or museological theory and practice, or the ability to rapidly acquire this knowledge.
  1. Sound understanding of the national and international context within which the Museum operates including an appreciation of:

-the museum and academic sectors;

-the cultural environment; and

-new technology opportunities for access, education, scholarship and exhibition development.

  1. Demonstrated experience in the development and management of budgets, projects and contracts.
  1. Demonstrated experience to lead a multi-disciplinary team; manage the delivery of diverse and competing projects and deadlines to delivery.
  1. Demonstrated experience in building strong networks and relationships to achieve objectives.
  1. Highly developed communication, negotiation and presentation skills, with demonstrated experience in representing an organisation in a range of formal and informal contexts.
  1. Ability to engender enthusiasm and commitment both within and outside the Museum to achieve the highest standards in research and practice.

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply

Note: Applications should include contact details for two referees. The Museum reserves the right to contact other persons familiar with the applicant’s professional activities and abilities.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for this vacancy, applicants must:

-be an Australian Citizen;

-undergo a number of pre-employment checks, which includes a police records check.

Ready to apply?

Visit apply online.

Documentation approved

______/ /

Ruth Wilson, Acting Deputy Director

Collections and Content Division

National Museum of Australia

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