Are you passionate about sharing the mission and goals of a Museum? Looking for a new career where you have the ability to utilize your skills in museum exhibits and be a part of an exciting and diverse team? If so, the City of Ontario has the perfect opportunity for you! The Ontario Museum of History & Art is searching for an organized and self-motivated individual to join the team as an Assistant Curator assigned to Exhibits. The Assistant Curator assigned to Exhibits is responsible for the coordination of temporary permanent and traveling exhibits, including care of all works, exhibit design, and security.
The ideal candidate for this position will possess strong communication and presentation skills, exemplary organizational and time management skills, and a passion for creativity, collaboration, and teamwork. The ideal candidate will also demonstrate great attention to detail as well as the ability to take the initiative, be open minded, and work in a fast-paced environment. Additionally, the successful candidate will embody the Department’s mission and vision as well as the qualities of a “Five Tool Player” – Leader, Thinker, Communicator, Operator and Public Servant – and the values of the City’s Approach to Public Service – Commitment to the Community, Excellence through Teamwork, and Doing the Right Thing the right way.
The Assistant Curator classification is used throughout the Department of Museum, Arts & Culture in a variety of assignments. This recruitment will result in an eligibility list for this classification to meet the current and future staffing needs of the Department. The current vacancy is for Assistant Curator of Exhibits.
The Community Life and Culture Agency
The City of Ontario’s Community Life & Culture Agency endeavors to meet the Ontario City Council goal to “encourage, provide or support enhanced recreational, educational, cultural and healthy city programs, policies and activities.” Community Life & Culture does this through a comprehensive array of programs, activities, services and events available through the Housing Services, Library, Museum, Arts & Culture, and Recreation & Community Services Departments.
The City of Ontario’s Department of Museum, Arts & Culture enhances knowledge and appreciation of our Inland Empire community through dynamic, inspiring, and creative exhibits, collections stewardship, family-friendly educational programs, cultural events, and public art. MAC reflects pride in our legacy, who we are, where we live, and who we aspire to be, as well as supports artists of all backgrounds who create experiences that are inclusive, innovative, and relevant.
Examples of Essential Functions
The essential functions performed by all Assistant Curators typically include the following:
Assists curatorial staff on collection management, exhibit and educational program development.
Assists in the development of graphic materials to market collections work, exhibits and public programs.
Coordinates in-house exhibition research for upcoming exhibits and permanent collections.
Assists with researching and developing grant applications and other funding opportunities.
Assists with division budgets and expense tracking, correspondence, reports, arranges studio visits, and general office responsibilities.
Represents the Museum at events, meetings, and gatherings of the City and general public.
Coordinates the activities of volunteers, staff, contract artists, and program participants.
Collaborates with other City departments and assists in communication efforts between the Museum and artists, volunteers, participants, and other community organizations.
When assigned to Education:
Coordinates development of K-12 educator materials, including outreach brochures, lesson plans, and sample activities.
Assists in managing the activities and planning of education programs in history, gardens, visual, and/or media arts, including research, design, staffing, and assessment.
Teaches and/or coordinates tours and workshops for K-12 students and adults in history, gardens, visual, performing, and/or media arts.
Provides metrics, data collection, maintenance, analysis, and reporting on tour and community program participants.
Assists with development of a strategic community engagement plan to increase visitorship to the Museum, especially school and community groups.
Manages, orders, and tracks inventory for art supplies.
When assigned to Exhibits:
Coordinates installation of temporary permanent, and traveling exhibits, including care of all works, exhibit design, and security.
Assists curatorial staff with research and writing related to developing temporary exhibits and collections based programs.
Assists exhibits staff in curating annual exhibits.
Supports exhibition research, development, and planning: completes and tracks exhibition paperwork including checklists and interdepartmental coordination.
Supports in copy-editing and proofreading all exhibition materials.
Coordinates transportation and insurance requirements for traveling exhibitions.
Coordinates distribution of exhibition marketing materials, such as press releases, local news listings and university outreach.
When assigned to Collections:
Supports research on collection materials and/or artifacts in coordination with collections and curatorial staff.
Maintains and improves collection storages across Museum sites.
Maintains and updates object records in collection management database.
Knowledge of:
Promoting, public relations, fundraising, and customer service methods and communication techniques.
Record keeping principles and practices.
Applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
Safety practices in a museum setting.
Basic procedures and techniques of budget development and maintenance.
American material culture history, preferably Southern California History.
Professional principles and ethical standards regarding museum collections care and management.
Collections management relational databases.
Exhibition development, including intellectual content, interpretive techniques, and physical design.
Contemporary art, local and global cultural trends.
Museum education techniques, including varied learning styles of museum audiences, and state curriculum standards.
Current and emerging museum education trends.
Ability to:
Communicate effectively both orally and in writing with diverse populations.
Establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with other employees, volunteers, officials, and the public.
Interact and engage with the public in a professional and courteous manner.
Use a variety of simple hand tools and perform light to moderate manual work.
Climb ladders and stairs.
Operate office computer and utilize spreadsheet, word processing, and other applicable software programs.
Ability to operate City vehicle occasionally.
Qualification Guidelines
Education
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in U.S. or California History, Museum Studies, Art, History, Anthropology, or closely related field.
NOTE: Proof of successful completion of a Bachelor’s Degree must be provided by way of attachment to your online application or as an email attachment sent to the Hiring Agency Representative at, or before, time of the reference check process. Acceptable forms of proof include Unofficial Transcripts, Official Transcripts, Photos and/or Photocopies of Institutional Degree/Certifications. Failure to provide the required documentation at, or before, time of the reference check process will result in disqualification.
Experience
Two years of museum experience, including collections management, exhibition development, public education programs, volunteer programs, and/or museum education.
Licenses
Valid Class C California driver’s license at time of appointment.
Acceptable driving record at the time of appointment and throughout employment.
Desirable
Prior experience working with public schools.
Ability to read and speak Spanish.
Prior project management experience.
Prior art handling and installation experience.
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:
Occasional bending, stooping, squatting, kneeling, and twisting.
Frequent reaching, climbing, standing, and walking.
Occasional climbing on a ladder up to twelve (12) feet.
Continuous sitting for prolonged periods of time.
Ability to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination.
Movement of arms to reach and have dexterity of hands to grasp and manipulate objects.
Utilize smell, sight, hearing, speaking, reading, writing, and math ability to exchange information.
Ability to see with normal vision and visual range with or without correction.
Ability to hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.
Lift and carry up to fifty (50) pounds without aide.
Push and pull light to moderate amounts of weight.
Salary: $61,339.20 – $74,547.24, annually
Benefits: The City of Ontario values the health and wellness of our employees and their families. We understand benefits are an important part of your total compensation and we take pride in offering a comprehensive benefit package. Please check out our excellent benefit packages here www.ontariocityemployees.org.
Depending upon the assignment, employees within this classification may fall under the Part-Time Compensation and Benefits Profile or be represented by Teamsters Local 1932. For a list of benefits of benefits offered, please review the applicable benefits brochure.
Teamsters Local 1932 – (Download PDF reader)
Education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Deadline to apply: January 11, 2025
Documents required to apply: Resume, References
How to apply: Apply here
