Description

The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is seeking an experienced, strategic, and organized museum professional to join our staff.

Our Curator position will work with museum leadership to develop and implement the strategic and scholarly direction of exhibitions, gallery interpretation, and collection growth.

The DAR Museum, located in the DAR’s Headquarters, collects, preserves, and interprets objects used and created in American homes prior to 1840. Using the lens of the varied interpretations of home, we inspire conversations about the diverse American experience, encouraging people to discover common ground. 

A successful candidate will be able to apply their expertise and knowledge to strengthen and preserve our holdings and strive to expand awareness of the museum through thoughtful exhibit planning.

Essential Functions:

• Research and catalogue museum objects with an eye towards conversation and rehousing as needed and recommend objects for deaccession when necessary.
• Proposes and develops exhibition ideas, working with museum leadership to establish long-term exhibition schedules and budgets.
• Oversee paintings, prints, textiles, and costumes displayed in period rooms, exhibits, and museum programs.
• Develops content for exhibitions utilizing museum collections or loans, prepares exhibition checklist and script, and assists with installation as needed.
• Recruits, supervises, and mentors guest curators, scholarly consultants, emerging scholars, and graduate students for special exhibitions.
• Undertakes a collections survey to identify strengths and areas for potential development. This position will also make conservation recommendations as needed.
• Shares research by publishing, presenting at conferences, gallery talks, and lectures, and works across the DAR to communicate new research.
• Represents the museum at lectures and symposiums and will present aspects of our collection to visitors, students, or DAR members.

Reports to:  Museum Director and Chief Curator

Work Schedule: This is a full-time position, with some limited telework options available.

Perks and Pay:

• Hiring annual salary range is between $65,000 to $80,000, with the final determination based upon the candidate's overall experience. 
• We offer both paid vacation and paid sick leave, up to 12 days each for the 1st year of employment and observe 14 holidays.
• Medical/Rx, dental, and vision benefits.
• Employer-paid life insurance/AD&D and Long-term disability insurance.
• Flexible spending accounts (health and dependent care.
• HSA with employer contribution if enrolled in the HDHP option.
• 403(b) retirement plan with a full-vested employer match.
• Free tickets to Constitution Hall events.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are committed to building and retaining a team that represents a variety of skills, experiences, and perspectives. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, performance, and qualifications without regard to race, religion or belief, national or ethnic origin, gender/sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental, or sensory disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital or domestic partnership status, veteran and military status, family or parental status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law. The DAR will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. 

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree required, with graduate level courses in American studies, American art, historic costume, U.S. history, and/or textile sciences.
• A minimum of five years’ curatorial experience working in a museum, historic house, or similar cultural heritage institution.
• A thorough knowledge of early American decorative arts and material culture of the 18th and 19th centuries, with a specialization in paintings, prints, and/or historic textiles and costumes.
• A demonstrated record of research and scholarship, with proven experience organizing exhibitions and producing publications of high quality in a museum, academic institution, or equivalent.
• Excellent computer and organizational skills and familiarity with museum collection database software such as ReDiscovery/Proficio.
• Strong oral communication skills, including interpersonal skills and public speaking and the ability to compellingly communicate the museum’s mission, vision, and programs to a diversity of audiences.
• Project management and organizational skills with a demonstrated ability to establish and communicate priorities.
• Strategic thinking with an eye towards mission alignment, impact, and financial sustainability.
• The handling of objects, books and other collections will require some physical exertion.