CURATOR-IN-CHARGE - ACHENBACH FOUNDATION FOR GRAPHIC ARTS (0922)

Appointment Type

This permanent exempt position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive Civil Service Examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the Appointing Officer.

Specific information regarding this recruitment process is listed below:

• Application Opening: February 27, 2023
• Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

Department Overview:

The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco are the city's largest public arts institutions and are comprised of the de Young and the Legion of Honor museums. The de Young, designed by Herzog & de Meuron and located in Golden Gate Park, showcases American art from the 17th through the 21st centuries, international contemporary art, textiles and costumes, and art from the Americas, the Pacific, and Africa. The Legion of Honor displays a collection of over 4,000 years of ancient and European art and houses the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts in a Beaux-Arts style building overlooking Lincoln Park and the Golden Gate Bridge. The staff, the Board of Trustees, the volunteers, and various support groups are continuously working together to ensure the optimal utilization, display, preservation, and enrichment of this magnificent collection. The Fine Arts Museums believe that each employee contributes directly to the Museums' growth and success, and upholds the Museums' mission to make art accessible to the large and diverse Bay Area audience.

We Value Equal Employment Opportunity!

The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco connect art, people and ideas. Echoing the inclusive values of our region, we warmly welcome people of all backgrounds, connecting them to each other and to a world of art and ideas through programming that sparks curiosity and dialogue. Between our two museums, you can experience a world of possibilities.

Role Description:

The Curator-in-Charge, Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts position reports to the Director of Curatorial Affairs. The Curator-in-Charge plans and directs the activities of the Achenbach collection, and plans, assigns, and supervises the activities of curatorial staff in the Department. This position works closely with the Director of Museums; Curatorial Staff of other Departments; Exhibitions, Registration, Conservation and Technical Production staff; lenders; collectors; donors; trustees; dealers; and researchers.

Essential Duties:

The essential duties and responsibilities of the position include but are not limited to:

1. Plans and supervises the installation of the Museums' Achenbach collection. Identifies, classifies, and documents works of art in the Achenbach collection.

2. Conducts research in connection with identifying and publicizing objects in the collections. Makes recommendations for acquisitions and deaccessioning. Makes recommendations regarding the loan of the Museums' objects requested by other institutions.

3. Plans and organizes exhibitions. Makes cost estimates, corresponds with lenders, coordinates the installation of exhibitions with other staff, assembles data and photographs, prepares labels, and researches and writes catalogs and brochures.

4. Interprets the Museums' collections and exhibitions, and works with other museum departments to develop public programming and educational initiatives.

5. Consults with conservators and other staff members on the conservation of art objects.

6. Organizes and supervises the work of departmental staff.

7. Corresponds and confers with scholars, specialists, and the public. Works closely with collection support groups.

8. Cultivates donors and constituents for the Achenbach collection.

9. Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

These minimum qualifications establish the education, training, experience, special skills and/or license(s) which are required for employment in the classification.

Education:

Possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Art History, or similar field; AND

Experience:

Three (3) years experience in a senior curatorial position.

Desirable Qualifications:

The stated desirable qualifications may be used to identify job finalists at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for selection.

The ideal candidate has:

• Possession of a Master's (MA) degree and/or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Art History or similar field.
• Two (2) years of supervisory experience.
• At least seven (7) years of curatorial experience or applicable professional training.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to communicate with tact and courtesy with the public. Ability to deal with sensitive issues related to museum collections.
• Excellent research and organizational skills.
• Experience in museum policies and procedures, including the proper methods of handling, storing, and processing a variety of art objects, and the general care of collections in a museum.
• Knowledge of museum exhibition methods and practices, including the proper method of developing, planning, and implementing museum exhibitions
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and appropriate working relationships with staff, volunteers, the general public, individuals, and outside agencies, organizations, and groups.
• Ability to achieve and sustain best curatorial practices.
• Flexibility to work after hours and on weekends for special programs and events.
• Flexibility and strong follow-through on work assignments.
• Ability to work simultaneously on multiple projects in a highly demanding and fast-paced
• work environment.
• Ability to achieve cross-functional teamwork.
• Reading knowledge of two or more European languages is desirable. Preferably French, German, Italian, and/or Spanish.

Note: Falsifying one's education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application.

Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification or may lead to lower scores.

Selection Procedure:

Applications will be screened for relevant qualifying experience. Additional screening mechanisms may be implemented in order to determine candidates' qualifications. Only those applicants who most closely meet the needs of the Agency will be invited to participate in the selection process. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement in the selection process.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT: All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Someone is fully vaccinated when 14 days have passed since they received the final dose of a two-shot vaccine or a dose of a one-shot vaccine.Any new hire must present proof of full vaccination status to be appointed. Any new hire who will be routinely assigned or occasionally enter High-Risk Settings, must provide proof of having received a COVID-19 booster vaccine by March 1, 2022, or once eligible.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.