CHIEF CURATOR ED&C

Job ID: 51617

• Job Category: Economic Development, Arts & Culture
• Division & Section: Economic Development & Culture, EDC Museum & Heritage Services
• Work Location: Metro Hall, 55 John St
• Job Type & Duration: FullTime Permanent vacancy
• Salary: $112,280.00 - $149,247.00
• Shift Information: Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week
• Affiliation: Non-Union
• Number of Positions Open: 1
• Posting Period: 20-Nov-2024 to 11-Dec-2024 
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About the position:

Are you a visionary, capable of working collaboratively to shape the future of the City of Toronto's collections, curatorial and education programs to develop a knowledge centre at the Toronto History Museums? Are you willing to work with Torontonians to find and address the gaps in our collecting strategy, while being an enthusiastic advocate for the 10 city-owned and operated museums?

The position of Chief Curator, Museums & Heritage Services in the Economic Development and Culture Division may be the one for you! As a member of the Museums and Heritage Services senior leadership team, the Chief Curator works closely with the Director, Museum Site Leadership, the Curatorial team, the Acquisition Committee, and various community stakeholders in bringing the Toronto History Museum's new vision, mission and new programming narrative to life. This is an exciting time to join our team as we embark on an ambitious and intentional journey, in which you will have the opportunity to re-imagine the curatorial program.

What you'll do:

In the position of Chief Curator, you are the principal architect of the visitor experience using the collection to inspire learning, engagement and storytelling through an anti-oppressive, and anti- racist lens. Your expertise will help to shape the City's fine arts collection, its more than 150,000 objects, and 1 million archaeological specimens. You'll develop a collections management strategy to address the gaps in the collection, facilitate capital improvements to collection storage areas and support initiatives to increase public access. You'll provide guidance and oversight into the collection spaces including layout, design, planning, display, and upkeep. Working with the Director, Museums & Heritage Services, in accordance with the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions Calls to Action, you'll work collaboratively with community advisors to build trust to decolonize the many stories of Toronto. You'll serve as a content expert, determine the calendar for all exhibitions, and ensure a balance of scholarship and value for all. You'll work closely and collaboratively with diverse audiences to tell stories that reflect Toronto's past, present, and future.

Acting as a subject matter expert, you'll have overall responsibility for the education portfolio, ensuring that programing meets the Ontario school curriculum requirements. In this role, you will work cross-departmentally to implement a museum experience that incorporates new technologies, online collections, and other visitor experience best practices. You'll also develop and oversee content creation for scholarly publications for the museum.

Assuming all typical managerial responsibilities, you’ll supervise the day-to-day operations of assigned staff, ensuring effective teamwork, monitoring staff performance, promoting continuous learning and innovation, and establishing customer service excellence, as well as

develop the annual budget, achieve revenue targets, and ensure that expenditures are controlled within approved budget limitations. You’ll also serve as a key member of the sponsorship/fundraising team to develop support for the collection, exhibitions, and lead the effort to build the collection through gifts and financial support.

What you'll need to succeed:

Among the strengths you bring to the role of Chief Curator will be the following key qualifications:

1. Post-secondary degree in a related discipline, i.e. Art History, History, Museum Studies, etc. (Masters or Ph. D. considered an asset) or the equivalent combination of education and lived experience.
2. Extensive curatorial experience; including exhibitions, publications, and acquisitions.
3. Extensive experience with museum management; including long-term planning, project management, grant making, budget formulation, political acuity, and policy development.
4. Extensive experience managing/leading diverse teams through the planning and implementation of complex programs, projects, or transformation/change initiatives.
5. Considerable experience with qualitative and quantitative research in a related field (Published research to be considered an asset).

Through this background you have acquired an advanced knowledge of; Museological standards, Code of Ethics, Conservation Policy, Collections Management Policy, the Exhibition and Education Policy, the Research, Publications, and Copyright Policy, Disaster Policy, Health and Safety Policy, and Security Policy.

An excellent communicator with strong interpersonal and customer service skills, you’re adept at facilitating effective presentations and at working effectively, with, and supporting multiple stakeholders (e.g. community, donors, collectors, artists, gallery owners, curators, and scholars). These skills will be complemented by your sound judgment and ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines in an environment with shifting priorities. In addition to this, you also bring to the table highly developed research and writing skills.

Above all, you have the ability to act as an Ambassador for The City of Toronto, Museum & Heritage Services, and support the Toronto Public Service values to ensure a culture that champions equity, diversity and respectful workplaces.

Note To Current City of Toronto Employees 

City of Toronto employees are eligible to apply for the posted job opportunity, but cannot hold two different jobs. To be considered for this job posting, you must indicate that you are a "Current City of Toronto employee" on the on-line application form, and provide your "Employee Number".

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve. Learn more about the City’s commitment to employment equity.

Accommodation

The City of Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require Code-protected accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs. Disability-related accommodation during the application process is available upon request. Learn more about the City’s Hiring Policies and Accommodation Process.