Chief Curator

The Colby College Museum of Art, located in Waterville, Maine, seeks an experienced, visionary, and highly collaborative Chief Curator to join the Museum’s senior leadership team. They will establish and direct curatorial strategy at a time of institutional transformation, develop and steward the Museum’s art collection, and lead an ambitious staff of five while contributing to the overall vitality of the museum.

The role of Chief Curator presents an exceptional opportunity to shape the future of one of the nation’s leading academic museums. Its distinguished collection comprises more than 10,000 artworks representing the full breadth and complexity of American art, as well as works by international artists from antiquity to the present. By supporting research, organizing exhibitions and displays of its collection, and convening a diversity of people and perspectives, the Museum incubates art scholarship and practice to explore and expand how the idea of America is understood and how art is made, interpreted, and shared.

Manage and mentor staff with clarity and purpose, fostering a collaborative and high-performing work environment.
* Develop and execute the long-term strategy for the Museum’s collection, ensuring its excellence and distinction. Set policies and practices in collaboration with key staff and with guidance from the Museum Board of Governors. Lead acquisition and deaccession processes and serve as liaison to the Board’s Collections and Impact Committee.
* Direct the full acquisitions cycle—identifying, evaluating, and proposing artworks that add value to the collection—and cultivate relationships with artists and collectors to support purchases and gifts.
* Guide the curatorial team’s role in documentation, storage, conservation planning, and maintenance of archives, as well as in developing digital access and workflows that support collection stewardship.
* Contribute curatorial expertise to the development of educational and collection-based initiatives in art conservation.
* Contribute curatorial leadership to the College’s art-on-campus program.
* Master’s degree required. The Museum will consider candidates from a range of areas of expertise; knowledge of American art history is required.
* Track record of scholarship and of working relationships with living artists, exhibition making, and collections.
* At least seven years of experience working in the arts, culture, and/or education; minimum of five years of progressive leadership experience in curatorial practice in exhibition, publications, collections, and artistic program management.
* Distinguished track record of planning and realizing exhibitions and publications, conducting strategic collections research and development, and collaborating on interpretation and public programs.
* Demonstrated ability to motivate, manage and mentor staff, students, and/or emerging professionals, including skills in fostering teamwork, transparency, and accountability.
* Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to establish and communicate priorities; well-developed project and budget management skills, cross-departmental leadership and collaboration skills, meeting management, negotiation skills.
* Exceptional written and oral communication skills, including interpersonal skills and public speaking; ability to compellingly communicate the Museum’s mission, vision, and artistic program to a diversity of audiences.
* Ability to identify opportunities that expand the narratives offered by the Museum’s collections and programs, engaging community stakeholders in exhibition making and interpretation as appropriate.
* Ability to foster an environment supportive of people from different cultures, backgrounds, and life paths through daily practices and positive work culture.
* Commitment to the Museum’s mission, vision, and values and demonstrated belief in the value of a liberal arts education.

A cover letter articulating why you are interested in the position and giving brief examples of past related experience. A résumé. The names and contact information for three professional references, indicating their relationship with the applicant.
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