The Edward-Dean Museum & Gardens is a historic museum and garden destination featuring decorative arts, antiques, and rotating exhibitions in a unique setting. The Curatorial Assistant supports the museum’s curatorial and daily operations through a mix of curatorial, administrative, and guest-facing responsibilities. This role helps manage volunteer communication, supports exhibition planning and documentation, conducts tours, assists with educational materials and program support, and contributes to basic collection care and gallery readiness. Performs other duties as assigned.

Hours Per Week: 20 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITES

An individual must be able to perform each essential duty and responsibility satisfactorily. 

• Provide administrative and day-to-day support to the curators as needed.
• Assist with volunteer communication, including recruitment support, training coordination, scheduling, and correspondence.
• Conduct tours and support a positive visitor experience.
• Assist with exhibition development (concept support, research, design coordination, installation and de-installation support).
• Assist with coordination of didactic materials and exhibition documentation; write and edit curatorial-related copy (labels, interpretive text, internal materials).
• Help ensure accuracy and consistency of information presented in exhibitions and museum materials.
• Research the collection and become knowledgeable about objects, themes, and interpretive content.
• Support collection care, including cleaning museum and collection spaces, assisting with inventory, and supporting collection research/documentation.
• Perform regular walk-throughs of exhibits to ensure consumables are stocked, exhibit surfaces are clean/tidy, and guests are assisted as needed.
• Support promotion of museum programs, event
  s, and exhibitions.
• Assist with creation/support of educational programs for students of all ages.
• In collaboration with the Museum Curator, support end-of-day fiscal reporting, including ensuring accurate visitor counts.

An individual should possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed and meet the amount of education, training, and/or work experience required.

•  Bachelor’s degree in History, Art History, Museum Studies, Anthropology, or a related field required.
• Customer service experience required.
• Cash handling experience required.
• Museum/gallery experience preferred but not required.
• Ability to learn and understand the museum’s collection and apply that knowledge when supporting exhibits and tours.
• Be a team player with a positive attitude and assist with any events as requested.
• Excellent organizational skills with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Flexibility to work a changing schedule that may include evenings and weekend shifts.

 Benefits:

• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Tuition Assistance
• Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Training & Development
• Wellness Resources

Physical Requirements:

• Frequent carrying and lifting of museum materials is required.
• Position requires long periods of standing and the ability to push carts and lift boxes up to 40 lbs.

  EEO STATEMENT 

The company and its subsidiaries are an equal opportunity employer and celebrate the population of differences and does not discriminate in its hiring/hiring practices, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Nothing in this job specification restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. 

Critical features of this job are described under various headings above. They may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons. The above statements are strictly intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees in this position.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. 

To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. 

Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.