Assistant Curator

• Full-time, Ongoing, APS Level 5 position
• Attractive employee benefits including 15.4% superannuation
• Australia's leading museum located waterside in beautiful Darling Harbour

The Australian National Maritime Museum is seeking an experienced and well organised Assistant Curator to join our Content team in this full-time ongoing position.As one of Sydney’s most visited museums, the Australian National Maritime Museum shares our national maritime story across Australia and the world, online, onsite and through research, presentations and travelling exhibitions, and provides must-visit museum experiences that delight and inspire.We connect our visitors with the oceans and waterways that are the heartbeat of who we are. From deep time to modern Australian and beyond, we explore our past, our present and future as an island nation shaped by sea, offering a sustainable and cohesive vision for the future.The Museum welcomes over 2.5 million local, interstate and international visitors annually, and is supported by a thriving and passionate staff, membership, volunteer and education base. Find out more atThe Assistant Curator will assist the Curators in developing ways in which objects, archives, and artwork can be interpreted, through digital content online, exhibitions, gallery renewal, publications, events, conferences and audio-visual presentations.The position will work collaboratively and creatively in the Knowledge team to research and assess acquisitions to the National Maritime collection as well as research and develop interpretive content based on themes of history and culture for a range of Museum exhibitions and programs which form part of the ANMM’s Corporate Plan.The Assistant Curator will be expected to develop subject matter knowledge on one or more areas of maritime studies such as trade, industry, and commerce; Australian historic vessels; ocean science and technology; or migration studies.High level overview of accountabilities:

• Researching and acquiring content identified for core gallery exhibitions and other exhibition projects, including researching and sourcing images, conducting IP, copyright tasks, and community and artist liaison.
• Carrying out background research for the development of exhibition content lists and the preparation of exhibition text and media.
• Collecting and managing oral history records by carrying out, recording and documenting interviews with various members of Australia’s maritime communities.
• Assisting curators in researching and documenting provenance and other due diligence tasks necessary for Protection of Cultural Objects on Loan (PCOL) procedures.
• Assisting in maintaining effective communication channels with conservation, registration, education, exhibition interpretation, design and other ANMM staff to promote collection objects under the supervision of the Senior Curator.
• Responding to public enquiries as required, either researching and providing answers or referring them to appropriate subject matter experts and maintain records of the status of enquiry responses.
• Preparing programs, articles, image essays, social media etc., to promote collection and exhibition projects.
• Researching and catalogue object records and related records such as those of people, sites, and events for use in both collection documentation and access and ensuring collection items are accurately recorded and described on site and online.
• Providing curatorial support to the team and participate in organisational initiatives as required; and actively assisting the curators in seeking external grants, funding and key donations and provide support to the ANMM Foundation’s fund-raising activities.
• To fulfil the key competencies of the classification of this position as defined and described by the Integrated Leadership System (ILS).
• Any other lawful and reasonable request made within this position.

Selection Criteria:Essential

• Demonstrated applied research skills in museums, libraries, archives and / or communities.
• Experience in supporting the acquisition and management of historic material in museum collections.
• Experience in contributing to or developing innovative interpretive programs about art, artefacts or themes of history or culture in a museum or gallery context.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills, and experience working to deadlines and independently with minimum supervision and working collaboratively to develop and deliver programs.
• Ability to work flexibly and concurrently on a number of simultaneous projects and to work in collaboration with communities and community organisations.
• Experience in supporting or delivering media communications and in providing well-researched information in response to public and media enquiries.
• Experience in carrying out and documenting interviews and maintaining associated records suitable for the creation and maintenance of oral history collections.
• Demonstrated understanding of exhibition and collection development policies, including PCOL and processes.
• Excellent communication skills and experience in writing for various audiences.
• Experience with museum collection and image management database systems such as TMS.

Desirable

• Tertiary qualifications in Museum Studies, History or a related discipline.
• Knowledge of intangible material culture including oral history.
• Demonstrated awareness of sensitivities of working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities or collections.
• Familiarity with or ability to use archival record keeping systems such as ELO.
• Familiarity with digital and social media and awareness of corporate policy guidelines around engaging communities in social media.
• Current NSW driver’s licence.

Applications Close: 5pm AEST, Tuesday 16th April 2024. No Applications will be accepted by mail or email.Selection for this position will be made on the basis of relative merit which will be assessed against each item of the selection criteria. Applications that do not address the selection criteria will not be considered for short listing by the Selection Committee. As part of the selection process the selection committee may invite candidates to undertake psychometric test, you should advise the selection committee if you have any special needs. Psychometric tests may be used as the initial short-listing test or later in the selection process. Some tests are very short while others may take one or more hours.This position is open to all eligible members of the community, and we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with a disability and people from every cultural and linguistic background. To be an eligible member of the community, you must be an Australian citizen. Applications may be accepted from Australian permanent residents who are in the process of acquiring Australian citizenship.