Curatorial Project Assistant Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Curatorial Project Coordinator

Under the supervision of the Curator-in-Charge, the Curatorial Project Coordinator provides support to the curatorial staff for the day-to-day operation of the Prints and Drawings Department (Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts). This role assists curatorial staff in all areas, including collections records, bibliographic and biographical records and files, research for exhibitions and publications, loans, and general curatorial inquiries.

This is a 1-year fixed-term position, November 2026 - November 2027.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Administration: Participates in the day-to-day administrative operations of the department, including in-house actions required for the permanent collection's maintenance and exhibition; correspondence pertaining to incoming and outgoing loans; inquiries from other institutions, the press, and the public, following institutional and departmental protocol and procedures.
2. Research: Participates in the preparation of exhibition research, loans, and related educational materials. Prepares digital presentations, vets art books to be ordered for the Library, and directs research projects.
3. Outside Requests: Assists in corresponding with scholars or members of the public regarding objects in the collection. In collaboration with the Assistant Curator, coordinates appointments for the Roberts Seminar Room and hosts classes/groups as necessary.
4. Permanent Collection and Documentation: Works with the Registration Department to ensure proper documentation of the collection, including acquisitions, deaccessioning, research, and logistics. Working knowledge of The Museum System (TMS) collections management system is ideal. Maintains departmental files.
5. Generates and tracks work progress of technician, conservation, publications, and photo requests, as well as purchase orders required to engage the assistance of other Museum departments in Asana.
6. Achenbach Graphic Arts Council: provides administrative support for the Achenbach curatorial support group, liaising with board members, and assisting in organizing board meetings and programs.
7. Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's Degree in art history and knowledge of graphic arts required; Master's Degree in Art History preferred.
• Work Experience: At least 2 years of curatorial or academic research experience or other relevant museum experience.

Skills and Abilities

• Good general knowledge of the history and culture of the graphic arts.
• Responsive to supervision and flexible in meeting shifting priorities.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with others.
• Exceptional organizational skills and ability to meet deadlines.
• Familiarity with both traditional and contemporary methods of art history research.
• Ability to conduct directed and independent research.
• Ability to multitask in a fast-paced work environment with strong follow-through.
• Exceptional energy, initiative and productivity.
• Ability to achieve and sustain best curatorial practices.
• Strong communication and computer skills, strong customer service orientation.
• Strong arts / aesthetic background and interests.
• Familiarity with standard museum operations and practices is essential.
• Fluency with project management databases (such as Asana) and collections management systems (such as TMS) is preferred.

Schedule: This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule. Hybrid schedules are a minimum of 4 days a week onsite, with the understanding that schedules may change based on operational needs. The workweek is Monday - Friday, 8 hours a day, 40 hours per week. This is a 1-year fixed-term position, November 2026 - November 2027.

Compensation: This is a union position eligible for the Museums' benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance and a generous time off package. There is a 7-step union pay scale for this position: Step 1 (starting rate) is $28.73 per hour, Step 7 (max rate) is $38.50. Generally, new employees start at the beginning of the pay scale.

Application Deadline: Friday, September 25 at 9 PM PST. We plan to launch the interview process in October.

If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Human Resources @ famsf.org.

COFAM is the Corporation of Fine Arts Museums and is the privately funded non-profit corporation which supports the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, a department of the City and County of San Francisco.

COFAM is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in all phases of employment in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Comprising the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park and the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park, we are the largest public arts institution in the City of San Francisco and one of the largest art museums in the United States. 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 including Auguste Rodin's The Thinker and houses the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts in a Beaux-Arts style building overlooking Lincoln Park and the Golden Gate Bridge.