Assistant Curator

Careers at Council; Sydney; On-site; AUD 117,000 - 132,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Professional development

Parental leave

Employee support

Inclusive culture

Job summary

City of Sydney seeks an enthusiastic Assistant Curator to support the Civic Collection within the Cultural Programs and Services team. This permanent, full‑time role in Sydney focuses on preservation, cataloguing, interpretation and presentation of the collection with hands‑on display work and research.

You will assist with updating curatorial information systems, coordinating the Curatorial Advisory Panel, and contributing to exhibitions and public programs.

Qualifications

• Passionate about the material history of the City and the stewardship of its Civic Collection.
• Relevant qualifications or equivalent experience in art history, museum studies, curatorship, cultural heritage management, or a related field.
• Experience working with visual and decorative arts, and objects of historical and heritage significance.
• Confident using collection management databases and applying contemporary collection management practices.
• Enjoys conducting research and contributing to exhibitions, publications, public programs and collection interpretation.

Responsibilities

• Support the Curator - Civic Collection in preservation and presentation of the Civic Collection.
• Conduct research and maintain curatorial information systems.
• Coordinate the Curatorial Advisory Panel and assist with exhibitions and public programs.
• Assist with the display of the collection and related interpretive materials.

Skills

Passionate about civic collection

Research skills

Community engagement

Project management

Detail oriented

Education

Art history or museum studies

Cultural heritage management

Tools

Collection management databases

Job description

CULTURAL PROGRAMS & SERVICES/Creative City/City Life

Full Time/Permanent

Sydney

$117,487 - $131,845 per annum plus superannuation

Caring for our city, creating a future for all

Our people are passionate about their communities and connected to their teams. They’re motivated by our genuine commitment to diversity and inclusion, and our clear, compelling plan for our global city: Sustainable Sydney 2030 – 2050 Continuing the Vision.

Be part of a purpose-led organisation with care at its core. You’ll make a difference by acting in the best interests of our communities and city. Be better together with collaborative and inclusive partnerships. Embrace possibilities and be open to new ideas and creating bold solutions.

About the role

We are seeking an enthusiastic Assistant Curator to support the Curator - Civic Collection as part of the Cultural Programs and Services team. You will be supporting the management of the City of Sydney’s Civic Collection to ensure the preservation, cataloguing, interpretation, acquisition and presentation of the collection. In the role you will be hands on supporting the display of the collection, conducting research, maintaining and updating the curatorial information systems and supporting the coordination of the Curatorial Advisory Panel. This is a permanent, full time position working with a unique and highly valued collection covering a broad range of object types.

We're looking for someone who:

• is passionate about the material history of the City and the stewardship of its Civic Collection
• brings relevant qualifications or equivalent experience in art history, museum studies, curatorship, cultural heritage management, or a related field
• has experience working with visual and decorative arts, as well as objects of historical and heritage significance
• is confident using collection management databases and applying contemporary collection management practices
• enjoys conducting research and contributing to exhibitions, publications, public programs and collection interpretation
• has strong project management, administrative and organisational skills, with the ability to balance competing priorities
• is proactive, detail-oriented and committed to the preservation, care and presentation of cultural collections
• values engaging with the community through meaningful access to and interpretation of collections.

Download position description.

This role has the option of a rostered day off each month, known as a 19-day month.

The recommended applicant must complete a pre-employment health declaration and a criminal history check.

Applications must be made online by 11:59pm, Thursday 15th October 2026

For more information, contact Matthew Fallon, Manager Cultural Programs and Services on 02 9246 7*** (after 7th October)

What we can offer you

You’ll work with passionate, welcoming and supportive people who care for our communities and create a future for all.

Flexible working

• 3 days of care and cultural leave each year for health and wellbeing activities, cultural and religious days or events of significance
• Collaborative approach to flexible working
• City centre head office, with many public transport options.

Professional development

• Leadership and management development program
• Further education program providing reimbursement of course fees, and study and exam leave
• Opportunity to attend external courses and conferences
• Long service and employee recognition awards
• Employee assistance program offering free, confidential counselling

Supporting families

• We provide 26 weeks of paid parental leave for all new parents, supporting diverse and inclusive families
• Paid and unpaid adoption and long-term fostering leave
• Paid superannuation for up to 52 weeks of parental leave
• Part-time and job-sharing options available
• Supportive return-to-work environment

Inclusive culture

• Recognised as an Inclusive Employer by the Diversity Council of Australia
• Active employee networks including City Women, City Pride, DiverseCity, Inclusive City, Young Professionals and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander network
• Recognised family inclusive workplace
• Veteran employment supporter

Find out why acareer at the City of Sydneymight be right for you.

We welcome candidates from all backgrounds in a workplace as diverse as our communities. We’re passionate about gender balance, with an executive team two-thirds female and half of leadership roles held by women.

All applicants, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, veterans and people of diverse sexualities and genders, and those from culturally diverse backgrounds are encouraged to join us.

We’re a disability confident recruiter. If you identify as a person with disability and require support for your application or the recruitment process, contact us *************@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.auor 02 9265 9***.