Assistant Curator

Jobtailor; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor is seeking a dedicated professional in Philadelphia to support the planning, research, and realization of ongoing and upcoming exhibitions. You will prepare bibliographic materials, manage copyright tasks, and assist with interpretive texts, while coordinating with multiple departments to keep projects on schedule.

The role includes supervising interns, coordinating production tasks for events, and maintaining exhibition-related communications via SharePoint.

Qualifications

• BA in art history or related field with 1–2 years' experience or equivalent.
• MA or equivalent experience preferred.
• Strong background in curatorial work and exhibition planning.
• Ability to balance multiple priorities and communicate clearly across teams.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office 365, Adobe Suite, Google Drive, and project management tools.

Responsibilities

• Support research, planning, organization, and realization of exhibitions.
• Create detailed exhibition checklists and prepare materials.
• Obtain copyrights and assist with interpretive text.
• Administer the loan request process and respond to inquiries.
• Liaise with departments and colleagues; organize material dissemination via SharePoint.
• Conduct talks, walkthroughs, and participate in public programs.
• Supervise interns and work-study students; assist with production management for events.
• Coordinate editors, designers, and production personnel; manage schedules and ISBNs.

Skills

Curatorial work

Exhibition planning

Project management

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

BA in art history

MA preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

Excel

Word

PowerPoint/Keynote

Adobe Suite

Google Drive

SharePoint

Outlook

Job description

• Support research, planning, organization, and realization of current and future exhibitions
• Create detailed exhibition checklists and prepare bibliographic and biographical materials
• Obtain copyrights and assist with research and writing of interpretive text
• Administer the curatorial side of the loan request process
• Answer general curatorial inquiries and conduct gallery tours as necessary
• Assist with cultivation activities and maintain awareness of current departmental interests
• Liaise with ICA departments, University colleagues, and the broader field
• Organize and disseminate exhibition-related materials through SharePoint and in person
• Conduct talks, walkthroughs, and participate in public programs
• Supervise and mentor paid interns and work-study students
• Manage all aspects of book production from inception through delivery to printer
• Coordinate editors, designers, production managers, proofreaders, indexers, translators, bibliographers, and other partners
• Manage incoming and outgoing texts, editorial tasks, schedules, ISBNs, bar codes, imprints, copyright information, and Cataloging-in-Publication data
• Research and write interpretive exhibition texts and manage editing schedules through final approval
• Coordinate with Communications, Curatorial Affairs, Public Engagement, Development teams, and the Director
• Act as purchasing agent and fiscal coordinator for the Curatorial Department
• Manage and reconcile departmental allocations and oversee operational expenditures
• Conceptualize, develop, and implement museum exhibitions, projects, and commissions
• Assist with production management for select exhibition public events and artist performances
• Determine and oversee scope of work, schedules, budgets, implementation, workflows, and staffing needs

Requirements

• BA in art history, visual culture, humanities, or a related field along with 1–2 years' experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience, required
• MA or equivalent experience preferred
• Strong background in curatorial work and exhibition planning
• Ability to balance multiple priorities and maintain clear communication across teams
• Familiarity with Excel, Word, PowerPoint/Keynote, Microsoft Office 365, Adobe Suite, Google Drive, project management software, and Outlook beneficial
• Potential to work nights and/or weekends throughout the year
• Cover Letter and Resume/CV required
• Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in curatorial work and exhibition planning, with strong capabilities in project management, communication, and collaboration across departments. Proficient in managing exhibition-related materials and overseeing production processes from inception to delivery.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Curatorial Work
• Exhibition Planning
• Project Management
• Communication Skills
• Team Collaboration

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Exhibition Planning
• Curatorial Work
• Research and Writing
• Book Production Management
• Editing and Proofreading
• Budget Management
• Copyright Management
• Interpretive Text Writing
• Operational Expenditure Oversight
• Scheduling

Soft Skills

• Clear Communication
• MentoringPrioritization
• Collaboration

Industry Keywords

• Art History
• Visual Culture
• Humanities
• Exhibition-related Materials
• Gallery Tours
• Public Programs
• Departmental Allocations
• Curatorial Department

Tools & Technologies

• Microsoft Office 365
• Excel
• Word
• PowerPoint/Keynote
• Adobe Suite
• Google Drive
• Project Management Software
• SharePoint
• Outlook