Curator, Collections & Lifelong Learning

Cleveland Museum of Natural History; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional scientific institution in Cleveland seeks a visionary leader for the Eric & Jane Nord Family Endowed Chair & Curator, Collections & Lifelong Learning. This senior-level position will transform educational missions into innovative lifelong learning programs, fostering collaboration with scientists. Key responsibilities include strategic leadership, community engagement, and operational excellence. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in science communication and at least 10 years of experience in a related field, as well as an advanced degree. The role contributes to advancing institutional priorities through a blend of scientific research and public engagement.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in a museum, academic, or research setting.
• Minimum 5 years of leadership experience influencing senior-level stakeholders.
• Expertise in developing educational experiences for adult audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead the transformation of the Museum’s educational mission into a lifelong learning approach.
• Directly collaborate with Museum scientists to create high-impact programming.
• Develop a comprehensive evaluation system for programs.

Skills

Expert Science Communication

Digital Pedagogy

Analytical Depth

Civic Diplomacy

Education

Advanced degree (MA or MS required; PhD preferred) in a scientific discipline, museum studies, or related field

Job description

Overview

Eric & Jane Nord Family Endowed Chair & Curator, Collections & Lifelong Learning provides visionary leadership for the Museum’s lifelong learning mission and the strategic activation of its collections. Reporting to the President & CEO, this position serves as a senior-level civic convener, bridging the gap between the Museum’s internal scientific research and public science literacy. The Chair will build upon the unique skillsets of Museum scientists and the narratives of world-class exhibitions to produce integrated, interdisciplinary programs that connect natural history, human health, and environmental change for collegiate and adult audiences. As the Museum undergoes a multi-year digitization of its collections, the Chair will strategically leverage these emerging digital assets to expand the Museum’s reach, creating innovative open-access learning opportunities for the global scientific community and the general public. This position is a member of the Museum’s senior leadership team and a key collaborator in advancing institutional priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Program Architecture

• Visionary Lifelong Learning Strategy: Lead the transformation of the Museum’s educational mission into a lifelong learning approach, positioning the institution as a leading civic resource for dialogue on citizen science, conservation, sustainability, and human well-being.
• Research-to-Program Pipeline: Directly collaborate with Museum scientists and curators to build on their active research and technical skillsets, translating complex scientific data and contemporary research into accessible, high-impact programming for collegiate and adult learners.
• Integrated Narratives: Oversee the development of interdisciplinary narratives that connect natural history, environmental change, and contemporary science, ensuring the Museum tells an integrated story of life on Earth.
• Evaluation & Data-Driven Decision Making: Develop and oversee a comprehensive system for assessment and evaluation of adult and collegiate programs, using data to measure outcomes, refine strategies, and inform institutional decision-making.

Collections Activation & Delivery

• Collection-Centered Focus: Ensure the Museum’s extensive collections are the primary focus of all lifelong learning initiatives, providing adults and collegiate students with unique access to primary scientific evidence and the “stories” behind the specimens.
• Digital Collection Activation: Synthesize the Museum’s ongoing digitization efforts into the lifelong learning curriculum. Develop strategies to utilize digital specimens, 3D assets, and online databases as primary teaching tools that enhance scientific inquiry for remote collegiate partners and the digitally engaged public.
• Direct Program Leadership: Lead and deliver high-profile programs, workshops, and partnerships that introduce adults to careers in science and demonstrate the relevance of scientific thinking across all fields and professions.
• Exhibit-Led Engagement: Collaborate with the Exhibits and Programming teams to leverage the Museum’s galleries—both onsite and virtual—as dynamic spaces for inquiry-based adult learning.

Community Engagement & Philanthropic Partnership

• Strategic Alliances: Build and sustain high-level collaborative relationships with corporate and civic partners to expand the Museum’s reach and co-create programs that address community needs through a scientific lens.
• Fundraising Partnership: Serve as a primary partner to the Philanthropy team, participating in the cultivation and stewardship of major donors by articulating the vision, rigor, and impact of collection-based lifelong learning.
• Grant Leadership: In collaboration with the Philanthropy team, lead the conceptualization and narrative development for major federal and private grant applications (e.g., NSF, IMLS), ensuring programs are both scientifically rigorous and educationally innovative.
• Civic Representation: Act as a key ambassador for the Museum’s intellectual mission, ensuring the institution is a regular and respected participant in regional and national dialogues on science and society.

Operational Excellence & Leadership

• Endowment Stewardship: In partnership with Philanthropy, serve as the primary representative of The Eric & Jane Nord Family Fund Endowment, communicating the Chair’s impact to stakeholders and donors.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate across curatorial, research, education, and exhibits teams to eliminate barriers to participation and ensure seamless integration of collections into public-facing experiences.
• Team Leadership: Recruit, manage, and mentor a team of professionals or cross-functional project groups, fostering a culture of excellence in adult pedagogy and science communication.

Education and Experience

• Academic Credentials: Advanced degree (MA or MS required; PhD preferred) in a scientific discipline, museum studies, or a related field.
• Professional Experience: 10+ years of experience in a museum, academic, or research setting, with a proven track record of working directly with scientists, curators, and museum collections to produce sophisticated public-facing content.
• Leadership Tenure: Minimum 5 years of leadership experience, with demonstrated ability to influence cross-departmental stakeholders in a senior-level role.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Expert Science Communication: Exceptional ability to take “raw” museum collections and complex scientific research and craft them into sophisticated educational experiences for adult audiences.
• Digital Pedagogy: Demonstrated ability to use digitized primary sources (2D/3D imagery, specimen data) to create immersive learning experiences that bridge the gap between physical archives and global digital access.
• Analytical Depth: Proven ability to use data-driven insights and evaluation metrics to support programming strategies and demonstrate institutional impact.
• Civic Diplomacy: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to act as a convener for dialogue on complex scientific and social topics.