Curator of Exhibitions and Student Engagement

University of California, Riverside; California (MO); On-site; USD 79,000 - 127,123; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

The University of California, Riverside is looking for a Curator of Exhibitions and Student Engagement. This full-time position entails managing collections, facilitating innovative research programs, and overseeing exhibitions in a collaborative academic setting.

A Bachelor's degree in a related field is required, while an advanced degree is preferred. Excellent communication skills and a commitment to diversity are essential. The position offers a competitive salary ranging from $79,000 to $127,123 annually.

Qualifications

• 10 years of professional curatorial experience with 6 years in leadership roles.
• Experience with photographic collections and exhibitions.
• Commitment to diversity and inclusivity in curatorial practices.

Responsibilities

• Manage and develop collections.
• Facilitate student and faculty-driven research and exhibitions.
• Provide oversight in a complex academic museum environment.

Skills

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Ability to collaborate across functions

Knowledge of photography history

Education

Bachelor’s degree in art history or related field

Advanced degree (MA, MFA, or PhD)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Position Information

UCR ARTS, encompassing the California Museum of Photography (CMP) and the Barbara and Art Culver Center of the Arts (Culver Center), is part of the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CHASS) at UCR. Located three miles from UCR’s main campus in downtown Riverside, the CMP and the Culver Center provide faculty and students with hands‑on opportunities for innovative teaching, original research, and interdisciplinary learning. The Curator of Exhibitions and Student Engagement is a 100% full‑time position for three years, funded by a private foundation and contingent on continued funding. The salary range is $79,000.09 – $127,123.89 annually, with a budgeted pay scale of $90,000.00 – $100,000.00.

Responsibilities

• Manage and develop collections.
• Facilitate student‑ and faculty‑driven research and exhibitions.
• Develop academic programs, including lectures, symposia, and related interpretive initiatives.
• Provide oversight and leadership in a complex academic museum environment.
• Work weeknights and weekends as needed to support programs and exhibitions.

Educational Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with specialization in art history, photography, visual studies, museum studies, or a related field.
• Advanced degree (MA, MFA, or PhD) in art history, history of photography, visual studies, or a related discipline.

Experience Requirements

• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional curatorial experience, including at least six (6) years in a leadership, supervisory, or project‑management capacity; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Advanced experience working with photographic collections of historical significance, including research, interpretation, and scholarly use.
• Proven ability to develop, manage, and interpret exhibitions drawn from historical photographic collections.
• Experience supporting academic research, teaching, and curriculum‑connected programs through direct engagement with original works of art.
• Scholarship or curatorial focus on nineteenth‑ and twentieth‑century photography and/or photographic modernism and its legacies.
• Experience working with rare or primary‑source photographic materials, including early processes and archival collections.
• Experience in an academic museum or university‑based collection with a strong teaching and research mission.
• Experience contributing to grant‑funded projects or external partnerships.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, including the ability to engage critically with the histories of representation, power, and exclusion embedded in photographic collections and to advance inclusive, ethical, and accessible approaches.

Minimum Requirements

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for scholarly, academic, and public audiences.
• Adherence to deadlines and strong follow‑through.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office products on both Mac and PC.
• Ability to collaborate across functions and thrive in a team environment.
• Extensive knowledge of the history of photography from the nineteenth century to the present, including historic processes, techniques, and materials.
• Thorough knowledge of museum standards, collections management practices, and professional and ethical guidelines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Record of sustained collaboration with faculty and mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students.
• Demonstrated leadership in developing lecture series, symposia, publications, or similar academic programs.
• Additional commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as described above.

Additional Information

UC Riverside is located on nearly 1,200 acres in Southern California and is recognized for its diversity and research impact. The university offers a comprehensive benefits package and supports a collaborative research and teaching environment.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories under state or federal law.