Curatorial Associate, Permanent Collections — Handbook & Research

University of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Chicago's Smart Museum of Art seeks a Curatorial Associate for Permanent Collections to support the development of a new collection plan and a major handbook publication. The role coordinates cross-departmental work, manages project milestones, and conducts in-depth research on collection objects for scholarly and public audiences.

The position is a one-year, benefits-eligible, onsite appointment with potential renewal, requiring strong writing, organization, and collaboration

Qualifications

• Require college degree and 2–5 years of related work experience.
• Preferred Master’s degree in art history, museum studies, or related field.
• Experience supporting collection documentation, publications, or exhibition preparation.

Responsibilities

• Assist in developing the new collection plan and benchmarking peer institutions.
• Coordinate production of the collection handbook across curatorial, editorial, and design workflows.
• Conduct original object research including provenance, exhibition history, and conservation information.

Skills

Microsoft Office Suite

Google Workspace

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Master’s degree in art history or museum studies

Tools

TMS (The Museum System)

Collections management databases

Job description

University of Chicago's Smart Museum of Art seeks a Curatorial Associate for Permanent Collections to support the development of a new collection plan and a major handbook publication. The role coordinates cross-departmental work, manages project milestones, and conducts in-depth research on collection objects for scholarly and public audiences.

The position is a one-year, benefits-eligible, onsite appointment with potential renewal, requiring strong writing, organization, and collaboration