Deputy Director and Chief Curator

The Asian American Arts Alliance, Inc.; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 210,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of California, Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art seeks an accomplished museum leader to serve as its inaugural deputy director and chief curator. This role oversees both the curatorial and education teams and helps shape the museum’s intellectual, curatorial, and programmatic direction within a world-class university context.

Reporting to the new director, this leader will provide strategic leadership across collections, exhibitions, scholarship, and public engagement,

Responsibilities

• Lead and shape the curatorial and education programs across a newly unified museum.
• Provide strategic direction for collections, exhibitions, scholarship, and public engagement.
• Collaborate with the director and university partners to advance scholarship and connect diverse communities.

Job description

University of California, Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art

Deadline

Rolling

Posted

Oct 16, 2026

The UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art seeks an accomplished and visionary museum leader to serve as its inaugural deputy director and chief curator, overseeing both the curatorial and education teams. This is a rare opportunity to help shape the future of a newly unified museum at a defining moment in its evolution. As a key member of the senior leadership team, the deputy director and chief curator will play a central role in advancing the museum’s intellectual, curatorial, and programmatic direction within the context of a world-class R1 research university. Anchored by one of the nation’s leading public universities, the museum brings together multiple artistic legacies to tell an expansive story of California and its global connections.

Reporting to the new director, Kathryn Kanjo, who began in early 2026, the deputy director and chief curator will provide strategic leadership across collections, exhibitions, scholarship, and public engagement, helping to build an institution that is both academically distinguished and broadly accessible. Leveraging the museum’s significant collections, university partnerships, and public platform, this leader will advance new scholarship, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and create dynamic experiences that connect artists, students, scholars, and diverse communities.

The ideal candidate will bring distinguished curatorial expertise, a record of scholarly achievement, and exceptional leadership skills, along with the ability to translate ambitious ideas into impactful programs and initiatives. Working in close partnership with the director, the deputy director and chief curator will help guide the museum through an exciting period of growth while enhancing its visibility and influence across UC Irvine, throughout California, and within the national and international cultural landscape.