Museum Curator History 2 (Ephrata Cloister)

Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania; Ephrata (Lancaster County); On-site; USD 61,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania seeks a Museum Curator for Ephrata Cloister to oversee its 4,000+ artifact collection, study items, and historic structures. You will document, care for, and interpret the site’s extensive holdings, including manuscripts, gravestones, and landscapes, while supporting public programs and tours.

The role requires curatorial expertise, a master’s degree in American History with museum training, and experience with collections software.

Qualifications

• One year as Museum Curator, History l (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration); or
• One year of curatorial work in any one or more of the fields of History or Decorative Arts, History of Fine Arts, History, or History of Science, Industry, and Technology, and a master's degree in American History, including or supplemented by either a museum studies course at the graduate level recognized by the American Associate of Museums or a museum internship; or
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training which would afford the applicant the required knowledges, skills, and abilities.

Responsibilities

• Handle acquisitions, deaccessions, loans, cataloging, and inventorying of artifacts and archival materials
• Store, clean, and protect items in the collection and give online access to materials
• Research site history, answer public questions, and establish the background of collection pieces
• Prepare and share information that helps visitors understand artifacts and the history of Ephrata Cloister
• Assist with planning and leading special tours focused on unique historical topics

Skills

Curatorial experience

Historical research

Artifact care

Education

Master's in American History

Tools

Argus

Past Perfect

TMS

CatalogIt

Job description

Salary

$60,538.00 - $92,010.00 Annually

Location

Lancaster County, PA

Job Type

Civil Service Permanent Full-Time

Job Number

CSSC-2026-57683-26170

Department

Historical & Museum Commission

Division

HM Ephrata Cloister

Opening Date

09/17/2026

Closing Date

10/1/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Job Code

26170

Position Number

00110785

Union

FOSCEP

Bargaining Unit

C4

Pay Group

ST07

Bureau / Division Code

00300818

Bureau / Division

Bureau of Historic Sites and Museums, Eastern Division, Ephrata Cloister

Worksite Address

632 West Main Street

City

Ephrata, Pennsylvaniva

Zip Code

17522

Contact Name

Katherine Devine

Contact Email

[e-mail]

THE POSITION

Do you have a passion for material culture and archival materials? If you like conducting research, caring for artifacts and archival materials, as well as developing engaging programs and exhibits, then we have the job for you! The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission is seeking a skilled, energetic, and experienced Curator to help manage, care for, and interpret the collections and 18th-century Germanic historic structures at Ephrata Cloister, a four-time American Alliance of Museums accredited historic site in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

Ephrata Cloister, the site of Pennsylvania's most prominent 18th-century religious community, is a 28-acre National Historic Landmark featuring a visitor center, two cemeteries, and 11 historically significant buildings dating to the 18th and early 19th-centuries. As the Museum's Curator, you will be responsible for the oversight, documentation, and care of Ephrata Cloister's significant collection, including approximately 4,000 artifacts in the permanent collection (furniture, iron, ceramics, textiles, paper, architectural elements), more than 1,050 reproduction and study items, loan collections, library collections, and landscape features such as cemeteries, gravestones and monuments. Responsibilities include:

• Collection Management: Handle acquisitions, deaccessions, loans, cataloging, and inventorying of artifacts and archival materials
• Artifact Care: Store, clean, and protect items in the collection and give online access to materials
• Historical Research: Research site history, answer public questions, and establish the background of collection pieces
• Public Interpretation: Prepare and share information that helps visitors understand artifacts and the history of Ephrata Cloister
• Tour Support: Assist with planning and leading special tours focused on unique historical topics

If you have knowledge of Pennsylvania German Decorative Art and communal societies, as well has the ability to read German script, we highly encourage you to apply!

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment
• Work hours are 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 60-minute lunch. Evening and weekend hours will be required for meetings and special events.
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) on an ad-hoc basis only and subject to approval. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. If you are unable to telework, you will have the option to report to the headquarters office in Ephrata. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.
• Salary:In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• One year as Museum Curator, History l (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration); or
• One year of curatorial work in any one or more of the fields of History or Decorative Arts, History of Fine Arts, History, or History of Science, Industry, and Technology, and a master's degree in American History, including or supplemented by either a museum studies course at the graduate level recognized by the American Associate of Museums or a museum internship; or
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training which would afford the applicant the required knowledges, skills, and abilities.

Other Requirements:

• This particular position also requires one or more years of full-time professional experience working with Argus, Past Perfect, TMS, Cataloglt or similar collections management software.
• This particular position also requires one or more years of full-time professional experience evaluating, cataloging, and storing historic manuscripts, books and documents, and using these resources for scholarly research.
• This particular position also requires a valid Pennsylvania Class C Driver's License which is not under suspension.
• PA residency requirement is currently waived for this title.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements:

• This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.
  • Under the Law, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports including, but not limited to, PA State Police clearance, PA Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI Fingerprint clearance.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. *7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.