Job Description

Description

Only applicants who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and meet all selective requirements (listed below) will be placed on the eligible list. 

The State Historical Society of Iowa’s (SHSI) mission at the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) is to preserve state history and educate the public on Iowa’s past. To accomplish our mission, we are seeking a talented, highly qualified, and passionate candidate to join the State Historical Museum of Iowa’s team as State Curator/Museum Curator (Curator). A successful candidate will play a key role in preserving and sharing Iowa’s rich history. In this integral role, you will be at the heart of our preservation and education efforts.

Do you have a passion for curating museum collections, a keen eye for historical detail, and experience creating engaging exhibits? Join our team!

Position Responsibilities:

A key individual is being sought to provide curatorial oversight for the State Historical Museum of Iowa’s collections (100,000+ objects), engage with donors and constituents, represent SHSI in public and with the media, provide public engagement for learners at all levels, collaborate with the Registrar and Collections Coordinator to manage the museum’s collections, and work with the Exhibits Manager and museum team to develop exhibitions. This position will report to the Museum Collections & Exhibits team manager.

In this vital role, you will:

• Provide curatorial leadership and strategic oversight for the Museum’s collections.
• Actively engage with donors, stakeholders, and the broader public to build support and enthusiasm for Iowa’s history.
• Represent the State Historical Society of Iowa (SHSI) in media appearances, public forums, and professional settings.
• Deliver meaningful educational experiences for learners of all ages.
• Collaborate closely with the Registrar, Collections Coordinator, Exhibits Manager, and the museum team to manage collections and curate compelling exhibitions.

Additional responsibilities include:

• Making thoughtful recommendations on acquisitions and deaccessions to strengthen the collection.
• Participating in collections committees at both staff and board levels.
• Helping shape and annually update SHSI’s collecting plan.
• Assisting researchers, staff, and the public with Iowa history inquiries.
• Leading content creation for exhibitions, including artifact selection, research, and label writing.
• Partnering with the SHSI Education Team to develop public programming that brings history to life.
• Representing the museum through engaging tours, historical presentations, and community events.
• Strengthening relationships across Iowa by providing outreach and technical assistance to historical and cultural organizations.

This position is based at the State Historical Building in Des Moines, with a primary schedule of 8:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M., Monday through Friday. Ability to work occasionally on evenings and weekends for programming and events is required. Some travel is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience as a museum curator and/or public historian
• Knowledgeable about Iowa and Midwest history
• Experience researching and evaluating potential acquisitions for inclusion in the collection and existing collections for context and mission alignment
• Previous experience developing museum exhibitions and using artifacts and images to tell engaging history stories
• Previous experience writing clear and concise interpretive exhibit text for general audiences
• Strong public speaking skills and ability to engage a variety of audiences and the media; comfortable being in a public-facing role
• Strong writing skills and ability to simplify complex and nuanced historical topics for public consumption
• Previous experience in doing public engagement for learners at a variety of levels
• Experience using a museum collections management system
• Strong organizational, critical thinking, time management, and communication skills
• Capable of working independently and collaboratively within a team environment
• Ability to communicate effectively within a collaborative team environment
• Knowledgeable about museum ethics and best practices
• Ability to carefully handle collection artifacts, including fragile and large objects
• Ability to lift up to 40 lbs
• Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university with course work in history, public history, museum studies, curatorial–museum management, historic preservation and the equivalent of at least four years of full time experience in curatorial museum work, public history, museums, professional research, education, or other experience associated with history, museums, historic sites, and/or historic preservation.

Benefits:

At the State of Iowa, we are committed to your well-being. As a valued team member, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Paid Time Off: Enjoy vacation with accruals that rollover on a yearly basis, sick leave with no limits on accrual and 9 paid holidays per year.
• Great Benefits: Excellent Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance Options.
• Retirement Plan: IPERS Retirement package and an option for a deferred compensation plan.
• Flexibility: Flexible Spending Accounts (medical and dependent care).
• Life Insurance: Free Life Insurance.
• Support: Employee Assistance Programs and Employee Discount Programs.

To learn more about the benefits of working with the State of Iowa, visit our benefits webpage.

About the State Historical Society of Iowa

The State Historical Society of Iowa has been a trustee of Iowa’s historical legacy since 1857. With a dual mission of preservation and education, the society maintains a museum, two research centers and seven historic sites. The society preserves and provides access to Iowa’s historical resources through a variety of statewide programs, exhibitions and projects while serving as an advocate for Iowa’s past and connector to the future. Learn more here: https://history.iowa.gov/about/strategic-plans

Selectives

109 Curator – Museum Management:

Curator – Museum Management 6 months experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both in the overseeing and management of a museum.

AND

277 History:

6 months experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both where a knowledge of history and the ability to share/apply that knowledge were major competencies required by the job and where history was in some way applied as a major job function such as:

• Historian
• Archivist
• History teacher (where the bulk of the time was spent teaching history)
• History professor or instructor

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

1) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in history, anthropology, archeology, architecture, curatorial/museum management, literature, English, art, natural history, architectural history, library science, or historic preservation, and experience equal to one year of full-time work in professional research, museum, education, editing, or other experience associated with history, anthropology, archaeology, architecture, architectural history, art, museums, historic sites, or historic preservation.

2) A total of five years of education and/or full-time experience (as described in number one), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in history, anthropology, archeology, architecture, curatorial/museum management, literature, English, art, natural history, architectural history, library science, or historic preservation equals one year of full-time experience.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description (Download PDF reader).

Additional Qualification Requirements

• Knowledgeable about museum operations, collections management, and exhibition development
• Knowledgeable of museum best practices related to collections management and exhibition development
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, with visitors, constituents, and colleagues
• Demonstrates initiative, commitment, and attention to detail
• Adheres to ethical standards, follows policies, and cooperates with supervisors
• Promotes teamwork, cooperation, and group identity
• Effective in communicating with visitors, maintaining a polite and helpful demeanor
• Capable of working independently and collaboratively within a team environment

To apply please visit the State of Iowa’s hiring portal here.

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