Job Information
Montana State University Associate Curator of Indigenous History in Bozeman, Montana
Position Details
Position Information
Announcement Number STAFF - VA - 25025
For questions regarding this position, please contact:
Michael Fox
Museum of the Rockies
mfox@montana.edu
406-994-5330
Classification Title Program/Project Lead
Working Title Associate Curator of Indigenous History
Brief Position Overview
Museum of the Rockies seeks candidates who have significant understanding and passion for American Indian cultures of the Northern Rockies and Plains to be its first Associate Curator of Indigenous History and Culture. This position meets the museum’s commitment to better tell, share, and incorporate Indigenous voices into its exhibits and programs. The Associate Curator will play an important role in being a cultural liaison, helping the museum build long-term relationships with Native Nations and Tribal members. This position should also assist the museum in better supporting Tribal communities.
The Associate Curator helps MOR meet its long-term vision and goals of decolonizing approaches to history. As part of this, the Associate Curator is responsible for building Native perspectives in exhibits (and programs) and ensuring that diverse American Indian voices are heard.
Reporting to the Curator of Cultural History, the Associate Curator oversees and manages American Indian curatorial projects, performs research for exhibits and programs, fosters relationships with Native Nations and Tribal representatives, provides public and staff programs as required, and acts as the key organizer for the museum’s American Indian Council.
Position Number 4C0537
Department Museum of the Rockies
Division Museum of the Rockies
Appointment Type Professional
Contract Term Fiscal Year
Semester
If other, specify From date
If other, specify End date
FLSA Exempt
Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining
FTE 1.0
Benefits Eligible Eligible
Salary $60,000 annually, commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications
Contract Type LOA
If other, please specify
Recruitment Type Open
Position Details
General Statement
Museum of the Rockies ( MOR ) is Montana’s most visited museum. In 2023, MOR served approximately 250,000 visitors and program participants. The museum has an ambitious strategic plan and is in the process of completing a master site plan that will help guide the museum over the next few decades. As part of the museum’s vision, MOR is in the process of designing a new American Indian exhibit, Under a Common Sky. As part of this project, MOR is working with 14 different Native Nations from the Northern Rockies. The exhibit is part of a longer-term commitment to building lasting relationships with Native Nations and individuals.
The museum is a college-level division of Montana State University, an independent nonprofit organization, a Smithsonian Affiliate, an accredited AAM museum, and a repository for state and federal fossils. Located on a 34-acre museum site, it includes a 120,000-square-foot-facility, the state-of-the-art Taylor Planetarium, the 220 seat Hager Auditorium, Martin Children’s Discovery Center, and Living History Farm, along with an off-site 553-acre paleontology preserve.
MOR is located in Bozeman, MT, one of the country’s fastest growing and prosperous communities. Nestled into the Rocky Mountains, the community offers bountiful outdoor recreation activities along with a vibrant culture of good food, art, and music.
Duties and Responsibilities
Work with the Curator of History to manage American Indian curatorial projects, including communication with exhibit team members, setting project timelines and achievable outcomes; organizing agendas, and other functions as necessary.
Perform research as needed to support museum exhibits and programs.
Foster relationships with Native Nations and Tribal representatives by working with leaders, Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, elders, artists, and others.
Build an understanding and communicate ways that the museum can better support the region’s Native Nations and people.
Collaborate with the museum’s Education Department and other departments to develop and implement Indigenous programing at the museum and in various communities.
Act as the key organizer for the museum’s American Indian Council. The American Indian Council assists museum staff in their efforts to recognize and celebrate the ongoing contributions that Indigenous peoples make to the cultural history of the northern Rocky Mountain region.
Participate as a museum staff team member on various projects, events, and committees.
Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
A bachelor’s degree in a field appropriate for the position such as education, Indigenous/American Indian studies, environmental sciences, anthropology, history, etc.
Deep knowledge about American Indian ways of knowing.
Understanding of, and commitment to, justice, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and diversity practices.
Demonstrated strong writing and research skills.
Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
Experience building relationships with Tribal members and/or representatives in the Northern Rocky Mountain region.
Ability to communicate and work collaboratively with a diverse range of groups and institutions, including schools, museums, non-profits, and Tribal Nations to develop and implement educational programs.
Experience working in a museum or educational environment.
Knowledge of Indigenous Material Culture and ability to apply it to thoughtfully and sensitively tell stories.
The Successful Candidate Will
Attention to detail and deadlines.
Act as an ambassador of Museum of the Rockies, believing in the museum’s mission and values, and promoting long-lasting relationships based on trust and respect.
Interact with others in a thoughtful, patient, and trustworthy manner.
Ability to work in a complex, multifaceted organization and an appreciation that building relationships and decolonization will take time.
Must be an excellent communicator with ability to work independently and with teams.
Enthusiastic and curious about museum work and embrace museum best practices.
Significant research and public programming skills.
Knowledge and appreciation of traditional and contemporary American Indian art and made objects.
Position Special Requirements/Additional Information
Candidates: Prior to applying, candidates should carefully review minimum and preferred qualifications to ensure that they fulfill the requirements. Along with the required application materials, a formal 2-page cover letter should specifically address the listed qualifications and how the candidate meets them.
Benefits: MOR pays a competitive salary with an exceptional benefits package (Package includes: health, dental, and life insurance along with an employer matching retirement plan and the possibility for tuition reeducation for staff and dependents).
This position requires some travel (estimated at 10% of time).
This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Physical Demands
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
This position has supervisory duties? Yes
Posting Detail Information
Number of Vacancies 1
Desired Start Date Upon a successful search
Position End Date (if temporary)
Open Date
Close Date
Applications will be:
Screening of applications will begin on August 2, 2024; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.
Special Instructions
EEO Statement
Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.
In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.