Associate Film Curator (9722C) - #81525

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Departmental Overview

One of the nation's leading university museums, the University of California's Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) is a forum for cultural experiences that transform individuals and advance the local, national, and global discourse on art and film. As the premier visual arts venue at America's top public research university, BAMPFA is uniquely dedicated to art and film in equal measure, presenting more than three hundred film screenings, dozens of public programs, and ten exhibitions annually.

Position Summary

This role involves conceptualizing, curating, and managing 90 film programs annually, coordinating with domestic and international partners, and engaging audiences through both scholarly and public-facing activities. The Associate Film Curator will play a key role in shaping BAMPFA's film offerings while advancing the institution's educational mission and supporting its strategic initiatives. The Associate Film Curator is a full-time career position that will work independently and report to and receive general guidance from the Director of Film and Senior Film Curator. With the Director of Film and Senior Film Curator and Film Curator, this role takes a lead in articulating priorities and goals of the BAMPFA film exhibition program, and in short-and long-range planning. The Associate Film Curator shares the primary responsibility for developing, implementing, and managing all aspects of BAMPFA's screening program, which presents 350 public programs annually. The Associate Film Curator is responsible for organizing roughly one third of the programs, organized into film series that focus on a theme, such as directorial retrospectives, filmmaker residencies, national or regional cinema spotlights, genres, or special events.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: 10/13/2025.

Responsibilities

Curatorial & Programming:

• Conceptualize, curate, and manage logistics and budgets for 90 film programs per year.
• Research, locate, and secure film prints and media from domestic and international distributors, archives, collectors, artists, and the BAMPFA collection.
• Negotiate rental and loan agreements, rights clearances, and manage related correspondence.
• Sources film stills and screener copies.
• Oversee technical requirements for screenings, including legacy formats, contemporary digital formats, and specialized setups.
• Invite and host guest presenters (filmmakers, scholars, actors, subject experts.)
• Write program notes, short essays, and other content for BAMPFA publications, such as the Program Guide, and website.
• Develop promotional materials working with communications department, including the quarterly program guides, website content, digital promotional materials for all film programs, proofreading galleys and all materials for publication.
• Communicate and share program content across BAMPFA departments.
• Introduce screenings and host local and visiting guests.
• Collaborate with guest curators, other Bay Area institutions, UC Berkeley faculty, and campus organizations to integrate film programs into broader academic and cultural initiatives.
• Organize lecture series, extended presentations, and other public programs to enhance audience engagement.

Professional & Community Engagement:

• Maintain awareness of national and international trends, scholarship, and developments in film exhibition and media arts.
• Represent BAMPFA at professional meetings, conferences, festivals, and public events.
• Support marketing and outreach, including press interviews, radio appearances, and providing content for media relations.
• Cultivate relationships with distributors, artists, curators, collectors, foundations, donors, and other stakeholders.
• Contribute to long-term strategic planning, including multi-year exhibition plans and institutional initiatives.

Professional Representation:

• Engage with the wider film community through panels, juries, consultations, and advisory roles.
• Support touring exhibitions and share curatorial expertise nationally.
• Work closely and collaboratively with small film curatorial team, attending regularly scheduled curatorial and film department meetings, as well as all-staff meetings.
• Manages a team of work-study staff, interns, and temp contractors working to digitize the history of PFA program calendars and notes.

Collection & Preservation:

• Contribute to identifying acquisition and conservation priorities.
• Support the Director of Film and Senior Film Curator, and Film Archivist in identifying potential donations, acquisitions, and preservation projects.
• Serve as department point person and subject matter expert for BAMPFA image database (currently Resource Space.)

Development & Fundraising:

• Support development efforts by engaging with and presenting to funders, board members, and the Film Council as needed.
• Collaborate with curatorial and development teams to conceive engaging, fundable projects.
• Participate in grant writing, reporting, and securing sponsorships for film programs with Development department.
• Propose other funding and sponsorship for film programs.

Required Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge and appreciation for the full range of moving image styles, both past and present.
• Extensive knowledge of film exhibition practice and archival issues gained through experience programming at a cinematheque, museum, festival, film archive, or film theater.
• Advanced knowledge of and experience in film curating, and researching and writing on cinema.
• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities, including the ability to communicate complex concepts about the history of cinema and aesthetic issues to an audience that ranges from casual filmgoers to seasoned cinephiles and academics.
• Strong organizational skills; able to set priorities and meet deadlines.
• Awareness and understanding of diverse communities served locally, nationally, and internationally.
• Intellectual curiosity, creativity, and enthusiasm for bringing scholarly research and distinctive film and video programs to a broad public in accessible ways.
• Ability to collaborate internally and externally, and cultivate strong relationships with faculty, donors, and colleagues.
• Technical skills especially regarding new and evolving media.
• Broad experience and detailed knowledge of technical issues pertaining to film exhibition, including the range of legacy formats for film and video art.
• Team player, ability to work effectively on cross-functional teams.
• Ability to work in a shared office environment.
• Graduation from college with specialization in the discipline involved and four years of experience in curatorial work, including one year in a supervisory capacity; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of Mac OS and MS Office; Filemaker; Google mail, calendar, and Drive; Adobe Acrobat.

Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted annual salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $80,659.96 (Step 6) - $85,587.06 (Step 9).

• This is a full-time (40 hours/week), career position that is eligible for UC Benefits.
• This is an exempt monthly-paid position.

How to Apply

• To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Other Information

This position is governed by the terms and conditions in the agreement for the Research Support Professionals Unit (RX) between the University of California and the University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE). The current bargaining agreement manual can be found at: http://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/labor/bargaining-units/rx/index.html

• This is not a visa opportunity.
• This position is eligible for up to 20% hybrid work. Exact arrangements are determined in partnership with your supervisor to meet role responsibilities and department needs, and are subject to change.

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Misconduct

SB 791 and AB 810 Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy

UC Anti-Discrimination Policy

Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

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