Curator and Manager of Gallery Operations Sue S. Bancroft Women's Leadership Hall - Center for Women in Government

TITLE

Curator and Manager of Gallery Operations, Sue S. Bancroft Women's Leadership Hall

JOB SUMMARY

The Sue S. Bancroft Women's Leadership Hall (WLH) illuminates the past to empower the future through exhibits and programs celebrating Texas women leaders. The Curator and Manager of Gallery Operations advances this mission as a creative, hands-on leader responsible for the WLH's management, operations, and curatorial direction. This role oversees exhibits, special collections, and a team of part-time staff to ensure the gallery's spaces are engaging, safe, and well-maintained for over 1,500 annual visitors. Responsibilities include strategic oversight, preservation, design, installation, and daily operations of the museum, as well as collaboration across departments to sustain accessible and inspiring experiences. Serving as an expert on women's roles in Texas political history, the Curator partners with the Outreach Manager to develop educational programming and represents the WLH and the Jane Nelson Institute for Women's Leadership at conferences, community events, and donor engagements. Work is performed under limited supervision and performance evaluation is based upon completion of assignments, successful co-creation, and elevation of the WLH's image and relevance. The performance evaluation is conducted through the performance evaluation system and in accordance with the University Policies & Procedures.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Reports to: Director, Center for Women in Government

Supervises: Will supervisor student assistants. May supervise interns, volunteers, support staff, and contractors

ESSENTIAL DUTIES - May include, but not limited to the following:

• Conceptualizes, researches, and develops innovative and engaging temporary and permanent exhibitions from concept to installation.

• Oversees the acquisition, cataloging, conservation, and display of artifacts, ensuring best practices in collections management.

• Conducts scholarly research on women in Texas government and contributes to its interpretation through lectures and gallery talks.

• Manages exhibition budgets, including planning for conservation, design, installation, and programming.

• Cultivates relationships with collectors, donors, and other institutions to enhance the collection and facilitate loan exchanges.

• Writes interpretive texts, labels, catalogue essays, and other materials for exhibitions and publications.

• Collaborates with Outreach Manager and marketing and communications department to develop programming and outreach initiatives that engage a wide range of audiences.

• Supervises and mentors curatorial staff, interns, and volunteers.

• Stays abreast of current scholarship, trends, and best practices in curatorial studies, museology, and the relevant historical fields.

• Ensures the ethical stewardship and preservation of all collection objects, adhering to professional standards and guidelines.

• Contributes to the institute's strategic planning and overall institutional goals.

• Oversees processing of gallery exhibits and special collections.

• Works with JNIWL leadership to market the WLH as a premiere destination for women's leadership exhibits, educational opportunities and events.

• Responsible for the set-up and assembly of storage areas for collection according to professional standards.

• Management of cleanliness standards for the exhibits, collections and storage areas.

• Maintains the gallery database through data entry and editing.

• Maintains and develops related policies, procedures, forms, agreements for exhibit space and special collections, consulting with TWU General Counsel as needed.

• Manages all aspects of insuring exhibits and special collection items.

• Compiles administrative reports as needed.

• Develops tour guide training materials for each exhibit.

• Serves as JNIWL project manager with outside contractors for exhibit design, fabrication, and installation.

• In conjunction with the Outreach Manager creates, organizes, and implements workshops, educational programs, and special events featuring Texas women in government.

• Oversees collections management policy in accordance with current industry ethics and standards established by the American Alliance of Museums, International Council of Museums and the American Association for State and Local history.

• Manages the Exhibit Space's Emergency Response Plan in coordination with the Risk Management department.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

• Monitors gallery tour quality and conducts tours for high-level guests and tour groups.

• In cooperation with the Outreach Manager engages the campus community to increase awareness of exhibits.

• Participates in university committees and university-wide initiatives.

• Manages inquiries from gallery visitors.

• Performs other duties as requested.

EDUCATION

Master's degree required.

EXPERIENCE

Minimum of five years' of progressively responsible experience in museum curatorial work, with a strong exhibition record. Demonstrated expertise in collections management, exhibition development, and research. Exceptional writing, editing, and public speaking skills. Proven ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and external stakeholders. Strong knowledge of conservation principles and practices. Experience with collections management software is desirable. Demonstrated success in donor management related to exhibitions and acquisitions.

REQUIREMENT

Regular and reliable attendance at the University during regular scheduled days and work hours is an essential function of this position.

All employees share the responsibility of maintaining information security and privacy requirements within the university by adhering to Federal and State regulations, and TWU Policies & Procedures.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES - The following are essential:

• Knowledge and understanding of collection management principles, methods, procedures and techniques.
• Knowledge and understanding of curatorial principles, methods, procedures and techniques.
• Knowledge of collections management systems.
• Knowledge of gallery and museum practice, theories and methods.
• Knowledge of scanners, digital cameras and copiers.
• Excellent problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to manage personnel performance.
• Ability to build and maintain professional relationships.
• Ability to manage a budget.
• Ability to use Adobe Suite including Photoshop and G Suite including Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms.
• Ability to use a personal computer and other office equipment, including related university software and email.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described in the Essential Duties and below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

The employee may be required to travel.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

All employees are responsible for maintaining an environment that is free from discrimination, intimidation, harassment, including sexual harassment. Work is normally performed in a typical interior work environment.

SAFETY

TWU promotes a safe working environment. Employees are responsible for completing assigned tasks safely and efficiently, and supervisors are responsible for creating and maintaining a safe work environment. Employees must report any unsafe work conditions or practices, as well as any near-miss incidents, to their supervisor and Risk Management. Supervisors and employees should ensure that injury/accident reports are submitted to the Office of Human Resources and Risk Management within 24 hours of the incident.

Texas Woman's University, an AA/EEO employer, provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected category, class or characteristic.

All offers of employment will be contingent on the candidate's ability to provide documents which establish proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Positions at Texas Woman's University deemed security-sensitive require background checks and verification of all academic credentials.

If you are a male between the age of 18 and 25, federal law requires that you must be registered with the U.S. Selective Service System, unless you meet certain exemptions under Selective Service law. Under HB 558, enacted by the 76th Texas State Legislature, if you are currently of the age and gender requiring registration with Selective Service, but knowingly and willfully fail to do so, you are ineligible for employment with an agency in any branch of Texas state government. For additional information regarding registration or status, you can contact the Selective Service System at 847-688-6888 or www.sss.gov.