Job Title: Curator of Community History

Employment Type: Full Time

Department: The Arab American National Museum

Location: 13624 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI 48126 

Essential duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• The Curator of Community History will conduct informed research to support the development of the collection and exhibitions, as well as related humanities programming and online resources
• Utilize primary and secondary resources, including artifacts, archives, personal ephemera and oral histories, to provide informed research for forthcoming museum exhibitions and supporting projects
• Help to build and refine the collection by acquisition and donation, working directly with the Curatorial Department, Collections Committee, Museum Director and Deputy Director
• Develop and maintain a strong network of contacts including artists, dealers, curators, museum directors, and collectors
• Work with the Education Department, Library & Resource Center, and Communications Department to enhance development of content for educational materials, website and other on-line resources as they relate to local and national Arab American communities

Qualifications: Successful candidate must have knowledge of the Arab American community; Technical and personal skills required for conducting and archiving oral history interviews; A thorough understanding of material culture and the use of objects in documenting and interpreting personal narratives; An ability to think beyond the present and envision the future development of the AANM, its collections, exhibits, and programs;  The willingness to travel and work occasional weekends; A thorough understanding of collections principals and practices, collections management issues and trends, and care and conservation of collections; Exceptional oral and written communication skills while working with other staff, members of the Arab American community, potential donors, and the general public; And the ability to conceive a plan, set attainable goals and objectives, and develop and implement creative and effective strategies to creatively achieve those goals.

Education/Experience: Ideal candidate should have a B.A or M.A. in a museum-related field, at least one year of professional experience in a museum or related cultural institution