Placer County

To perform professional museum duties in caring for and interpreting objects and artifacts belonging to or loaned to the County museums; and to oversee and administer specific museum project and program areas as assigned.

Museum Curator I

This is the entry-level class in the Museum Curator series. This class is distinguished from the journey level by the performance of the more routine tasks and duties assigned to positions within this series. Employees at this level are not expected to perform with the same independence of direction and judgment on matters allocated to the journey level. Since this class is typically used as a training class, employees may have only limited or no directly related work experience. Employees work under immediate supervision while learning job tasks.

Museum Curator II

This is the full journey-level in the Museum Curator series. This class is distinguished from Museum Curator I by the assignment of the full range of duties. Employees at this level only receive occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies within the work unit. Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the entry level.

This class is distinguished from Supervising Museum Curator in that the latter performs the most difficult and complex museum duties and exercises direct supervision over lower-level professional, technical, and clerical staff.

Museum Curator I

Receives direct supervision from supervisory or management staff.

May exercise technical and functional supervision over technical and clerical staff and volunteers.

Museum Curator II

Receives general supervision from supervisory or management staff.

Exercises technical and functional supervision over technical and clerical staff and volunteers.

• Care for and interpret items belonging to or on loan to the museums.
• Research collections owned by or loaned to the museums.
• Disseminate information to the public.
• Prepare and evaluate exhibitions. 
• Assist with community education and school education programs.
• Prepare educational materials and publicity for exhibits and programs.
• Assist with budget preparation in assigned program areas; monitor revenue and expenditures.
• Assist with recruiting, training, evaluating and overseeing volunteer staff.
• Maintain appropriate records; assist in the maintenance and daily operation of the museums. 
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

• Administer the professional archives management program, including acquisition, processing, and preservation of historic books, documents, photos, and ephemera.
• Receive and track incoming research requests; assist the public with research.
• Determine records and documents that are appropriate for retention in the Archives.
• Administer processing and accessioning procedures.
• Conduct research, analyze information, and write reports for a variety of uses and develop historical context for volunteer training and presentations.
• Train and supervise docents and volunteers in Placer County history, research methods, archival procedures and conservation and preservation techniques.
• Train, assign, and monitor volunteers’ projects in the Archives.
• Prepare for and conduct oral histories.
• Serve as a member of the Exhibit Team.

• Administer the collections management programs, collect significant artifacts relating to Placer County and ensure a safe environment for their preservation.
• Receive, inventory, and catalog artifacts and exhibits; produce reports for tracking artifacts. 
• Maintain the integrity of artifacts through routine maintenance and preventative conservation.
• Administer accessioning programs, donor relations and loan activities.
• Supervise and monitor work of volunteers and part-time, temporary staff assigned to collections. 
• Serve as a member of Exhibit Team.

• Coordinate and present community education and living history programs.
• Assist with volunteer and docent training.
• Assist with visitor services, museum tours, and special programs and tourism activities.
• Serve as member of the Exhibit Team, performing original research on exhibit themes and providing expertise in education trends and exhibit techniques.
• Prepare docent and public education materials.
• Develop and coordinate publicity for exhibits and programs of the museums.
• Supervise and monitor work of volunteers and part-time, temporary staff assigned to education programs.  

• Inventory and analyze historical cultural and paleontological resources, including archaeological sites and historically and architecturally significant structures, sites and districts.  
• Review the cultural resource elements of environmental impact reports and community development plans for compliance with State and Federal legislation, including CEQA, NEPA and the National Preservation Act of 1966.
• Provide other technical assistance to the Planning Department and coordinate with other County departments, agencies, boards, and commissions.
  

Museum Curator I

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: Experience performing duties related to museum collections, archives, or educational programming in a professional, internship, or volunteer capacity is desirable.  

Training: Equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in history, art, art history, anthropology, the humanities, or a related field.

Required License or Certificate:
May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Experience: Two (2) years experience in archives, collections, education, or cultural resources or performing general museum duties. 

Training: Equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in history, art, anthropology, the humanities, or a related field.

Museum Curator I

Knowledge of:

• Basic principles and practices of professional museum work as it applies to archives, collections, education and cultural resources.
• Methods of interpretation relating to museum artifacts, exhibits and educational programs.
• General principles of educational programming.
• Computer software, including word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and database applications. 
• Principles and practices of work safety.
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Arithmetic and mathematical calculations.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; intermittently analyze work papers, reports, and special projects; identify, interpret, recall, and explain technical and numerical information; observe and problem solve operational and technical policy and procedures; complete tasks with frequent interruptions.
• On a continuous basis sit at a desk and in meetings for long periods of time; intermittently walk, stand, reach, push, pull, bend, squat, crouch, climb, stoop, kneel or twist to reach equipment surrounding desk and while cataloging, conducting tours, assisting with exhibit installation, or working in the field; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use telephone and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means; see with sufficient acuity to read characters and decipher colors on a computer screen in museum exhibits; lift moderate weight. 
• Assist in performing professional museum duties of interpretation, collection research, exhibition planning, collection cataloging and care and public education.
• Oversee volunteer staff activities. 
• Use various graphic arts techniques.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Use a computer, calculator, telephone, facsimile machine and photocopy machine.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.