Manager of Interpretation, Collections, and Education

Manager of Interpretation, Collections, and Education

Reports To: Executive Director

Status, Hours: Full-time, budgeted overtime as needed or exempt. Occasional evenings, weekends, and travel required.

 Overview

The Manager of Interpretation, Collections, and Education leads the Museum's curatorial and public engagement efforts. Working closely with the Executive Director, this position oversees the planning and implementation of exhibitions, educational programming, and collections management activities that advance the Museum's mission and strategic priorities. As a member of the Museum's leadership team, the Manager contributes to organizational planning, cross-departmental collaboration, and institutional initiatives that strengthen visitor engagement, collections stewardship, and community impact.

 Responsibilities

 Interpretation and Exhibits – 45%

• Manage the planning, research, development, design, installation, and evaluation of permanent, temporary, traveling, and digital exhibitions.
• Develop visitor-facing materials that are relevant, historically accurate, engaging, and accessible to diverse audiences.
• Oversee access to historical resources and respond to inquiries from researchers, scholars, collectors, media representatives, and the public.
• Produce relevant written content for Museum publications, newsletters, online content, grant proposals, and interpretive resources.
• Collaborate with Museum staff, exhibit designers, fabricators, volunteers, and community partners to create, evaluate, and continuously improve dynamic visitor experiences.
• Identify opportunities for new exhibitions, traveling exhibits, collaborative projects, and digital interpretation initiatives that support the Museum's strategic goals.

 Education – 30%

• Develop, coordinate, implement, and evaluate educational programming that supports the Museum's mission and serves school groups, families, members, and lifelong learners.
• Design curriculum-aligned educational resources, gallery guides, tours, and hands-on learning experiences utilizing the Museum's collections and exhibitions.
• Build collaborative relationships with schools, colleges, libraries, historical organizations, and community organizations.
• Represent the Museum through presentations, conferences, educational programs, professional organizations, and community events.
• Design and coordinate delivery of lectures, workshops, demonstrations, outreach activities, public programs, to engage all audiences and ages.
• Supervise training and scheduling of docents and education program volunteers.
• Contribute to marketing, development, and operations functions of the Museum to promote educational initiatives and support grant-funded programming.

 Collections Management – 25%

• Responsible for the overall stewardship of the collection including maintaining accurate and complete documentation and quality standards of care in accordance with accepted museum standards and organizational policies.
• Recommend process and policy improvements as needed to support exceptional collections management activities.
• Manage the collection care lifecycle, maintaining precise records for accessioning, cataloging, moving, lending, borrowing, and deaccessioning activities using the Museum's collections management system.
• Monitor of conditions in exhibit and storage spaces and coordinate conservation and preservation activities with qualified professionals as needed.
• Coordinate collections digitization initiatives and improve public access to collections through digital resources and online exhibits.
• Supervise collections-related interns, volunteers, consultants, and project staff.
• Assist with grant development, emergency preparedness planning, and long-range collections management initiatives.

 Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Museum Studies, History, Education, or related field required; Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum five years of progressively responsible museum experience in interpretation, exhibitions, collections management, education, curatorial work, or a related discipline.
• Direct or related experience developing exhibitions from concept through installation; designing and implementing education programming and interpretive materials for diverse audiences; and managing museum collections using accepted museum standards and collections management software required.
• Proven research, writing, editing, public speaking, and project management skills.
• Experience supervising staff, interns, volunteers, and project teams preferred.
• Grant writing or grant-supported project management experience preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace required. Experience with PastPerfect, CatalogIt or similar collections management software, Canva, and online content platforms preferred.

 Standards

• Support the Museum's mission, vision, strategic goals, and the success of the Museum team.
• Demonstrate the highest standards of scholarship, ethical collections stewardship, and professional conduct.
• Produce accurate, well-researched and informed, engaging, and audience-centered exhibitions, educational programs, and interpretive materials.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with visitors, volunteers, donors, researchers, community partners, and colleagues.
• Collaborate effectively across departments and supervise staff and volunteers in a manner that fosters a successful, respectful, and inclusive workplace culture.
• Demonstrate initiative, creativity, sound judgment, adaptability, and effective project management.
• Pursue continuous professional development and remain informed about current museum practices and emerging technologies.

 Working Conditions and Physical Aspects of the Role

• Work is performed primarily on site at the Museum with occasional travel.
• Work is both sedentary in an office setting and performed in spaces throughout the Museum and offsite with activities that may include lifting, bending, reaching, and standing for periods of up to one hour at a time.
• Regular use of computers, photography equipment, collections management software, audiovisual equipment, and standard office equipment.
• Ability to lift up to 35 pounds and heavier items with assistance as needed.

Apply Today 

Apply using the Quick Apply feature or send resume and cover letter (required) to [email protected]

About Glenn H. Curtiss Museum

The Glenn H. Curtiss Museum is dedicated to preserving and sharing the legacy of aviation pioneer Glenn H. Curtiss through engaging exhibits, educational programming, and community events. Through dynamic exhibitions, educational experiences, and community partnerships, the Museum connects over 30,000 people of all ages each year with the individuals, ideas, and innovations that shaped aviation and transportation history while inspiring curiosity, innovation, and lifelong learning.

The Glenn H. Curtiss Museum is committed to diversity and inclusion and a policy of equal employment opportunity with respect to all employees, interns, and applicants for employment. We recruit, hire, train, and promote without discrimination due to race, color, sex, age, disability, religion, citizenship, national origin, military or veteran status, marital status, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, and any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.