Organizer Information
The North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) is a major public art institution in the United States dedicated to collecting, conserving, and exhibiting art for the benefit of the public. Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, the museum operates as a statewide cultural resource with a mission to connect diverse communities to global artistic heritage through exhibitions, education, and public engagement.
NCMA is known for its strong commitment to accessibility, interdisciplinary programming, and innovative exhibition design. Its leadership structure integrates curatorial, conservation, collections, and audience engagement departments into a unified strategic framework. The institution emphasizes equity, provenance ethics, and community-centered museum practice while maintaining a significant permanent collection and an active program of national and international exhibitions.
Title & Description
Chief of Collections and Curatorial Affairs (Full-Time Leadership Position)
This is a senior executive-level leadership position responsible for overseeing the museum’s Curatorial, conservation, collections management, and Exhibition departments. The role is designed to shape the long-term vision of NCMA’s artistic program, ensuring alignment with institutional strategy, public engagement goals, and financial sustainability.
The Chief of Collections and Curatorial Affairs acts as a key decision-maker in collection development, exhibition planning, and institutional partnerships. The position also plays a critical role in fundraising, donor relations, and strategic growth of the museum’s cultural impact.
This leadership role requires a balance of scholarly expertise, administrative excellence, and visionary thinking, with a strong focus on contemporary museum ethics, inclusion, and global curatorial practice.
The Role Overview
- Employment Type: Full-Time, Indefinite
- Salary Range: $125,000 – $150,000 per year
- Department Oversight: Curatorial, Conservation, Collections, Exhibitions
- Reporting To: Museum Director & CEO (and Executive Leadership Team)
- Institution: North Carolina Museum of Art
- Work Model: On-site (Raleigh, North Carolina)
- Travel Requirement: 0–10%
This role functions as part of the senior leadership team and contributes directly to institutional governance, strategic planning, and cultural programming.
Position & Tasks
- Leadership, Planning, and Strategy
- Provide executive leadership across the Curatorial, conservation, collections, and exhibition departments
- Align departmental strategies with institutional mission and long-term vision
- Oversee team coordination, performance planning, and cross-department communication
- Collaborate with development, marketing, and audience engagement teams to expand public reach
- Represent the museum in national and international cultural contexts
- Lead fundraising initiatives and donor engagement strategies
- Guide ethical decision-making in collections, including provenance and restitution frameworks
- Manage institutional risk in donor, collection, and exhibition processes
- Conservation, Collections, and Exhibitions
- Develop long-term Exhibition and collection rotation strategies across museum sites
- Oversee collection care, preservation, and acquisition planning
- Contribute to updates of institutional collection strategy and acquisition priorities
- Support accessioning, deaccessioning, and loan strategies
- Supervise exhibition budgeting, planning, and performance evaluation
- Ensure high-quality visitor engagement through exhibition programming
- Collaborate with education and public programs to enhance accessibility
- Review curatorial and promotional materials for institutional consistency
- Art and Relationship Stewardship
- Lead Board of Trustees Collections Committee activities
- Maintain relationships with artists, collectors, museums, and cultural institutions
- Stay updated on global museum trends and conservation practices
- Represent the museum in professional conferences and cultural networks
- Support publication and research initiatives where relevant
- Mentor internal teams and contribute to institutional training programs
Categories
- Curatorial
- Art Management
- Visual Art
- Research
- Exhibition
- Leadership / Administration
Eligibility
- Master’s degree in Art History, Conservation, Curatorial Practice, or Arts Administration (PhD preferred)
- 8–10+ years of senior experience in museum or cultural leadership roles
- Proven experience managing Curatorial, conservation, and collections teams
- Strong fundraising track record (including six-figure donor engagement)
- Experience in exhibition development and institutional strategy
- Established national and international professional network
- Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills
- Experience in budget planning and institutional governance
- Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and ethical museum practice
Program Benefits
- Competitive executive salary ($125,000–$150,000 annually)
- Senior leadership role within a major US cultural institution
- Influence over the large-scale Exhibition and collection strategy
- Opportunity to shape institutional policy and museum ethics frameworks
- Access to international museum networks and donor ecosystems
- Leadership of cross-departmental teams and strategic initiatives
- High-level professional visibility in the global museum sector
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Cover letter
- Updated CV or resume
- Professional experience demonstrating leadership in museums or cultural institutions
- Evidence of curatorial, conservation, or collections management experience
- Demonstrated fundraising or donor engagement experience (if applicable)
How to Apply?
Applicants must send materials via email to Jennifer Crow, Business and Personnel Officer: Jennifer.crow@dncr.nc.gov
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 18 June 2026
- Position Type: Open until filled (implied selective hiring process)
Location
Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
Additional Details
- Senior executive leadership role within a major US museum
- Strong emphasis on equity, inclusion, and provenance ethics in collection management
- Requires close collaboration with executive leadership and board committees
- Focus on both artistic vision and institutional financial sustainability
- Includes responsibility for reputational, ethical, and operational risk management
- Position integrates curatorial vision with fundraising and public engagement strategy