What are the responsibilities and job description for the Museum Curator position at City of Mesa?
Description/Duties
The current vacancy is in the Arizona Museum of Natural History; however, this recruitment will also be used to establish an eligible list for possible future vacancies in other assignment areas.
The first review of
all applications will be on Monday, July 6, 2026.
The Museum Curator develops, interprets, evaluates, communicates, and curates the collections of the Arizona Museum for Natural History for the fields of natural and social sciences. Responsibilities include: developing and implementing procedures of a general curatorial nature relating to the fields of Social Sciences (history, ethnology, archaeology, anthropology) or Natural Sciences (paleontology, geology, biology); conducting original and secondary research; ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local laws in the acquisition and collection of objects; writing policies, plans, grant proposals, reports, etc., regarding museum collections, general curatorial information, or a designated subject area; and providing curatorial expertise on certain changing and permanent exhibits. The Museum Curator also supervises full-time, part-time, contractual, and volunteer personnel. This class is also responsible for performing related duties as required.
Anthropology Assignment: Conducts primary and/or secondary research in anthropology or related disciplines; oversee the disciplines of ethnology, and archaeology; coordinates the permanent gallery rotations, changes and updates exhibits, public engagement, and educational programming.
General supervision is received from the Chief Curator, who reviews work through conferences, meetings, reports, and overall results achieved. This class is FLSA exempt professional.
Please refer to the link below for the full job description and additional information regarding assignments, preferred qualifications, and essential functions.
Qualifications & Requirements
Employee Values: All employees of the City of Mesa are expected to uphold and exhibit the City's shared employee values of Knowledge, Respect, and Integrity.
Minimum Qualifications Required. Any combination of training, education, or experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree in a Social Science, Natural Science, or related field such as Museum Studies, Anthropology, Biology, Geology, Paleontology, or a closely related area. Considerable (3 - 5 years) collections experience in museums, cultural centers, institutes, academics, or equivalent.
Preferred/Desirable Qualifications. A Master’s Degree or Ph.D. in Social Science, Natural Science, or related field such as: Museum Studies, Anthropology, Biology, Geology, Paleontology, or a closely related area and experience in responsible positions in a museum is preferred. Experience in Triassic paleobiology field collection and publication desirable. Experience in application and administration of grants, permits, and federal and state repositories. Experience in large museum projects.
Link To Job Description
http://apps.mesaaz.gov/jobdescriptions/Documents/JobDescriptions/cs4225.pdf
A Summary of City of Mesa Benefits is linked here.
01
Did you graduate from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in a Social Science, Natural Science, or related field such as Museum Studies, Anthropology, Biology, Geology, Paleontology, or a closely related area? **To receive education credit, you MUST fully detail your degree(s) and major(s) information on your application.
Do you have a Master's Degree in a field of the Social Science, Natural Science, or related field such as: Museum Studies, Anthropology, Biology, Geology, Paleontology, or a closely related area? **To receive education credit, you MUST fully detail your degree(s) and major(s) information on your application.
Do you have a Ph.D. in a field of the Social Science, Natural Science, or related field such as Museum Studies, Anthropology, Biology, Geology, Paleontology, or a closely related area? **To receive education credit, you MUST fully detail your degree(s) and major(s) information on your application.
How many years of collections experience do you have in museums, cultural centers, institutes, academics, or equivalent? Please detail your experience on your application.
Please describe your collections experience in museums, cultural centers, institutes, academics, or equivalent below; include employment dates and names of employer(s). If none, type N/A. **To receive this experience credit, you MUST also fully detail this experience on your application. Incomplete/blank applications or responses such as “see resume” will not be considered.**
06
Do you have experience in Triassic paleobiology field collection and publication? Please detail your experience on your application.
Please describe your experience in Triassic paleobiology field collection and publication, including employer(s). Please detail this experience on your application. If none, type N/A.
08
Do you have experience in the application and administration of grants, permits, and federal and state repositories? Please detail your experience on your application.
Please describe your experience in the application and administration of grants, permits, and federal and state repositories, including employer(s). Please also detail this experience on your application. If none, type N/A.
10
Do you have experience with large museum projects? Please detail your experience on your application.
Please describe your experience with large museum projects, including employer(s). Please also detail this experience on your application. If none, type N/A.
The current vacancy is in the Arizona Museum of Natural History; however, this recruitment will also be used to establish an eligible list for possible future vacancies in other assignment areas.
The first review of
all applications will be on Monday, July 6, 2026.
The Museum Curator develops, interprets, evaluates, communicates, and curates the collections of the Arizona Museum for Natural History for the fields of natural and social sciences. Responsibilities include: developing and implementing procedures of a general curatorial nature relating to the fields of Social Sciences (history, ethnology, archaeology, anthropology) or Natural Sciences (paleontology, geology, biology); conducting original and secondary research; ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local laws in the acquisition and collection of objects; writing policies, plans, grant proposals, reports, etc., regarding museum collections, general curatorial information, or a designated subject area; and providing curatorial expertise on certain changing and permanent exhibits. The Museum Curator also supervises full-time, part-time, contractual, and volunteer personnel. This class is also responsible for performing related duties as required.
Anthropology Assignment: Conducts primary and/or secondary research in anthropology or related disciplines; oversee the disciplines of ethnology, and archaeology; coordinates the permanent gallery rotations, changes and updates exhibits, public engagement, and educational programming.
General supervision is received from the Chief Curator, who reviews work through conferences, meetings, reports, and overall results achieved. This class is FLSA exempt professional.
Please refer to the link below for the full job description and additional information regarding assignments, preferred qualifications, and essential functions.
Qualifications & Requirements
Employee Values: All employees of the City of Mesa are expected to uphold and exhibit the City's shared employee values of Knowledge, Respect, and Integrity.
Minimum Qualifications Required. Any combination of training, education, or experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree in a Social Science, Natural Science, or related field such as Museum Studies, Anthropology, Biology, Geology, Paleontology, or a closely related area. Considerable (3 - 5 years) collections experience in museums, cultural centers, institutes, academics, or equivalent.
Preferred/Desirable Qualifications. A Master’s Degree or Ph.D. in Social Science, Natural Science, or related field such as: Museum Studies, Anthropology, Biology, Geology, Paleontology, or a closely related area and experience in responsible positions in a museum is preferred. Experience in Triassic paleobiology field collection and publication desirable. Experience in application and administration of grants, permits, and federal and state repositories. Experience in large museum projects.
Link To Job Description
http://apps.mesaaz.gov/jobdescriptions/Documents/JobDescriptions/cs4225.pdf
A Summary of City of Mesa Benefits is linked here.
01
Did you graduate from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in a Social Science, Natural Science, or related field such as Museum Studies, Anthropology, Biology, Geology, Paleontology, or a closely related area? **To receive education credit, you MUST fully detail your degree(s) and major(s) information on your application.
- Yes
- No
Do you have a Master's Degree in a field of the Social Science, Natural Science, or related field such as: Museum Studies, Anthropology, Biology, Geology, Paleontology, or a closely related area? **To receive education credit, you MUST fully detail your degree(s) and major(s) information on your application.
- Yes
- No
Do you have a Ph.D. in a field of the Social Science, Natural Science, or related field such as Museum Studies, Anthropology, Biology, Geology, Paleontology, or a closely related area? **To receive education credit, you MUST fully detail your degree(s) and major(s) information on your application.
- Yes
- No
How many years of collections experience do you have in museums, cultural centers, institutes, academics, or equivalent? Please detail your experience on your application.
- None
- Some but less than 3 years
- 3 years or more but less than 5 years
- 5 years or more but less than 7 years
- 7 years or more
Please describe your collections experience in museums, cultural centers, institutes, academics, or equivalent below; include employment dates and names of employer(s). If none, type N/A. **To receive this experience credit, you MUST also fully detail this experience on your application. Incomplete/blank applications or responses such as “see resume” will not be considered.**
06
Do you have experience in Triassic paleobiology field collection and publication? Please detail your experience on your application.
- Yes
- No
Please describe your experience in Triassic paleobiology field collection and publication, including employer(s). Please detail this experience on your application. If none, type N/A.
08
Do you have experience in the application and administration of grants, permits, and federal and state repositories? Please detail your experience on your application.
- Yes
- No
Please describe your experience in the application and administration of grants, permits, and federal and state repositories, including employer(s). Please also detail this experience on your application. If none, type N/A.
10
Do you have experience with large museum projects? Please detail your experience on your application.
- Yes
- No
Please describe your experience with large museum projects, including employer(s). Please also detail this experience on your application. If none, type N/A.
- Required Question