What are the responsibilities and job description for the Curator (Collections) position at City of Tempe?
Qualifications
CURATOR (COLLECTIONS)
This recruitment is open until the position is filled.
First review of applications will occur on January 8, 2026
Pay Grade: 113
Annual Salary Range: $71,800 - $105,900
The City of Tempe offers a comprehensive benefits package including
Employee Benefit Summary
Department / Division
Community Services /Arts & Culture
Job Type
Full-Time Regular
Schedule
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Job Number
RC#902392
Description / Essential Functions
The Curator of Collections at Tempe History Museum manages the permanent collection of approximately 20,000 artifacts and 60,000 historic photographs and archival documents. This includes accepting new acquisitions, collections processing, managing incoming and outgoing loans, coordinating the curation of contracted archaeological projects, managing duplication and publishing requests for historic photographs, and exhibit curation.
The Tempe History Museum is an AAM accredited municipal community history museum where the community comes together to explore Tempe's past, share its present and imagine its future. We work together with Tempe's diverse residents to preserve and tell their stories. The museum comprehensively explores Tempe history through exhibits, activities, speakers, collections, research services, and programs that captivate, connect with and delight audiences throughout the community and beyond. We embrace the important responsibility of collecting and caring for the artifacts and the written, spoken and pictorial records of Tempe.
Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:
Experience
Two (2) years of experience in museum, curatorial, or related experience.
Candidates must have the minimum amount of work experience. Years of experience are based upon a full-time work schedule (2,080 hours per year). The sum of an applicant's full-time and/or part-time qualifying work experience must meet or exceed the stated minimum qualification. Education will not substitute for the required work experience; however, related unpaid and/or volunteer work experience may be used as qualifying work experience.
Education
Bachelor's degree in Anthropology, History, Museum Studies, arts administration, art history, fine arts, humanities, or related field.
Additional
Applicants considered for this job classification must pass the following
This position is FLSA Exempt which means employees are not eligible for overtime compensation and/or compensatory time.
Employees in this position are represented by the Tempe Supervisors' Association (TSA)
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: The City of Tempe is an Equal Opportunity / Reasonable Accommodation employer. The City does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, familial status, age, disability, and United States military veteran status. Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will make a reasonable accommodation(s) during the recruitment & selection process. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation by contacting Human Resources at 480-350-8276. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.
Apply for Job
CURATOR (COLLECTIONS)
This recruitment is open until the position is filled.
First review of applications will occur on January 8, 2026
Pay Grade: 113
Annual Salary Range: $71,800 - $105,900
The City of Tempe offers a comprehensive benefits package including
- 13 Paid Holidays and 1 Personal Day
- Vacation Accrual starts at 9.33 hours/month. Higher monthly vacation accrual rates may be available with prior ASRS service.
- Sick Leave Accrual; 8 hours/month
- Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits
- Wellness Program Discount on health premiums
- Medical Reimbursement Program; $61.16/month
- Tuition Reimbursement; $6,500/year
- Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) Defined benefit plan with mandatory employer and employee contributions currently at 12% which includes a Long-Term Disability benefit
- Supplemental Retirement Plans through Nationwide; 457, 401K, and Employer contribution
- Position is eligible for up to 40 hours of floating holiday leave
Employee Benefit Summary
Department / Division
Community Services /Arts & Culture
Job Type
Full-Time Regular
Schedule
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Job Number
RC#902392
Description / Essential Functions
The Curator of Collections at Tempe History Museum manages the permanent collection of approximately 20,000 artifacts and 60,000 historic photographs and archival documents. This includes accepting new acquisitions, collections processing, managing incoming and outgoing loans, coordinating the curation of contracted archaeological projects, managing duplication and publishing requests for historic photographs, and exhibit curation.
The Tempe History Museum is an AAM accredited municipal community history museum where the community comes together to explore Tempe's past, share its present and imagine its future. We work together with Tempe's diverse residents to preserve and tell their stories. The museum comprehensively explores Tempe history through exhibits, activities, speakers, collections, research services, and programs that captivate, connect with and delight audiences throughout the community and beyond. We embrace the important responsibility of collecting and caring for the artifacts and the written, spoken and pictorial records of Tempe.
Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Performs curation, research, and the writing of text for exhibits. Chooses images and artifacts for the exhibits, and coordinates with co-workers on a variety of details, including basic layout/design, programming, publicity and other details.
- Assists members of the public, specialized researchers, City staff, members of the media, and others making inquiries regarding historical research, including access to archival resources and photographs.
- Maintains the museum's research library. Coordinates with volunteers on library projects, including organizing, cataloguing, and filing books and other materials.
- Maintains museum storage and display environments to professional best practice standards. Uses proper storage materials and custom build artifact mounts. Maintains proper temperature, relative humidity, and light levels. Monitors, records, and tracks environmental data over time. Schedules maintenance for gallery specific spaces and all relevant equipment.
- Prepares and conducts historical research for exhibits, scholars, and presentations to various community groups, organizations, institutions, and museum programs.
- Plans and manages gallery operations at the Tempe Center for the Arts, including exhibitions, loans, commissions, and related contracts.
- Oversee exhibition and collections development, including design, fabrication, cataloging, preservation, rights/reproduction, and accuracy of historical and cultural content.
- Supervises the work of assigned personnel, including assigning and reviewing work, providing guidance, and conducting performance evaluations.
- Participate in onsite and offsite meetings, including City, staff, event-based, exhibition planning, studio tours, museum, and gallery site visits and training.
- May perform responsibilities of a similar nature and level as assigned.
Experience
Two (2) years of experience in museum, curatorial, or related experience.
Candidates must have the minimum amount of work experience. Years of experience are based upon a full-time work schedule (2,080 hours per year). The sum of an applicant's full-time and/or part-time qualifying work experience must meet or exceed the stated minimum qualification. Education will not substitute for the required work experience; however, related unpaid and/or volunteer work experience may be used as qualifying work experience.
Education
Bachelor's degree in Anthropology, History, Museum Studies, arts administration, art history, fine arts, humanities, or related field.
Additional
Applicants considered for this job classification must pass the following
- Criminal history review
This position is FLSA Exempt which means employees are not eligible for overtime compensation and/or compensatory time.
Employees in this position are represented by the Tempe Supervisors' Association (TSA)
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: The City of Tempe is an Equal Opportunity / Reasonable Accommodation employer. The City does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, familial status, age, disability, and United States military veteran status. Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will make a reasonable accommodation(s) during the recruitment & selection process. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation by contacting Human Resources at 480-350-8276. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.
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Salary : $71,800 - $105,900