Job Opening ID: 58083
Reports To: Museum Director
Department: Museums
Bargaining Unit: 99
FLSA: Exempt
Payroll Job Code: 000422
Job Location: UCI Campus- Irvine
Percent of Time: 100%
Work Schedule: 8-5, M-F
Employee Class: Career
Position Summary:
Langson IMCA is a start-up organization with limited, though growing, personnel and financial
resources within a large, established institution that is part of the University of California public
education system. It was founded in 2017 following gifts to UCI of two important private collections
of California Art. Two years later, the university hired acclaimed art museum leader and educator
Kim Kanatani as its inaugural director to guide the museum’s future, envisioned as the seminal
investigator and presenter of California’s influence and innovation through art. Langson IMCA
brings together students, faculty, scholars, artists, and other publics to generate new knowledge
and learning, and foster transformative experiences inspired by California Art and its global
contexts.
The university seeks to hire its first Chief Curator for the Jack and Shanaz Langson Institute and
Museum of California Art (Langson IMCA). The optimal candidate will be someone with an
entrepreneurial mindset who is motivated by this ground-floor opportunity to join the leadership
team in building a new art museum and research institute that brings attention to the Golden
State’s creative output. In conjunction with the Museum Director, the Chief Curator has creative
and managerial responsibility for the curatorial vision of the museum and the development,
management, and stewardship of its exhibitions and collections. The Chief Curator makes critical,
strategic decisions regarding the museum’s artistic directions and guides curatorial and collection
development initiatives in accordance with art museum best practices. The Chief Curator is
responsible for determining curatorial priorities; conceiving, developing, directing, and overseeing
the implementation of temporary, permanent, and traveling exhibitions, both in-house and guest
curated. The Chief Curator is also charged with strategically developing Langson IMCA’s
permanent collection. This position also plays a collaborative role in developing public engagement
activities, such as tours, lectures, conversations, panels, and exhibition-related programs; as well
as Institute programs, such as scholarly publications, symposia, conferences, artist residencies,
research fellowships, and interdisciplinary academic initiatives. The Chief Curator serves on various
committees, including as an ex officio member of the museum’s Director’s Council. The Chief
Curator also works in close collaboration with the Deputy Director on the administrative, financial,
and external affairs aspects of exhibitions, programs, collections, and publications. This position
directs and manages the curatorial and exhibition administration departments and co-leads
collections staff. The chief curator establishes objectives and delegates assignments to subordinate
managers. These responsibilities are defined by overall objectives and involve the highest degree of
complexity in subject area specialization or coordination. The chief curator develops and
implements policies, services, and programs which have a large impact for multiple functional units.
To Apply please visit https://uci.careers.universityofcalifornia.edu
Total Compensation:
In addition to the salary range listed below, we offer a wealth of benefits to make working at UCI
even more rewarding. These benefits may include medical insurance, sick and vacation time,
retirement savings plans, and access to a number of discounts and perks. Please utilize the links
listed here to learn more about our compensation practices and benefits.
$123,500.00 – $190,000.00 (Annual Salary) Expected Pay Range within the Full Salary Range
$123,500.00 – $241,900.00 (Annual Salary)
Required:
• Significant experience and demonstrated success as a senior curatorial leader and manager. •
Teaching and/or museum experience within a university setting preferred
Advanced degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
Proven skill and ability to conceptualize, research, direct, and organize multifaceted and complex
exhibitions and publications. Demonstrable, thorough knowledge of 19th through 21st century art,
artists, art history, criticism, and/or theory. Interest in art of all eras and geographies, with an
emphasis on modern and contemporary American art. Ability and passion to integrate the
curatorial, collections, and educational activities of the museum with the teaching, research, and
public service missions of UCI. Ability to take a long-range planning approach to artistic
programming and collections. Knowledge of best practice art museum curatorial practices and
current trends impacting the field. Knowledge of collection building / connoisseurship, ethical and
legal standards for acquisition, and of the current market. Thorough knowledge of professional
museum standards and practices for various aspects of exhibitions and collections, including
display, research, care, security, management, storage, shipping, and/or insurance, etc. Thorough
knowledge of legal and ethical aspects or fine arts collecting, maintaining, borrowing, and
exhibiting. Knowledge of selection, evaluation, and exhibition of art objects. Knowledge of the
principles of art conservation / preservation. Excellent donor cultivation, interpersonal and
relationship building skills. Demonstrated ability to secure donations of art that contribute to the
permanent collection’s growth, and financial contributions in support of art exhibitions and
commissions. Expert skills in scholarly research and writing scholarly publications. Record of
scholarly publications. Good skills in budget and project management, problem solving, and
process improvement. Demonstrated analytical skills and strategic thinking to contribute to building
and growing an organization. Supervisory and leadership abilities. Excellent skills in management
and supervision; ability to assess, coach, mentor, and motivate teams toward goals. Ability to take
long-range approach. Highly flexible and ability to work effectively in a matrixed and start-up
environment. Demonstrated interest and success in collaboration, working effectively with diverse
stakeholders, and possessing effective communication and diplomacy skills for a wide range of
audiences, including museum staff, students, faculty, volunteers, university staff, artists, collectors,
art dealers, etc. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Preferred:
Demonstrated specialization and knowledge in the areas of the museum’s collection, including 19th
century California Impressionism and plein air painting, and Post-War and contemporary California
art. Thorough knowledge of exhibition design and installation. Familiarity with contemporary
conservation techniques and practices. Familiarity with new construction or building expansions.
Conditions of Employment:
The University of California, Irvine (UCI) seeks to provide a safe and healthy environment for the
entire UCI community. As part of this commitment, all applicants who accept an offer of
employment must comply with the following conditions of employment:
• Background Check and Live Scan
• Legal Right to work in the United States
• Vaccination Policies
• Smoking and Tobacco Policy
• Drug Free Environment
The following additional conditions may apply, some of which are dependent upon business unit or
job specific requirements.
• California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act
• E-Verify
• Pre-Placement Health Evaluation
Details of each policy may be reviewed by visiting the following page – https://hr.uci.edu/new-
hire/conditions-of-employment.php
Closing Statement:
The University of California, Irvine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer advancing
inclusive excellence. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without
regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age,
protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination
policy.
We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce along with honoring unique
experiences, perspectives, and identities. Together, our community strives to create and maintain
working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming. UCI provides
reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities upon request. For more information,
please contact Human Resources at (949) 824-0500 or eec@uci.edu.
Categories: Job Postings