Curator

Duke University:

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America's leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

Be You.

We are looking for aCurator who will support the stewardship and visibility of the Duke University Musical Instrument Collections (DUMIC), helping students and faculty to explore the many ways we create, comprehend, and perform music. As Curator, you will plan manage, coordinate, and participate in a variety of curatorial and administrative activities in the collection, and plan day-to-day operations in preservation, restoration, and exchange of museum pieces according to the department's activities and objectives.

Be Bold.

The Duke University Musical Instrument Collections (DUMIC) comprise specialized collections of historical musical instruments. The mission of DUMIC is to preserve, present, interpret, and share the objects in its care, in keeping with the Music Department's and Duke's greater goals and mission to provide a superior liberal arts education.

What You'll Do:

• Plan, manage and coordinate the activities related to the department's collection.
• In conjunction with appropriate leadership, formulate, document, explain, and interpret policy and procedures regarding the collection. Make recommendations on and oversee the care, maintenance, security, and conservation of the collection.
• Coordinate the exchange of pieces with other collections as appropriate.
• Maintain accessibility of the collection to appropriate users through such activities as cataloging and exhibition installation; assess the condition of the instruments; recommend and coordinate repairs and restoration.
• Determine fiscal requirements and prepare budgetary recommendations; monitor, verify, and reconcile expenditures; maintain records of expenditures.
• Prepare reports and analyses setting forth progress, adverse trends, and appropriate recommendations or conclusions.
• Serve as central resource person to faculty and students for the use of the collection for research and teaching. This may include, but is not limited to, teaching a class, supervising student projects, lectures, and other professional activities.
• Assist and advise group and individual visitors to the collection.

Required Qualifications:

• Graduate degree in a relevant field such as organology, musicology, historical performance, history of technology, or material culture studies.
• Three to five years of museum curatorial experience, with emphasis on historical musical instrument care and preservation.
• Preferred experience in digital platforms for museums, cataloging, web management, and communication with diverse audiences.

Choose Duke.

Join a community committed to excellence in education, research, and cultural stewardship-where your expertise helps preserve rare instruments and inspire new generations of scholars and performers.

Ready to Make a Difference?

Apply now and help us build a stronger, smarter, and more connected future.