Position Summary
The Director of History & Collections provides strategic, administrative, and curatorial leadership for the Museums of Western Colorado’s historical collections and related interpretive initiatives. As a member of the senior leadership team, this position oversees the History & Collections Division, directing the care, development, interpretation, and ethical stewardship of the museum’s historical holdings in alignment with American Alliance of Museums (AAM) standards.
The Director leads a multidisciplinary team responsible for collections management, exhibitions, research, and public engagement. This role shapes multiyear exhibition calendars, guides acquisitions and deaccessioning, manages departmental budgets, and ensures that MWC’s historical collections remain accessible, relevant, and reflective of the diverse histories of Western Colorado and the Colorado Plateau.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Department Leadership & Strategic Planning
Provide strategic direction for the History & Collections Division, including longrange planning for collections care, exhibitions, research priorities, and public engagement.
Serve on the senior leadership team, contributing to institutional strategy, accreditation preparation, and missiondriven initiatives.
Develop and manage the division’s annual budget, including staffing, collections care, exhibitions, and special projects.
Supervise and mentor curatorial and collections staff, including the Curator of Exhibits, Curator of Archaeology, and Collections Assistants.
Provide strategic, administrative, and supervisory oversight while supporting mid-level curators’ technical and subject-matter leadership within their assigned collections areas of expertise.
Establish departmental goals, workflows, and performance expectations; conduct annual evaluations and support professional development.
Lead crossdepartmental collaboration with Education, Communications, Development, and Facilities to ensure cohesive institutional planning and project execution.
Collections Stewardship & Preservation
Oversee physical and intellectual control of historical collections, including artifacts, archival materials, photographs, ephemera, and the Research Library collection.
Ensure proper cataloging, accessioning, deaccessioning, and documentation in accordance with AAM standards, legal requirements, and ethical guidelines.
Maintain accurate, uptodate records in the collections database; oversee metadata standards, digitization workflows, and digital asset management.
Conduct or supervise condition assessments; coordinate conservation treatments and ensure appropriate environmental, storage, and security conditions.
Manage incoming and outgoing loans, gifts, transfers, and related documentation.
Oversee researcher access, staff requests, and public inquiries related to historical collections.
Lead development, implementation, and regular review of the Collections Management Policy and emergency preparedness procedures.
Exhibitions & Interpretation
Provide conceptual and curatorial leadership for history exhibitions, ensuring scholarly rigor, community relevance, and inclusive storytelling.
Collaborate closely with the Curator of Exhibits on exhibition design, layout, interpretive strategy, fabrication, and installation.
Develop interpretive texts, labels, gallery guides, and digital content that communicate complex historical topics to diverse audiences.
Partner with Communications staff on marketing, public relations, and storytelling initiatives.
Oversee traveling exhibitions, guest curators, and interinstitutional collaborations.
Research & Scholarship
Conduct original research on MWC’s historical collections and regional history topics.
Publish findings through museum publications, academic journals, conference presentations, and public programs.
Respond to scholarly and public research inquiries; provide authoritative information on collection holdings.
Maintain active engagement with professional networks, scholars, descendant communities, and community historians.
Public Engagement & Programs
Develop and deliver lectures, tours, workshops, and community programs that deepen public understanding of Western Colorado history.
Collaborate with Education staff on curriculum development, interpretive materials, and outreach initiatives.
Represent MWC at community events, professional conferences, and civic gatherings.
Manage agreements and collaborative projects with partner institutions, including the Mesa County Historical Society, Mesa County Libraries, and the Mesa County Genealogical Society.
Policy, Compliance & Administration
Lead development and implementation of collections policies, procedures, and preservation plans.
Chair the Collections Committee and provide recommendations to the Executive Director and Board regarding acquisitions, deaccessions, and collections priorities.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations related to historical collections, including working with NAGPRA where applicable with the Curator of Archaeology.
Assist with grant writing, reporting, and budget development for collections and exhibition projects.
Prioritize collections projects related to reaccreditation and strategic planning.
Acquisition & Collection Development
Establish and implement a longrange collections plan aligned with institutional mission and strategic priorities.
Identify opportunities to expand the historical collection through strategic acquisitions, fieldwork, and community partnerships.
Conduct provenance research, authenticate materials, and evaluate potential acquisitions.
Identify outofscope materials and make recommendations for deaccessioning.
