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Phyllis Wattis Assistant Curator of Native American Art, Cantor Arts Center

Arts, Stanford, California, United States

New

Museum

Post Date 2 days ago

Requisition # 106447

Phyllis Wattis Assistant Curator of Native American Art, Cantor Arts Center

3-year Fixed-Term

Stanford University is one of the world’s premier academic and research institutions, devoting tremendous intellectual and physical resources toward the betterment of humanity. As a major Silicon Valley employer, Stanford seeks people committed to excellence and improving our world. The university is committed to supporting its employees as they develop their careers and enrich their lives. Stanford’s future success will be shaped by its diverse perspectives, unique experiences, and inclusive culture.

Serving the Stanford University campus, the Bay Area community, and visitors from around the world, the Cantor Arts Center provides an outstanding cultural experience for visitors of all ages and a growing online audience of scholars. The Cantor’s encyclopedic collection spans 5,000 years and includes more than 40,000 works of art from around the globe. An established resource for teaching and research on campus, the Cantor offers free admission and programs year-round. It is consistently one of the most visited university museums in the U.S. It is an exciting time to join the expanding team at the Cantor Arts Center. Join us as we build capacity to achieve the museum’s goals within an equitable, collaborative, and creative work environment.

Reporting to the Cantor Director, the Phyllis Wattis Assistant Curator of Native American Art is responsible for the curatorial oversight of the Cantor’s Native American Art collection. Consisting of over 1,000 works, the collection dates from the late 19th century to the present and includes works affiliated with Indigenous communities from throughout North America, including Hawaii, Alaska and the First Nations of Canada.

The Assistant Curator will develop original installations to highlight the Museum’s collection and act as in-house curator for related traveling exhibitions. Responsibilities will include collaborating with Academic and Public Programs department staff to develop labels and other interpretive information for exhibitions, installations, and programs. The position works with sensitive collections and content which requires attentiveness to cultural protocols. The position works respectfully with tribal communities in ways that acknowledge tribal sovereignty, cultural protocols, and cultural and religious practices and knowledge.

This role supports Stanford and Cantor's goals around the timely and respectful return of Native American cultural items. Responsibilities also include responding to inquiries regarding the Museum’s Art of the Americas collection, including offers of gifts from collectors and artists and recommending art for acquisition by the Museum.

In this role, you will:

+ Develop original rotations of the collection for display in collection galleries

+ Research registration records and stay abreast of scholarship in the field

+ Assist in production of brochures and other interpretive materials, as needed

+ Facilitate consultation with the affiliated Tribes to seek guidance and permission regarding the display, handling and research of works. Facilitate consensual curation of Cantor galleries with affiliated Tribes and Indigenous community partners

+ Perform archival and community-based research to help determine cultural affiliation and provenance for items in the collection. Update the museum’s collection database with culturally appropriate language

+ Help to organize and participate in NAGPRA consultation meetings in-person or virtual. Prepare information for Tribal delegations/participants, Stanford Director of Heritage Services, and Cantor Collection Dept staff. Assist with logistics and hosting. Assist with record keeping related to consultations and repatriation events. Assist with retrieving works from Collection storage for consultation visits

+ Participate in meetings with Stanford Director of Heritage Services, Director Stanford Archaeology Collections (SUAC) and Cantor Collection Dept staff, as requested

+ Organize collaborative projects with faculty and staff

+ Oversee project budgets

+ Collaborate with curators, Director, and other key staff on special projects

+ Field gift offers and recommend strategic acquisitions for the museum’s collection of Indigenous art from North America, occasionally advising on gift offers of Indigenous art from other areas of the world

+ Ensure the ethical stewardship of collections in accordance with specific tribal cultural protocols

+ Other duties as assigned

Please note that this position will be based on the Stanford campus and will be considered hybrid with the expectation to be on campus 3-4 days per week depending on events. In addition, this position may require working evenings and weekends as needed. Some travel may be required. You may work in areas with exposure to dust, paint, chemicals, and other toxins. **The position is a 3 year fixed-term full-time position.**

In order to be successful, you will bring:

+ Master’s degree in Native American Art History, Native/Indigenous Studies, Museum Studies, or Anthropology, and three years of related experience or a combination of education and relevant experience. PhD preferred.

+ Demonstrated commitment to promoting and supporting an inclusive environment.

+ Advanced knowledge of Native American Art and culture

+ Three years of curatorial experience, or similar (including curatorial fellowships), ideally in a museum or cultural heritage setting

+ Familiarity with NAGPRA compliance and repatriation protocols

+ Experience working with Tribal governments and Indigenous communities and following best practices for community engagement

+ Demonstrated commitment to ethical stewardship of Native American and Indigenous communities; experience developing and cultivating Native and Indigenous perspectives in the museum is a plus

+ Knowledge of and research skills across a wide range of the arts of the Indigenous Americas, as well as a specialization within the field. Familiarity with the arts of North America, particularly from the Northwest Coast, and of contemporary Indigenous art, is a plus

+ Ability and willingness to work collaboratively with colleagues within the museum and across the Stanford University campus, including the Native American Studies program, the Native American Cultural Center, and the Stanford American Indian Organization. Ability and willingness to collaborate with other local university and public museums and Native and Indigenous communities

+ Excellent interpersonal skills and professionalism interacting with a wide range of people within an organization

+ Exceptional verbal and written communication; demonstrated presentation skills

+ Proven ability to manage multiple priorities effectively and efficiently, with competing deadlines

+ Ability to work independently and as part of a team

+ Demonstrated proficiency in MS Office Suite and database management applications; Demonstrated project management skills

_Don’t meet every single requirement? At the Vice Presidency for the Arts and Cantor Arts Center, we are dedicated to building an inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. Let us know in your cover letter how your experience makes you a good fit for us. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles!_

At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website (https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards) provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.

**The expected pay range for this position is $91,337 – $98,000 per annum.** Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.

Why Stanford is for You

Imagine a world without search engines or social platforms. Consider lives saved through first-ever organ transplants and research to cure illnesses. Stanford University has revolutionized the way we live and enrich the world. Supporting this mission is our diverse and dedicated 17,000 staff. We seek talent driven to impact the future of our legacy. Ourcultureandunique perksempower you with:

+ **Freedom to grow.** We offer career development programs, tuition reimbursement, or audit a course. Join a TedTalk, film screening, or listen to a renowned author or global leader speak.

+ **A caring culture.** We provide superb retirement plans, generous time-off, and family care resources.

+ **A healthier you.** Climb our rock wall, or choose from hundreds of health or fitness classes at our world-class exercise facilities. We also provide excellent health care benefits.

+ **Discovery and fun.** Stroll through historic sculptures, trails, and museums.

+ **Enviable resources.** Enjoy free commuter programs, ridesharing incentives, discounts and more!

_The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned._

_Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact Stanford University Human Resources by submitting acontact form._

_Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law._

Additional Information

+ **Schedule: Full-time**

+ **Job Code: 1841**

+ **Employee Status: Fixed-Term**

+ **Grade: H**

+ **Requisition ID: 106447**

+ **Work Arrangement : Hybrid Eligible**