Employment Opportunity - MANAGER/CURATOR OF THE JAPANESE CANADIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM

The Japanese Canadian National Museum, located in Burnaby, BC, is a key component of the National Nikkei Museum & Heritage Centre which opened in September 2000. The mission of the Japanese Canadian National Museum is to collect, preserve, interpret and exhibit artifacts and archives relating to the history of Japanese Canadians from the 1870s through the present, and to communicate to all the Japanese Canadian experience and contribution as an integral part of Canada’s heritage and multicultural society. The Manager/Curator is a key leader of a professional staff team that supports the Japanese Canadian National Museum’s operations and strategic development that makes the facility a dynamic cultural venue.

MANAGER/CURATOR
Reporting to the Executive Director of the National Nikkei Museum and Heritage Centre, the Manager/Curator is a senior management position of the Japanese Canadian National Museum. The Manager/Curator plans, directs, coordinates, promotes, and evaluates the on-going operations and future development of the Japanese Canadian National Museum and serves as museum curator.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
* Plans, directs, coordinates, and evaluates the development, operation, and maintenance of ongoing projects of the Japanese Canadian National Museum and the Archives, by carrying out general policies within budgets approved by the Executive Director and Board of Directors. Ongoing projects include temporary exhibitions, traveling exhibitions, publications, educational programs and public programs, with the assistance of the Program Coordinator and Museum Assistants.
* Develops and oversees ongoing project budgets and special project budgets.
* Applies for, administers the expenditures of, and supervises the work related to grants from governments, businesses, and/or philanthropic agencies to assist in funding the Japanese Canadian National Museum; assists with Board-led fundraising projects.
* Acts as liaison to any relevant museum associations and community organizations.
* Leads and supervises a team of staff including an Archivist, Program Coordinator & Museum Assistant, and assistant and student positions. Collaborates with the Executive Director and the Board of Directors to determine staff requirements and recruit appropriate staff.
* Selects, trains, coordinates, supervises, and evaluates curatorial volunteers.
* Acquires, documents, catalogues, researches, preserves, and uses the museum’s collection of artifacts, as well as recommends deaccessioning to the Board of Directors.
* Oversees loans to the museum’s collection.
* Plans, develops, schedules, and implements temporary exhibits and traveling exhibits, as well as facilitates the development of a permanent exhibit.
* Provides for the security and maintenance of the museum collection, archival holdings (through an Archivist), and property of the Japanese Canadian National Museum, as well as for the security of staff and visitors.
* Plans, coordinates, and evaluates the production of Japanese Canadian National Museum publications.
* Plans for the future needs of the Japanese Canadian National Museum.
* Represents and promotes the Japanese Canadian National Museum locally, provincially, nationally, and internationally, as necessary and relevant.
* Reports to the Board of Directors as needed and writes annual and other reports.

QUALIFICATIONS:
University degree (preferably a masters degree) in a discipline related to the museum’s mandate or museum studies.

* Extensive, successful experience in museum work, preferably with a curatorial component.
* Extensive, successful experience in operating a not-for-profit institution and supervising employees, contractors and volunteers.
* Extensive, successful experience in producing and implementing budgets, writing grant applications, and implementing grant projects.
* Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other staff, volunteers, and the general public.
* Demonstrated ability to foster teamwork.
* Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in English in oral and written form.
* Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously including leading implementation and action plans to successfully meet deadlines.
* Knowledge of and interest in Japanese Canadian history, language, community and culture an asset.

HOURS OF WORK: This is a full time position from Monday to Friday. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required for special purposes or events.

A comprehensive salary and benefits package is offered.

FORWARD LETTER OF APPLICATION AND RESUME BY EMAIL TO:
HR@nikkeiplace.org

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS:
JANUARY 2, 2009

We thank all applicants; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.