Job Description

ASSOCIATE CURATOR OF CLIMATE AND CLEAN WATER

Full Time, Exempt (2080 hours per year)

Salary $49,000 – $62,200

Temporary two-year commitment (24 months)

Reports to: Director of Engagement

Directs Reports: None

The Minnesota Marine Art Museum (MMAM) is thrilled to announce the creation of a new, two-year temporary grant funded role, aimed to support and advance the museum’s commitment to clean water and climate stewardship. With support from the Morgan Family Foundation, MMAM is developing a career opportunity for an entry level professional with a strong interest in climate leadership to fill the role of Associate Curator of Climate and Clean Water. Our Associate Curator of Climate and Clean Water will primarily be responsible for (a) serving as a member of the Operations Team, assessing the organization’s operations and procedures, advocating and advancing practical improvements to reduce the organization’s greenhouse gas emissions, reducing waste, and creating an internal working culture that’s sustainably oriented, and (b) serving as a member on the Engagement Team, developing, implementing, and evaluating new public engagement opportunities that will build a culture of environmental stewardship into the museum’s education and exhibition activities.

Through their work with the Operations team, the Associate Curator of Climate and Clean Water leads the planning, development, and execution of initiatives to reduce MMAM’s climate footprint. Their focus on detail oriented analysis will ensure success in both smaller scale operational changes to lower our impact on an already fragile ecosystem, as well as locate, explore and secure grants, and partnerships that will enable MMAM to be a leader in the cultural sector for responsible climate stewardship.

In their work with the Engagement team, the Associate Curator of Climate and Clean Water’s insightful vision will highlight great art that reflects the challenges of a planet in crisis due to human actions, as well as draw attention to the work that MMAM is doing to improve our impact on the environment. Their ability to develop strategies to drive engagement with our exhibitions, initiatives, and activism, both online and in person, will be a core responsibility of the role.

As a result of their work, MMAM aims to (1) usher in an era of curatorial, education, and public engagement with commitment to building a culture of climate and clean water stewardship, (2) position MMAM as a convenor and leader of a diverse and representative coalition of clean water and energy educational stewards in Southern Minnesota, and (3) guide MMAM’s operational plan to convert to 100% renewables and achieve carbon neutrality by 2040.

This role reports to the Director of Engagement and guides and supports the work of the Engagement team, directly supporting the work of the Curator of Learning and Community Impact and the Curator of Exhibitions and Collections, taking a holistic, long-term view of all MMAM engagement programs, services and activities. They will contribute climate and clean water initiatives to the interpretive efforts of the museum, supporting cross-departmental project teams towards impact, working with other members in the organization to set the tone for MMAM’s next iteration as an institution, and ensure the museum is planning 2-3 years ahead.

This position is a two-year temporary role funded by the Morgan Family Foundation. MMAM is grateful for the Foundation’s commitment to mitigating global warming, an existential threat that we believe museums have a central, and vital role in addressing. As institutions committed to (1) social bridging and community building, (2) cultivating culture shifts and shifting perspectives, and (3) caring for resources – art and cultural resources – in perpetuity by stewarding the collections our institutions are founded on, MMAM is committed to climate action that is both outward looking (through our educational efforts, advocacy work, and coalition building) as equally as our inward looking (through our operations, energy choices, and the ways we care for the natural communities we operate from).

Key responsibilities include:

Facilities and Operations (50%)

• Examine the impact on the environment of energy consumption and material usage at MMAM
• Identify opportunities for reducing carbon emissions, decreasing water usage, lowering energy costs, and improving efficiencies in operations
• Investigate renewable integrations, developing a green team, assessing the sustainability and need for extremely limited temperature and humidity levels in the museum
• Work with the Operations team to implement a developing rooftop solar array installation
• Work with the Operations team to implement changes that support sustainability
• Assist in grant applications for projects that further MMAM’s commitment to environmental stewardship
• Identify opportunities to lower our impact on the environment through analysis of energy use data and observation of procedures at MMAM
• Work with the Facilities and Asset Protection Manager to implement changes to MMAM procedures, policy and workflow that support our environmental goals
• Work with the grant writing team to locate, research, and secure grants to fund projects that enable MMAM to significantly reduce our carbon footprint

Learning and Engagement (50%)

• Develop and implement interpretation focused on climate initiatives within exhibitions, develop programs and outreach initiatives that address climate change and its social impacts
• Develop, implement and evaluate a series of public programs that leverage the museum’s outdoor assets and encourage public engagement with the environment
• Research and interpret collections related to climate, sustainability, and social justice
• Collaborate with other museum staff, researchers, and community partners to develop and implement projects
• Engage with diverse communities to understand their perspectives on climate change and social justice
• Develop and implement outreach programs that educate and empower communities to take action on climate change
• Work with local organizations to address climate-related issues
• Analyze data and information to inform curatorial decisions and outreach strategies
  Stay informed about current research and best practices in climate change and social justice

POSITION SPECIFICS: 

• Full-time (2080 hours a year), salary exempt, dependent on level of experience
  2-year (24 months) grant funded position
• Flexibility to work a varied schedule including occasional evenings and weekends required
  Work location: on location
• Benefits: eligible for our full benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance and short term disability, 401(k) retirement plan with employer match, retail store discount, PTO, paid family and medical leave, paid holidays.

Research shows that women and people from underrepresented groups often only apply to jobs if they meet 100% of the qualifications. As no one ever meets 100% of the qualifications, we encourage you to apply if you feel that much of the following matches your experience:

You’ll likely demonstrate:

• Undergraduate or master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., museum studies, environmental science, social justice)
• Strong understanding of climate change, social justice, and related issues
• Strong commitment to equity, access, and inclusion evident in employment experiences and outcomes
• Experience in museum curation, exhibition development, or related fields
• Experience with exhibition development and visitor experience management and its delivery and integration within a cultural or other not-for-profit organization
• Exceptional communication and negotiation skills, both written and oral
• Working knowledge of the arts, cultural institutions, and current art museum practice
• Demonstrated creativity and innovation in developing and implementing high impact projects
• Experience collaborating with curators or other programmers, artists, and scholars to build engaging programs and initiatives
• Experience with energy use and emissions data analysis
• Experience working with contractors to implement projects relating to sustainability
• Previous experience in facilities maintenance or trades a plus

Values – You are a champion of:

• Centering your work in Community and Collaboration
• Stewarding Sustainability, Equity and Hospitality
• Operating with Honesty, Transparency and Trust
• Being Bold and Brave
• Always Enterprising, Always Outstanding

The Minnesota Marine Art Museum is committed to being an inclusive workplace. Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the communities and audiences we serve. We are dedicated to fair and inclusive employment practices for all individuals.  The Minnesota Marine Art Museum is an equal opportunity employer and will consider requests for reasonable accommodations based on disability or sincerely-held religious beliefs possible without undue hardship.

Mission

To create meaningful art experiences that explore our relationship with water.

Vision 

To spark wonder and create a more compassionate and connected world for all.

About

Before there ever was a Minnesota Marine Art Museum, there was a Maritime Heritage Society, a community group dedicated to preserving and sharing stories about life on the river. Their commitment set in motion the creation of a museum to showcase art inspired by water. MMAM opened in 2006 with the vision of creating a nationally recognized center for arts and culture in Southeast Minnesota. The initial collections consisted of traditional marine paintings and regional folk art. After expanding the quality and diversity of its collections, evolving the exhibition program, adding an annual roster of educational programs and temporary exhibitions, and enlarging its facility, today’s MMAM is a dynamic and surprising experience for tens of thousands of visitors a year.

MMAM operates from Mni Sota Makoce (Land Where the Waters Reflect The Clouds), the traditional homeland of the Dakota people. Residing here since time immemorial, Dakota still call Mni Sota Makoce home, with four federally recognized Dakota nations and many more Dakota people residing in what is now the state of Minnesota. Due to continued legacies of colonization, genocide and forced removal, generations of Dakota people remain disenfranchised from their traditional homeland.  Presently, Mni Sota Makoce has become a refuge and home for many Indigenous nations and peoples, including seven federally recognized Ojibwe nations.  We humbly encourage our audiences to reflect upon the historical legacies held in the lands they occupy.

MMAM is committed to ecological stewardship. We strive to make our communities—social, cultural, and natural— better off than we found them. Built on a former industrial site, the museum’s five-acre gardens—our 7th Gallery—are not only a source of natural beauty, they are the base of MMAM’s sustainability goals. The land has transformed to become a biodiverse ecosystem that sequesters carbon and improves climate sustainability. From the roots of the plants to the roof of the museum, MMAM is working to achieve Net Zero by 2030.

To Apply

Please submit your resume, two professional references, and a cover letter outlining why you’re interested in this position and how your specific skills and experiences align with the responsibilities outlined in the position description to MMAM by email at [email protected].

Applications will be accepted through 8am on Monday, April 28, 2025.

Hiring manager(s):  MMAM Facilities & Assets Protection Manager, Sean Wallace; MMAM Executive Director, Scott Pollock, and MMAM Director of Engagement, Dave Casey.

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