Curator

Published: June 22, 2026    Curator, Jobs, NAGPRA

Nevada State Museum https://www.carsonnvmuseum.org/

Job Summary

The Department of Tourism & Cultural Affairs’ Museums & History Division located in Carson City is seeking to fill their Curator 2 position. The Nevada State Museum, Carson City (NSMCC) is one of seven museums within the Division of Museums and History in the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs.


Curators perform a broad range of professional and technical museum work involving, but not limited to, assessment, evaluation, survey, inventory, preservation, research, education, and planning for a specific collection and/or program area within a museum. Incumbents possess a degree of knowledge and proficiency sufficient to perform advanced-level work and may provide work direction and training to others. The position reports to the chief curator of anthropology and primary duties consist of supporting Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act [(NAGPRA) 43 CFR part 10] compliance including but not limited to conducting consultation with Tribal governments and cultural representatives, completion of NAGPRA paperwork with the National Park Service’s (NPS) national NAGPRA program, assisting with the repatriation of and culturally appropriate handling of Native American ancestral remains and cultural items controlled by the Nevada State Museum, Carson City. Other duties include coordination and oversight of the Indian Burial site permitting per NRS 381, updating and maintaining NAGPRA related digital and paper records, and assisting with the maintenance of the Nevada State Museum, Carson City’s (NSMCC) archaeological project records and archives. Research requests include but are not limited to the determination of landownership and location of archaeological sites using Nevada Cultural Resources Information System (NVCRIS), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and NSMCC’s archives and maps.

Curators perform a wide variety of museum work for a specific collection and/or program area within a museum.

Essential Qualifications

Two or more years of applicable experience as described in the job duties and an applicable Bachelor’s degree or above.

Job Duties

  1. Implement collection management policies and procedures.
  2. Assess and recommend acquisitions and conduct accessioning, cataloging, and inventory.
  3. Maintain and secure collection records, databases, access, and use.
  4. Curate collections as per agreements, respond to research inquiries, and manage collection. 
  5. Conduct research, develop content for programs, and manage educational tours and events. 
  6. Participate in exhibit preparation, develop plans and content, manage storage and conservation. 
  7. Provide information on museum practices to external entities. 
  8. Coordinate the use of collections in exhibits, programs, and publications. 
  9. Interpret results of completed surveys, perform field evaluations and site excavations, catalog and plot recovered artifacts.
  10. Utilize acquired information for report preparation, scientific research, educational purposes, and determine impact to cultural resources.
  11. Conduct field surveys of archaeological, historical, and pre-historical sites, and documents.
  12. Provide training, direction, and interpretation of policies and procedures.
  13. Collect, register, arrange, research, document, and catalog materials for an assigned collection. 
  14. Provide access, security, and conservation for the assigned collection. 
  15. Carry out interpretations of collections. 
  16. Develop, execute, and evaluate educational programs and research.
  17. Conduct field activities.
  18. Investigate and pursue potential acquisitions. 
  19. Prepare publications on program areas and collections.
  20. Perform related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

This job specification lists the major knowledge, skills and abilities of the job and is not all inclusive. Incumbent(s) will be expected to have knowledge, skills and abilities from a previous level. 

Knowledge of:

  • Federal, State, and agency requirements for the curation and preservation of collections; conservation principles and practices; gifting and exhibition policies; antiquities law; research and appraisal sources; exhibit design and application; preservation and conservation technology.
  • Cultural resource management processes; museum techniques and procedures in registration and accessioning artifacts; museum methods of artifact identification, acceptance, and classification; education program development and management.
  • Registration theory and accession procedures; functions and operations of museums, archives, historical societies, and libraries; preservation and conservation theory, practices and techniques to properly care for and protect collections; research methods and principles; history of Great Basin Nevada and The West.

Ability to:

  • Compose text and articles for publication; recognize problems relating to the development, organization, and care of collections; collaborate in the development and deployment of museum exhibits; assist in conducting research.
  • Make assessments on the condition and value of collections and artifacts; identify problems and determine appropriate solutions; restore artifacts.

Recruiter Contact Information: Sonja Grass – SonjaGrass@admin.nv.gov

The State of Nevada is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to building diverse, inclusive, and innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, national origin, religion or belief, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, domestic partnership, genetic information (GINA), or compensation and/or wages.

Please send direct Inquiries or correspondence to the recruiter listed on this announcement.

Apply here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/nv/jobs/5369769/curator-2