Job Description

Join the City of Medicine Hat as a Curatorial Assistant
Permanent, Full time, On Site
The Curatorial Assistant is a rare and exciting opportunity for museum professionals seeking meaningful, hands-on work with collections, exhibitions, and public engagement. This role offers the chance to work closely with diverse artifacts and artworks, contribute to curatorial research & exhibition development, and play an active role in shaping how stories are shared with the community. With involvement across collections management, conservation support, exhibition logistics, and programming, this position is ideal for someone looking to grow their curatorial career in a collaborative, well-supported museum environment where your expertise truly matters.
Your key responsibilities

• Support and oversee all aspects of exhibition collections management under the direction of the Curator, Galleries & Collections.
• Execute core collections management functions, including:
• Registration and registration tracking processes
• Care, handling, storage, transport, and documentation of collection items, props, and related materials
• Preventative and basic restorative conservation and basic artifact conservation practices
• De-accession and de-accession tracking processes
• Storage system planning, organization, and maintenance
• Research and provenance investigation support
• Maintain and update department databases and collection management systems.
• Support in-house and traveling exhibition logistics, including:
• Loan coordination and contracts
• Insurance, valuations, and reporting support
• Shipping and courier logistics
• Traveling exhibition coordination and planning
• Coordinate and administer artifact and artwork loans from the Esplanade collection to external institutions.
• Develop and support grant applications and evaluations related to collections and exhibitions.
• Monitor galleries to ensure environmental, security, and safety protocols are maintained.
• Assist with exhibition installation and dismantling, including handling large artifacts, framed works, and exhibition components.
• Supervise and support volunteers.
• Collaborate in the development and delivery of educational and public programming with the Education Coordinator and Cultural Public Programmer.
• Liaise with community groups, partners, and institutions as assigned.
• Operate and support multi-media and exhibition technology.
• Uphold corporate Health, Safety and Environmental Management System standards throughout daily work and artifact handling.

What you bring

• A collaborative, people-focused mindset and the ability to build strong working relationships with staff, volunteers, and community partners.
• The ability to thrive in team-based environments and contribute positively to team dynamics.
• Institutional and museum or cultural sector knowledge gained through past experience.
• Hands-on exhibition and museum collections management experience.
• Knowledge and application of artifact care, handling, storage, and preventative conservation standards.
• Foundational conservation or restoration support experience for artifacts and framed works.
• Strong organizational and systems-thinking abilities, including workflow planning and prioritization.
• Exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities with accuracy.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and administrative software applications.
• Experience working with collections databases, documentation systems, and digital records.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including interpretation, reporting, and professional correspondence.
• Grant writing and collections-based funding or reporting experience.
• Experience supporting Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) deliverables in programs and exhibitions.
• The ability to qualify & posses for a firearms licence.
• Adaptability, physical capability, and transferable experience from heritage, cultural, or community-focused environments.

Qualifications

• Successful completion of a bachelor's degree in a Museum related discipline such as Anthropology, Archaeology, History, or Museum Studies from a recognized post-secondary institution.
• Two (2) years of related work experience.
• Possess and maintain a Valid Class 5 Drivers License with an acceptable driving record.
• A management approved equivalent combination of training and experience may be considered.

Why join us?

• Make a difference: Contribute to the growth and development of our employees, fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional advancement.
• Collaborative environment: Work alongside passionate professionals dedicated to achieving excellence and driving positive change within the organization.
• Career growth opportunities: Access to ongoing training, development programs and advancement opportunities to support your professional growth and career aspirations.
• Competitive benefits package: Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package including competitive base salary, health, dental, retirement plans and more.
• Competitive rate of pay: Starting at $37.61 per hour
• Relocation assistance available: Relocation Assistance is available for the successful candidate. We're a community-minded city with an entrepreneurial spirit and a vibrant industrial history. Medicine Hat is Canada's sunniest city; spring starts early, and summer stretches out a little further, with an average of 330 days of sunshine per year. With a diverse range of cultural experiences, beautiful parks, and a sunny four-season climate, Medicine Hat is a place where you can truly feel at home. Explore the unique opportunities that make our city a great place to live, work, learn and play.

This position has been identified as Safety Sensitive and requires the completion of a satisfactory pre-employment drug screen, which includes testing for cannabis use.
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Skills Required