Curator of Collections

Join the award-winning Johnson County Park and Recreation District (JCPRD) team and help make a real impact in this community! As part of our National Gold Medal Award–winning organization, you’ll help bring joy, adventure, and enrichment to millions each year. JCPRD welcomes over 7 million visitors to our parks and engages 3 million+ participants in more than 4,000 programs—and we’re still growing. 

When you work at JCPRD, you’re joining a team recognized locally, regionally, and nationally for excellence in parks, recreation, culture, education, and public service. Enjoy outstanding benefits, retirement plans, employee incentives, and a workplace culture built on passion, creativity, and teamwork. 

Named Best Large Employer in Johnson County for two years running, JCPRD is the perfect place to grow your career, make a difference, and have fun doing it. Come work where you play—and help us inspire healthier, happier lives for everyone! 

The Johnson County Museum is a nationally accredited, award-winning community history museum. The Curator of Collections leads the care, growth, and long-term stewardship of the Johnson County Museum’s collections — ensuring they are preserved, accessible, and reflective of the diverse histories of Johnson County. The position directs the acquisition, documentation, conservation, storage, and digitization of artifacts and archival materials; manages Museum’s collections at the Arts & Heritage Center, off-site storage location, and the historic Lanesfield School; and oversees environmental monitoring, pest management, security, and emergency preparedness.

The Curator of Collections cultivates strong donor and community relationships, advances professional best practices, and increases visibility of the collections through programs, partnerships, and public engagement. The role provides strategic leadership for the Collections Team, supervises staff, volunteers, and interns, and contributes to museum-wide initiatives including exhibitions, accreditation, and strategic planning.

The following Leadership Competencies apply to supervisors, managers, and executives based on designated responsibilities: 

• People Management – Clearly defines subordinate roles and responsibilities; motivates employees to perform and delegates work effectively; applies consistent performance standards and handles performance problems decisively and objectively; leads by example.
• Operations Management – Directs and guides operations in alignment with the County’s and department’s overall goals and objectives; ensures the execution of efficient processes to maximize the County’s and department’s resources; utilizes operational knowledge to make sound decisions.
• Strategic Leadership – Determines the strategic direction of the team or department in alignment with overall county goals; effectively communicates strategies internally and externally; creates a culture to support strategies and provides mechanisms to implement them; fosters buy-in and enthusiasm with employees.

Essential Duties:

Collections Stewardship & Acquisition

• Directs acquisition of historically significant artifacts, materials, and photographs.
• Develops and maintains relationships with donors and the Johnson County community to broaden and diversify the collection.
• Oversees proper implementation of the Museum’s collections policy; convenes quarterly Collections Committee meetings and recommends policy changes to the Museum Advisory Council.
• Serves as point person for risk management related to collections items, loans, and traveling exhibits.
• Supervises the Collections Manager and guides all work related to the care, documentation, and growth of the collection.

Preservation & Facilities Management

• Manages collections storage locations, including on-site storage, off-site storage, and the Lanesfield Historic Site, which is a collections item on the National Historic Register.
• Ensures environmental monitoring, pest management, security, and structural integrity for collections and historic structures.
• Oversee routine building maintenance for collections areas and emergency preparedness planning to protect staff, visitors, and collections.
• Monitors conservation needs and forecasts future requirements for collections preservation and storage.

Exhibitions & Public Access

• Contributes to rotating exhibit elements, including seasonal changes in the All-Electric House and rotating cases in Becoming Johnson County.
• Supports Museum-wide initiatives such as the Exhibitions Committee, strategic planning, and accreditation projects.
• Develops programs and public presentations related to collections and preservation to increase public access and visibility.
• Builds and maintains relationships with peer institutions and museum professionals to support access, collaboration, and programming.

Leadership & Supervision

• Provides leadership for the Museum’s Collections Team, including full-time staff, interns, and volunteers.
• Participates as a senior member of the Museum’s leadership team, advising on strategic priorities, exhibits, collections policy, and museum best practices.
• Engages in professional development for self and staff, and participates in JCPRD initiatives including HPO, LEAP, and employee engagement.

Budget & Resource Management

• Oversees all allocated budgets for collections, conservation, storage, and preservation activities.
• Ensures cost-effective use of resources and compliance with organizational guidelines.

Professional Engagement & Visibility

• Represents the Museum in professional organizations and community forums to strengthen its profile and advance its mission.
• Promotes museum collections and initiatives through programs, presentations, and partnerships with the public, press, and peer institutions.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Duties and responsibilities, as required by business necessity may be added, deleted or changed at any time at the discretion of management, formally or informally, either verbally or in writing.  Scheduling and shift assignments and work location may be changed at any time, as required by business necessity.

Minimum Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in history, museum studies, American studies, public history, or education.
• 1-3 years supervising and leading staff, interns, and volunteers.
• 3-5 years leading and managing a collection management program.
• 1-3 years of project management experience.

Preferred Job Requirements:

• Master’s degree in museum studies, public history, history, American studies, or education.

Education/Experience Substitutions:

  Yes.    Education may be substituted for experience.

Physical, Environmental, and Special Working Conditions:

Excessive standing and walking, exposure to heights and loud noises, lifting 50 pounds, safety-sensitive job, travel required to the museum’s three sites, and may be called upon to assist other departments in a declared emergency situation. On call/stand-by work required.

To be considered for this position, please submit a cover letter with your resume is required.  The desired start date will be Monday, March 9th, 2026.

JCPRD requires reference/background screening for all positions.  Specified criteria may vary by Department.