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Overview
Working independently under the guidance of the Curator of Prints and Drawings at the Yale Center for British Art (YCBA), the Senior Curatorial Assistant provides a high level of support and oversight to the administrative and curatorial functions of the department, including exhibitions, acquisitions, and loans; collection care and documentation; coordination of meetings and schedules; and supporting the department’s clerical, budgetary, and administrative functions.
Maintains lists, keeps track of status updates, and assists in preparation of paperwork and documentation for ongoing departmental business, including for outgoing loans and acquisitions in progress.
Manages a range of clerical activities, including: orders and maintains an inventory of supplies; tracks budgets, processes payments and expenses; completes forms; composes and proofreads correspondence; occasionally makes travel arrangements.
Oversees and manages Prints and Drawings collection storage, ensuring secure, organized, and appropriate conditions.
Retrieves, refiles, and tracks movement of Prints and Drawings objects for the purpose of loans, exhibitions, conservation, imaging, and departmental needs.
Maintains Prints and Drawings collection storage: rehouses and reorganizes collection objects as needed; identifies and applies appropriate storage conditions, housing, and locations for new acquisitions; reports potential conservation concerns to curators and conservators; participates in periodic inventories of the collection.
Assists in preparation of loans from the collection: retrieves objects requested for loan; moves where needed; and tracks their movement; schedules review of works with curators and conservators; coordinates and tracks movement of objects for review, treatment, matting, and framing.
Collection and Exhibition Support
Assists curators in planning and organization of exhibitions and gallery displays, including conducting bibliographic, thematic, and object research; creating and updating illustrated checklists; retrieving, refiling, and tracking movement of objects; handling database entry; assisting with updates of gallery plans and layouts; writes object labels and social media posts as assigned.
Liaises with staff in the Study Room to coordinate, schedule, organize, and undertake the movement of collections items to and from relevant locations at YCBA.
Assists in the Study Room, including the retrieval and reshelving of objects for researchers, invigilation, and preparation for classes, as needed.
Required Skills and Abilities
1. Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills.
2. Demonstrated organizational and administrative skills, attention to detail, accuracy, and ability to collaborate.
3. Ability to juggle multiple tasks and meet demanding deadlines.
4. Excellent computer skills (advanced proficiency in Microsoft suite); ability to efficiently learn new digital platforms.
5. Demonstrated ability to conduct independent historical, art historical, and bibliographic research.
Preferred Skills, Abilities, and Education
1. MA in history of art, museum studies, or related field, and in a relevant area of study.
2. Two years of experience working in an art museum or similar organization.
3. Demonstrated ability to work independently in administrative and curatorial capacity.
4. Concentration in British art and demonstrated experience working with a prints and drawings collection preferred.
Principal Responsibilities
1. Develops and modifies operational systems, educational programs and related teaching aids. 2. Serves as a principal source of information to the public, visiting scholars and students. 3. Explains and describes the collection and available reference material through workshops, lectures and in response to inquiries. 4. Prepares and monitors budgets, grants and financial material related to particular collection and exhibits. Maintains the order of and ensures the special care, security and proper user handling of collection or educational programs. 5. Identifies and implements conservation programs for collections. Reconstructs, repairs, and restores art/specimens using preservation and conservation techniques. Catalogues and makes specialized identifications of new acquisitions. 6. Selects art/specimens for display. Prepares collection for exhibition. May assist with installing and dissembling exhibits. Conducts research related to the collections and exhibits. 7. Coordinates and assigns teaching schedules. Composes correspondence related to the collections and exhibits. 8. Oversees and instructs other support staff. 9. May collect specimens for use in exhibits. 10. Performs clerical functions incidental to museum activities.
Required Education and Experience Two years of related work experience in the same job family and a Bachelor's degree in a related field; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
Job Posting Date
08/04/2026
Job Category
Technician
Bargaining Unit
L34
Compensation Grade
Labor Grade D
Compensation Grade Profile
Hourly Range
$31.83
Time Type
Full time
Duration Type
Staff
Work Model
On-site
Background Check Requirements
All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.
Health Requirements
Certain positions have associated health requirements based on specific job responsibilities. These may include vaccinations, tests, or examinations, as required by law, regulation, or university policy.
Posting Disclaimer
The hiring rate of a role is determined in accordance with the provisions outlined in the respective collective bargaining agreement.
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through their hiring department.
The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran.
Inquiries concerning Yale's Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment may be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility (OIEA).
Note
Yale University is a tobacco-free campus.
