Top Benefits
Flexible work arrangements
Extended health, dental, life, and disability insurance
Employer-matched pension plan (5%)
About the role
Title: Senior Curator (Manager of Curatorial Services)
Department: Programming and Experience - Curatorial
Position Type: Full-Time – Permanent
Expected Start Date: October 14, 2025
Salary: Starts from $71,000
Application Deadline: September 12, 2025
Application Requirements: Resume + Cover Letter
What we offer:
- Flexible work arrangements
- Comprehensive Benefits package includes Extended Health Care, Dental Benefits, Basic Life Insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, and Employee and Family Assistant Program (EFAP)
- Employer-matched Pension Plan at 5%
- Generous paid time off, including Vacation days, Sick Time
- Working in a beautiful park setting.
- Free entrance to the Park, including to our many public special events.
- Employee discounts on food and retail items and free parking.
Who We Are:
Heritage Park is Canada's largest living history museum and offers visitors a chance to experience life in Western Canada from the 1860s to the early 1950s. The Park features historical buildings, costumed interpreters, working antiques, and various exhibits that provide insight into the region's past.
Job Overview:
Under the direction of the Director, Programming & Experiences, the Senior Curator helps to shape the future of Heritage Park’s collections, exhibits and programs which form the basis of our guest experience. The Senior Curator serves as historian and content authority; assuring that exhibits and programs are developed with integrity and sensitivity to multiple perspectives and engaging a diverse community.
Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership
- Collaborate with the Director of Programming & Experience to develop and execute curatorial strategies and key performance indicators (KPIs) that support institutional goals and reflect the organization's mission, vision, and interpretive values.
- Monitor and assess emerging trends in museology, public history, and cultural engagement to evaluate their relevance to the organization’s collections and exhibitions; adapt curatorial priorities and interpretive planning accordingly.
- Support the development and management of the curatorial and exhibitions budget, ensuring effective resource allocation, cost-efficiency, and tracking of performance metrics related to audience engagement, exhibit impact, and program delivery.
Curatorial Operations Management
- Lead comprehensive research initiatives, formulate plans, and assess the design and effectiveness of exhibits, enhancements, and restoration projects in line with Heritage Park's strategic vision, fostering close collaboration with the Curator of Exhibits
- Oversee the development and implementation of exhibition plans, collection management strategies, and preservation initiatives by working closely with the Curator of Exhibits, Curator of Collections, and Assistant Curator
- Collaborate with programming and education staff to integrate marginalized narratives, diversify collections, and offer broader perspectives on Western Canadian History through programs and experiences
- Work with Director of Programming & Experiences to develop the master exhibits calendar, and oversee the development and installation of those exhibits to ensure a balance of scholarly integrity and audience appeal
- Coordinate the implementation of approved projects, coordinating with Heritage Park staff and external contractors as necessary
- Research and compose exhibit text, interpretive signage, and other historical content for both print and digital platforms
- Ensure staff follow guidelines, standards, processes and procedures for alignment with Alberta Museum Association and Canadian Museum Association best practices
- Review and update Curatorial policies and procedures based on best practices and current guidelines from with Alberta Museum Association and Canadian Museum Association with the Director of Programming & Experience
- Cultivate and nurture strategic partnerships with community and professional entities, institutions, and key individuals as necessary, emphasizing the importance of relationship-building to enhance departmental capabilities and initiative
- Partner with the Indigenous Engagement team in the development meaningful relationships with Elders and community advisors, recognizing their invaluable wisdom and insights to enrich our programs and initiatives
- Work with Treaty 7 Nations and local Metis community to respect their protocols and cultural systems when dealing with collections items and building exhibits on Indigenous History
- Respond to inquiries from staff, fellow museum professionals, and the public regarding Heritage Park's research and collections promptly and professionally
- Provide expert guidance to organizational leadership on matters related to curatorial collections, exhibitions, and research initiatives
- Collaborate with facilities management to ensure the accurate restoration and meticulous care of historical buildings
- Support the Director, Programming and Experience in providing strategic direction to the Curatorial team by implementing initiatives supporting the strategic business plan and ensuring the team understands how the department contributes to the overall success of the organization
- Ensure consistent alignment with organizational goals by setting departmental objectives based on Heritage Park’s strategic business plan and values
- Act as a bridge between senior/executive leadership and frontline staff, providing essential support, facilitating clear communication, and offering guidance to ensure a smooth and effective transition during organizational changes
- Regularly assess and enhance staff performance through ongoing feedback, goal-setting, and professional development initiatives, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and individual growth within the team
- Support the professional development of staff by assigning relevant training, collaboratively resolving problems, and actively coaching team members
- Participate in the recruitment, orientation and training of new staff to ensure employees are provided with complete information and resources to perform their responsibilities
People Leadership
- Support the Director, Programming and Experience in providing strategic direction to the Curatorial team by implementing initiatives supporting the strategic business plan and ensuring the team understands how the department contributes to the overall success of the organization
- Ensure consistent alignment with organizational goals by setting departmental objectives based on Heritage Park’s strategic business plan and values
- Act as a bridge between senior/executive leadership and frontline staff, providing essential support, facilitating clear communication, and offering guidance to ensure a smooth and effective transition during organizational changes
- Regularly assess and enhance staff performance through ongoing feedback, goal-setting, and professional development initiatives, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and individual growth within the team
- Support the professional development of staff by assigning relevant training, collaboratively resolving problems, and actively coaching team members
- Participate in the recruitment, orientation and training of new staff to ensure employees are provided with complete information and resources to perform their responsibilities
Organizational Excellence and Wellbeing
- Contribute to inspiring and immersive experiences at the Park by engaging in Heritage Park initiatives that align with our mission and vision, ensuring authenticity in our historical setting and stories
- Actively support a positive work environment by creating an atmosphere of inclusion, engagement, belonging, and fulfillment for employees and volunteers, in line with Heritage Park values
- Recognize all contributors to our community as integral to our success, fostering a sense of community and collaboration
- Demonstrate responsible stewardship of our people, collections, and financial assets by driving growth with innovation, transparency, and financial sustainability, while embracing our historical assets and recognizing all contributors
- Demonstrate commitment to workplace health and safety by complying with Heritage Park's Health, Safety and Environment Management System (HSEMS), following safe work practices, reporting work-related incidents, injuries, and hazards, participating in employer training, and adhering to policies including the Code of Conduct and the Workplace Violence and Harassment policy
Required Qualifications:
- Completion of a Master’s Degree in a related discipline (e.g. Museum Studies, History, Archaeology, Anthropology) is required
- Minimum 5 years’ progressive experience in curatorial roles is required
- Minimum 2 years’ experience managing a team including delegation, change management, mentorship and performance management
- Subject matter expertise in Canadian History is required
- Experience supervising and advising on exhibit installation and design projects
- Familiarity with Alberta Museum Association and Canadian Museum Association best practices
- Applied knowledge of professional museum principles, practices and procedures
- Experience in a not-for-profit or museum environment is preferred
- Demonstrated strong interpersonal and communication skills in a client-faced setting
- All successful candidates (over the age of 18) will be required to go through Police Information Check as a condition of employment.
Special Clothing and Equipment:
- Business attire is required when working in the office
Special Working Conditions:
- The position will be exposed to weather extremes and will work both indoors and outdoors; and
- This position is physically demanding, and the incumbent must have the ability to lift heavy items, stand for long periods of time and walk throughout the Park
Hours of Work:
- The standard hours for this position are 35 hours per week
- The schedule will generally be five consecutive days per week (Monday to Friday); and
- Occasional holiday, evening, and weekend work may be required
Top Benefits
Flexible work arrangements
Extended health, dental, life, and disability insurance
Employer-matched pension plan (5%)
About the role
Title: Senior Curator (Manager of Curatorial Services)
Department: Programming and Experience - Curatorial
Position Type: Full-Time – Permanent
Expected Start Date: October 14, 2025
Salary: Starts from $71,000
Application Deadline: September 12, 2025
Application Requirements: Resume + Cover Letter
What we offer:
- Flexible work arrangements
- Comprehensive Benefits package includes Extended Health Care, Dental Benefits, Basic Life Insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, and Employee and Family Assistant Program (EFAP)
- Employer-matched Pension Plan at 5%
- Generous paid time off, including Vacation days, Sick Time
- Working in a beautiful park setting.
- Free entrance to the Park, including to our many public special events.
- Employee discounts on food and retail items and free parking.
Who We Are:
Heritage Park is Canada's largest living history museum and offers visitors a chance to experience life in Western Canada from the 1860s to the early 1950s. The Park features historical buildings, costumed interpreters, working antiques, and various exhibits that provide insight into the region's past.
Job Overview:
Under the direction of the Director, Programming & Experiences, the Senior Curator helps to shape the future of Heritage Park’s collections, exhibits and programs which form the basis of our guest experience. The Senior Curator serves as historian and content authority; assuring that exhibits and programs are developed with integrity and sensitivity to multiple perspectives and engaging a diverse community.
Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership
- Collaborate with the Director of Programming & Experience to develop and execute curatorial strategies and key performance indicators (KPIs) that support institutional goals and reflect the organization's mission, vision, and interpretive values.
- Monitor and assess emerging trends in museology, public history, and cultural engagement to evaluate their relevance to the organization’s collections and exhibitions; adapt curatorial priorities and interpretive planning accordingly.
- Support the development and management of the curatorial and exhibitions budget, ensuring effective resource allocation, cost-efficiency, and tracking of performance metrics related to audience engagement, exhibit impact, and program delivery.
Curatorial Operations Management
- Lead comprehensive research initiatives, formulate plans, and assess the design and effectiveness of exhibits, enhancements, and restoration projects in line with Heritage Park's strategic vision, fostering close collaboration with the Curator of Exhibits
- Oversee the development and implementation of exhibition plans, collection management strategies, and preservation initiatives by working closely with the Curator of Exhibits, Curator of Collections, and Assistant Curator
- Collaborate with programming and education staff to integrate marginalized narratives, diversify collections, and offer broader perspectives on Western Canadian History through programs and experiences
- Work with Director of Programming & Experiences to develop the master exhibits calendar, and oversee the development and installation of those exhibits to ensure a balance of scholarly integrity and audience appeal
- Coordinate the implementation of approved projects, coordinating with Heritage Park staff and external contractors as necessary
- Research and compose exhibit text, interpretive signage, and other historical content for both print and digital platforms
- Ensure staff follow guidelines, standards, processes and procedures for alignment with Alberta Museum Association and Canadian Museum Association best practices
- Review and update Curatorial policies and procedures based on best practices and current guidelines from with Alberta Museum Association and Canadian Museum Association with the Director of Programming & Experience
- Cultivate and nurture strategic partnerships with community and professional entities, institutions, and key individuals as necessary, emphasizing the importance of relationship-building to enhance departmental capabilities and initiative
- Partner with the Indigenous Engagement team in the development meaningful relationships with Elders and community advisors, recognizing their invaluable wisdom and insights to enrich our programs and initiatives
- Work with Treaty 7 Nations and local Metis community to respect their protocols and cultural systems when dealing with collections items and building exhibits on Indigenous History
- Respond to inquiries from staff, fellow museum professionals, and the public regarding Heritage Park's research and collections promptly and professionally
- Provide expert guidance to organizational leadership on matters related to curatorial collections, exhibitions, and research initiatives
- Collaborate with facilities management to ensure the accurate restoration and meticulous care of historical buildings
- Support the Director, Programming and Experience in providing strategic direction to the Curatorial team by implementing initiatives supporting the strategic business plan and ensuring the team understands how the department contributes to the overall success of the organization
- Ensure consistent alignment with organizational goals by setting departmental objectives based on Heritage Park’s strategic business plan and values
- Act as a bridge between senior/executive leadership and frontline staff, providing essential support, facilitating clear communication, and offering guidance to ensure a smooth and effective transition during organizational changes
- Regularly assess and enhance staff performance through ongoing feedback, goal-setting, and professional development initiatives, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and individual growth within the team
- Support the professional development of staff by assigning relevant training, collaboratively resolving problems, and actively coaching team members
- Participate in the recruitment, orientation and training of new staff to ensure employees are provided with complete information and resources to perform their responsibilities
People Leadership
- Support the Director, Programming and Experience in providing strategic direction to the Curatorial team by implementing initiatives supporting the strategic business plan and ensuring the team understands how the department contributes to the overall success of the organization
- Ensure consistent alignment with organizational goals by setting departmental objectives based on Heritage Park’s strategic business plan and values
- Act as a bridge between senior/executive leadership and frontline staff, providing essential support, facilitating clear communication, and offering guidance to ensure a smooth and effective transition during organizational changes
- Regularly assess and enhance staff performance through ongoing feedback, goal-setting, and professional development initiatives, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and individual growth within the team
- Support the professional development of staff by assigning relevant training, collaboratively resolving problems, and actively coaching team members
- Participate in the recruitment, orientation and training of new staff to ensure employees are provided with complete information and resources to perform their responsibilities
Organizational Excellence and Wellbeing
- Contribute to inspiring and immersive experiences at the Park by engaging in Heritage Park initiatives that align with our mission and vision, ensuring authenticity in our historical setting and stories
- Actively support a positive work environment by creating an atmosphere of inclusion, engagement, belonging, and fulfillment for employees and volunteers, in line with Heritage Park values
- Recognize all contributors to our community as integral to our success, fostering a sense of community and collaboration
- Demonstrate responsible stewardship of our people, collections, and financial assets by driving growth with innovation, transparency, and financial sustainability, while embracing our historical assets and recognizing all contributors
- Demonstrate commitment to workplace health and safety by complying with Heritage Park's Health, Safety and Environment Management System (HSEMS), following safe work practices, reporting work-related incidents, injuries, and hazards, participating in employer training, and adhering to policies including the Code of Conduct and the Workplace Violence and Harassment policy
Required Qualifications:
- Completion of a Master’s Degree in a related discipline (e.g. Museum Studies, History, Archaeology, Anthropology) is required
- Minimum 5 years’ progressive experience in curatorial roles is required
- Minimum 2 years’ experience managing a team including delegation, change management, mentorship and performance management
- Subject matter expertise in Canadian History is required
- Experience supervising and advising on exhibit installation and design projects
- Familiarity with Alberta Museum Association and Canadian Museum Association best practices
- Applied knowledge of professional museum principles, practices and procedures
- Experience in a not-for-profit or museum environment is preferred
- Demonstrated strong interpersonal and communication skills in a client-faced setting
- All successful candidates (over the age of 18) will be required to go through Police Information Check as a condition of employment.
Special Clothing and Equipment:
- Business attire is required when working in the office
Special Working Conditions:
- The position will be exposed to weather extremes and will work both indoors and outdoors; and
- This position is physically demanding, and the incumbent must have the ability to lift heavy items, stand for long periods of time and walk throughout the Park
Hours of Work:
- The standard hours for this position are 35 hours per week
- The schedule will generally be five consecutive days per week (Monday to Friday); and
- Occasional holiday, evening, and weekend work may be required