Application deadline:

June 2, 2023

Chief Curator

The Getty Research Institute (GRI) is dedicated to furthering knowledge and advancing understanding of the visual arts and their various histories through its expertise, active collecting program, public programs, institutional collaborations, exhibitions, publications, digital services, and residential scholars’ programs. Through the collective and individual work of its constituent programs—Getty Conservation Institute, Getty Foundation, J. Paul Getty Museum, and Getty Research Institute—Getty pursues its mission in Los Angeles and throughout the world, serving both the general interested public and a wide range of professional communities to promote a vital civil society through an understanding of the visual arts.

Its Research Library and Special Collections of rare materials and digital resources serve an international community of scholars and the interested public. The Institute’s activities and scholarly resources guide and sustain each other and together provide a unique environment for research, critical inquiry, and scholarly exchange.

With up to 20 staff members and a robust acquisitions budget, the GRI Chief Curator will have the opportunity to create world-class collections in the advancement of research at the Getty and around the globe. Reporting to the Associate Director of Collections & Discovery and working in close partnership with other members of the GRI management team, the Chief Curator will develop and implement the GRI’s strategic priorities for Special Collections in an academically stimulating environment. To accomplish this ongoing effort, the Chief Curator will oversee a team of 11 Curators who collectively manage roughly 72,000 rare books, 27,000 single prints and drawings, 800 collections of rare photographs, and over 120,000 linear feet of manuscripts and archives, along with optical devices, architectural models, and audiovisual recordings.

The Chief Curator will bring existing departments and work processes into alignment, with attention to Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion, so that the GRI can more effectively advance the local and global discovery of research materials essential to the study of art history and visual culture. The ideal candidate will be a scholar and also a strong administrator and manager who may come from the worlds of art libraries, rare book libraries and special collections, university libraries, academia more generally, or from a foundation, museum, or other cultural institution focused on humanistic inquiry.

The Chief Curator will hold a Master’s degree in art history, art or art education OR 10+ years of curatorial experience OR Ph.D. The successful candidate will also possess a broad knowledge of art history from the ancient to the contemporary periods in addition to proficiency in at least one foreign language. Experience in the art market is essential. The salary for this position is $148,398 – $200,347 annually. Getty offers a competitive full employment benefits package.

The position will remain open until filled. First consideration will be given to applications received by June 2, 2023. To apply for this outstanding opportunity, please electronically submit your resume and letter of interest to The Byers Group at: chief.curator@byersgroupca.com. The letter of interest should outline why you are interested in joining GRI and your relevant accomplishments. Also, please provide two examples of why you would be a strong candidate and the key attributes you would bring to this position. A complete job description is available at The Byers Group website.

Confidential inquiries are encouraged and can be directed to: Ms. Brett Byers, 323-403-8279, brett@byersgroupca.com and/or Ms. Christine Boulware, 312-391-6098, christine@byersgroupca.com.

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