Description
Director of Museum Collections
The Buffalo History Museum | Buffalo, NY
Full-Time | Exempt
The Buffalo History Museum is seeking a dynamic and visionary Director of Museum Collections to lead the care, interpretation, and future growth of our artifact collection as we advance an ambitious Master Plan.
This is not a traditional collections role.
We are looking for a leader who is equally committed to rigorous stewardship and expansive community engagement-someone who approaches collections as enduring responsibilities that gain strength through thoughtful access, interpretation, and collaboration.
As we centralize our collections, reimagine our Resource Center, and strengthen collaborations across Western New York, this individual will help shape how our collections serve both scholarship and community in bold, relevant ways.
What You'll Do
Provide strategic leadership and oversight for all collections management functions, including registration, documentation, preservation, storage, and access.
Guide the continued centralization and growth of the collection in alignment with the Museum's Master Plan.
Develop and implement forward-thinking collections policies and procedures that balance professional standards with accessibility and engagement.
Cultivate meaningful community relationships that inform collecting priorities and interpretive approaches.
Partner with Advancement to leverage collections-based initiatives in support of fundraising and institutional sustainability.
Supervise and mentor collections staff, fostering a culture that is collaborative, agile, and growth-oriented.
Work cross-departmentally to integrate collections into exhibitions, education, digital initiatives, and public programs.
Serve as a visible and trusted ambassador for the Museum within professional, academic, and community networks.
Who You Are
A seasoned collections professional with demonstrated leadership experience in a museum or cultural institution.
Deeply knowledgeable in collections management standards and best practices.
Undaunted by complexity, change, or big vision - and energized by them.
Committed to equity, inclusion, and collaborative storytelling.
A relationship-builder who sees community engagement as central-not peripheral-to collections work.
Strategic in thinking, practical in execution, and steady in stewardship.
Comfortable navigating both the quiet rigor of preservation work and the outward-facing work of partnership and fundraising.
Qualifications
Master's degree in Museum Studies, Public History, Archival Studies, or related field (or equivalent experience).
5-7 years of progressively responsible collections leadership experience.
Supervisory experience required.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Experience working within strategic planning or capital/master planning environments a plus.
