Chief Curator, JFCS Holocaust Center

Description

AGENCY OVERVIEW:

Jewish Family and Children's Services (JFCS) has served the San Francisco Bay Area for 175 years. We offer world-class services to support individuals and families across all stages of life, including adoption, mental health, senior care, disability services, financial assistance, Holocaust education, and youth development. Our mission and work are rooted in Jewish values, and we serve people of all faiths and backgrounds.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS) is developing a new 40,000-square-foot Holocaust Center in San Francisco, scheduled to open in 2029. The Center will serve as a major educational and cultural institution dedicated to Holocaust remembrance, Jewish identity, scholarship, and public education. The facility will include exhibition galleries, classrooms, a research library and archives, and public learning spaces serving educators, students, scholars, and the broader community.  

JFCS seeks an accomplished Chief Curator to lead the intellectual and curatorial development of the Center’s inaugural exhibitions, occupying more than 10,000 square feet of gallery space and drawing on the extensive holdings of the Tauber Holocaust Library and Archives.  Working closely with the exhibition design team, institutional leadership, and education staff, the Chief Curator will guide the development of exhibition narratives, research, collections integration, and interpretive strategy. This role offers a rare opportunity to shape the founding exhibitions of a major new educational institution and contribute to national conversations about Holocaust history, Jewish identity, and the responsibilities of memory.  

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship. The company does not provide visa sponsorship for this position.  

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

• Salary Range: $150,000-170,000 (depending on experience)
• Employment Type: Full-time, exempt with benefits
• Hybrid work schedule with occasional evening and weekend responsibilities
• Employer 403(b) retirement match plus additional employer contribution (subject to eligibility)
• Cafeteria benefits plan that lets you customize coverage to fit your needs, with options like health insurance, FSAs, retirement plans, and wellness programs
• 16 holidays (10 federal and up to 6 Jewish holidays), annually
• 3 weeks of vacation and 2 weeks of sick leave, annually

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the curatorial vision and interpretive framework for the Holocaust Center’s inaugural exhibitions
• Develop exhibition narratives integrating artifacts, archival materials, and survivor testimony
• Collaborate with exhibition designers, historians, artists, and partner institutions
• Author curatorial content including gallery texts, object labels, and interpretive materials
• Oversee research, artifact loans, and integration of the Tauber Holocaust Library and Archives
• Present exhibition concepts to leadership, advisory committees, donors, and community stakeholders
• Contribute to public programs, lectures, and institutional initiatives related to Holocaust education and Jewish Peoplehood
• Performs other duties and special assignments within the department as may be assigned by their supervisor and executive leadership

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

• Advanced degree in Holocaust Studies, Jewish Studies, History, Museum Studies, or related field preferred
• 8–10 years of experience developing museum exhibitions or major interpretive projects
• Demonstrated expertise in Holocaust history, Jewish history, or genocide studies
• Experience working with archival collections, artifacts, and interdisciplinary design teams
• Strong research, writing, project management, and communication skills
• Knowledge of the Jewish community, holidays, and cultural activities is not required but is helpful when coordinating or participating in activities with the Jewish Community

**In order to be considered for the role, please attach a separate cover letter addressed to the Director of the Holocaust Center when submitting your application. Your cover letter should explain your interest in the position and describe why your background, skills, and experience make you a strong candidate for the role. Please be specific and detailed in your response.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, including minorities, women, veterans, and disabled individuals. Qualified applicants with arrest and/or conviction records will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with Federal, state and local laws, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran, or disability status. JFCS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.