Director of Curatorial Affairs, The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures

University of Missouri - Kansas City
The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures

The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures (T/m) is a Kansas City treasure and a nationally recognized cultural institution. Home to the world's largest collection of fine-scale miniatures and one of the nation's largest collections of historically significant antique toys, T/m invites visitors of every age to experience wonder, spark imagination, and connect with history through the art of play.

Founded in 1982 on the beautiful campus of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, T/m has grown to more than 33,000 square feet of exhibit space and a collection of over 100,000 objects. Our mission-to educate, inspire, and delight-drives everything we do, from the galleries we design to the team we build. We are a high-performing, collaborative, and joyful place to work, and we are growing.

T/m is entering an exciting new chapter. With a strong institutional foundation and a leadership team committed to excellence, we are ready to elevate our curatorial function in a meaningful way. We are looking for a dynamic, forward-thinking leader to serve as our Director of Curatorial Affairs-a senior role that will shape the future of our collections, exhibitions, and curatorial identity.

This is not just a collections management role. This is a leadership opportunity. The right candidate will bring strategic vision, genuine enthusiasm for the mission, and the ability to lead and develop a talented curatorial team. They will help T/m tell richer stories, build stronger community connections, and position our collection as a living, growing resource for education and inspiration.

If you are a creative, collaborative, and mission-driven curatorial leader who thrives in a team environment and wants to make a real difference at one of Kansas City's most beloved institutions, we want to meet you.

Role Overview

The Director of Curatorial Affairs serves as the senior leader for all curatorial and collections functions at T/m. As a core member of the senior leadership team, this individual is responsible for setting and executing departmental strategy, leading and developing a team of curatorial professionals, and serving as the institutional steward of T/m's remarkable collection.

This role operates at the intersection of strategic leadership and curatorial expertise, moving fluidly between big-picture vision and ground-level execution. The Director of Curatorial Affairs will champion a culture that empowers team members to grow, take ownership, and deliver excellent work. They will also serve as a collaborative institutional partner, working closely with the Executive Director, Board, and cross-departmental colleagues to advance T/m's mission and strategic priorities.

Core Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Departmental Vision

• Develop and lead the long-range strategy for T/m's Curatorial Affairs department, aligned with the institution's strategic plan.
• Serve as a senior member of the leadership team; actively participate in institutional planning, cross-departmental collaboration, and shared responsibility for organizational outcomes.
• Operationalize strategic priorities at the department level, setting clear goals, timelines, and performance benchmarks.
• Advise the Executive Director and Board on collection valuation, insurance, security, acquisitions, deaccessions, and long-range curatorial direction.
• Represent T/m externally as a curatorial voice-at conferences, with donors, with peer institutions, and in the broader Kansas City community.

2. Team Leadership & Developmental Delegation

• Lead, supervise, and develop a growing team of collections and curatorial staff, including a Registrar, Collections Manager, and Assistant Curators.
• Practice intentional developmental delegation-assigning ownership of meaningful work to team members, building their capacity, and coaching them toward increasing responsibility.
• Conduct regular one-on-ones, performance check-ins, and annual evaluations; create individualized development plans for each direct report.
• Foster a positive, high-performing team culture grounded in accountability, creativity, and mutual respect.
• Model T/m's values in every aspect of leadership-in how you communicate, how you handle challenges, and how you show up for your team.

3. Collections Stewardship & Management

• Oversee the overall management of T/m's collection of 100,000+ objects to AAM standards of accreditation.
• Collaborate with the Chair of the Collections Committee; provide oversight of formal acquisition, deaccession, and loan processes.
• Maintain the highest ethical standards regarding the care, keeping, documentation, and preservation of the collection.
• With the Collection Manager, create, maintain, and regularly review collections policies and procedures to ensure best practices and institutional consistency.
• Ensure all collection management systems are current, accurate, and staff are trained to use them effectively.

4. Exhibitions & Interpretive Programming

• Lead the development, planning, and execution of T/m's exhibition program.
• Collaborate with Learning & Engagement, Visitor Services, Marketing & Communications, and external partners to create exhibitions that are engaging, accessible, and mission-aligned.
• Bring creative, interpretive thinking to how T/m's collection tells stories of history, culture, art, and imagination.
• Research, write, and speak about the collection for internal audiences, donors, media, and the public.
• Identify and pursue new opportunities for exhibitions that expand T/m's reach and deepen visitor engagement.

5. Artist, Community, & Donor Relations

• Cultivate and steward relationships with collection donors, ensuring they feel connected to the impact of their gifts.
• Partner with the development team to support fundraising initiatives connected to collections and exhibitions.
• Engage with the broader Kansas City arts and cultural community as a representative of T/m's curatorial mission.
• Actively cultivate and steward relationships with working artists, designers, and toy collectors, positioning T/m as the institution with which artists want connection.
• Build and maintain a network of artists, makers, and material culture scholars that feeds T/m's acquisition pipeline, exhibition program, and public programming.

6. Operational & Budgetary Oversight

• Create and manage the Curatorial Affairs department operating budget with fiscal responsibility and strategic intent.
• Ensure departmental operations run efficiently, with clear workflows, staff accountability, and on-time delivery of projects.
• Maintain records, reporting, and documentation consistent with institutional requirements.
• Other duties as assigned.

A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 5 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.

• Master's degree in Museum Studies, Art, Art History, History, or related field.
• 5-10 years of experience in museum collections management, exhibition management, or curatorial work.
• At least 2 years of demonstrated experience supervising and developing staff.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional collaboration and work as part of a team.
• Curatorial experience with toys, fine-scale miniatures, decorative arts, art, or material culture strongly preferred.
• Minimum 4 years of demonstrated experience designing, developing, and installing exhibitions.
• Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple projects to successful, on-time, on-budget completion.
• Strong business acumen, including experience managing departmental budgets.

The Ideal Candidate Brings

• Genuine enthusiasm for T/m's mission and subject matter-toys and fine-scale miniatures are not just a collection here, they are a portal to human experience.
• A collaborative, solution-oriented leadership style that builds trust across teams and constituencies.
• The ability to think strategically and execute tactically, moving seamlessly between vision and action.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the presence and confidence to represent T/m externally.
• High emotional intelligence and the self-awareness to lead with humility, adaptability, and grace.
• A coaching mindset: genuine investment in the development and success of the people you lead.
• Professional maturity and a track record of owning outcomes, meeting deadlines, and following through.
• Positivity, creativity, and a readiness to make a real difference at one of Kansas City's most beloved institutions.

The anticipated hiring range for this position has been established as up to $90,000 annually.

Salary is determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to, the individual's particular combination of education, skills, and experience, as well as organizational requirements.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Missouri provides generous leave, health plans, and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Grade: 011
University Title: DIRECTOR PROGRAM/PROJECT OPERATIONS
To review the University of Missouri's Staff Compensation Structure you can view the Job Code detail page. Internal applicants can determine their university title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR.

Please submit a professional cover letter and resume with your application.

The job posting will remain open until filled. For best consideration, apply by June 21, 2026.

What Success Looks Like

In this role, success means leading a curatorial department that is organized, inspired, and high-performing. It means your team is growing-professionally and personally-because you invest in them. It means T/m's collection is expertly stewarded and strategically activated through compelling exhibitions and programming. It means you are a trusted, collaborative member of the senior leadership team who makes the whole institution better. And it means visitors to T/m continue to experience that sense of wonder that makes this place so special.

Kansas City offers the best of both worlds-a vibrant, urban community with Midwestern appeal. The city's rich history and its modern-day, innovative thinking come together to create an eclectic group of neighborhoods that offer a little something for everyone. From thriving arts districts, an energetic downtown nightlife, casual to upscale shopping and champion sports teams, you will have no problem making yourself at home. Of course, one of Kansas City's biggest claims to fame is its food, especially its world-famous barbecue. Foodies will delight in the culinary scene found throughout the city. Ranging from award-winning chefs to cozy pizza joints, Kansas City definitely is not lacking any flavor.

UMKC's campuses are conveniently nestled in the middle of all the action. Volker Campus is just minutes from the legendary Country Club Plaza, perfect for shopping or restaurants for lunch or after-work happy hours. Surrounded by hip neighborhoods and eateries, the Health Sciences Campus is located downtown near University Health Truman Medical Center and Children's Mercy Hospital.

UMKC is proud to be "Kansas City's university," and the campus and its people celebrate all the characteristics of the surrounding community. To learn more about life in Kansas City and find more resources, visit VisitKC.com.

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Office of Equity & Title IX at 816-235-6910.