Vettoretto Curator of North American Archaeology (Curator)

Vettoretto Curator of North American Archaeology (Curator) – The Royal Ontario Museum

The Organization
The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is a cultural institution that showcases art, culture, and nature from around the world and across the ages. Among the top 10 cultural institutions in North America and Canada’s largest and most comprehensive museum, ROM has a world-class collection of 13 million artworks, cultural objects, and natural history specimens, featured in 40 gallery and exhibition spaces. ROM’s mission is to transform lives by helping people understand the past, make sense of the present, and come together to shape a shared future.

Position Summary
The Vettoretto Curator of North American Archaeology (Curator) will lead a collaborative approach to stewarding ROM’s North American, and especially Ontario, archaeology collection, creating exhibitions and presenting programs with Indigenous communities and for broad audiences, as well as undertaking research aligned with museum priorities. The position reports to the Co-Chief Curator, Art and Culture, and will be a key voice in rethinking colonial patterns of practice and centering Indigenous perspectives.

Roles and Responsibilities

Collections, Research, and Exhibitions

• Lead the repatriation of Indigenous ancestral belongings through engagement with relevant communities.
• Establish and lead a vision for the North American archaeology collection.
• Steward the North American archaeology collection, through fieldwork, care and record-keeping, provenance research, and publication.
• Develop original, scholarly research and publications relating to ROM collections.

Exhibition and Gallery Development

• Collaborate with community stakeholders to generate innovative gallery and exhibition projects.
• Oversee content development for gallery interventions and special exhibitions in North American Archaeology.

Public Programs and Community Engagement

• Initiate programs and school curriculum related to North American Archaeology in collaboration with Indigenous Museum Educators.
• Develop relationships with Indigenous communities to build dialogue and interpretation.
• Provide lectures, tours, and workshops to the general public.

Traits and Characteristics
The Curator will effectively communicate innovative ideas while framing relevant contemporary societal issues. Key competencies include:

• Diplomacy – The ability to handle sensitive issues tactfully.
• Teamwork – The ability to cooperate with others to meet objectives.
• Time and Project Management – The ability to prioritize and complete tasks effectively.

Qualifications
The successful candidate will have advanced studies in archaeology or a closely related field, with professional experience in a cultural center or museum. A deep understanding of collections and exhibitions is required, along with excellent communication skills. Experience leading projects with government grants is appreciated.

Compensation and Benefits
ROM offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, including a base salary estimated to be between $87,664 and $146,234 (CDN), with full medical and dental insurance, paid time off, and inclusion in the ROM pension plan.

Royal Ontario Museum acknowledges that this museum sits on the ancestral lands of the Wendat, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the Anishinaabek Nation. ROM is committed to fair and accessible employment practices and considers equity, diversity, and inclusivity to be foundational to its institutional success.