EL1 Senior Curator (Affirmative Measures - First Nations)

The Museum has an exciting opportunity for the right candidate to join the organisation as an EL1 Senior Curator.

The Museum is seeking a senior curatorial leader to drive innovative, audience-focused projects that shape how Australians understand and engage with history, culture and our place in the world. As a Senior Curator, you will provide intellectual and strategic leadership in the development of exhibitions, collections, digital experiences, and programs.

This is a high-impact role for an experienced professional with a deep understanding of Australian history, material culture, and community engagement. A key aspect of this position is the opportunity to work closely with the Museum’s large and diverse collection of objects relating to the histories and cultures of First Nations peoples. You will lead and support projects that connect these objects with their communities and bring their stories to broader audiences through respectful, collaborative, and culturally safe practice.

This position is ideal for someone who brings creativity, curatorial rigour, and strong leadership to deliver bold, meaningful outcomes in a national cultural institution.

Key accountabilities 

• Provide strategic leadership and curatorial direction across major projects and initiatives aligned with the Museum’s vision and priorities.
• Lead the development and delivery of exhibitions, programs, publications, and collection strategies with a strong emphasis on audience engagement and inclusion.
• Work directly with the Museum’s collection of First Nations material culture, ensuring culturally safe and community-led approaches to interpretation, research, and access.
• Initiate and sustain collaborative relationships with First Nations communities, organisations, and cultural practitioners.
• Supervise, mentor, and support curatorial staff to build capability and foster a high-performing, culturally safe team environment.
• Represent the Museum in senior-level forums, partnerships, and media, building national and international networks of influence.
• Lead the development of new collection areas, research themes, and interpretive frameworks that reflect current scholarship and community knowledge.
• Contribute to strategic planning and organisational initiatives, including policy development and cross-unit collaboration.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to Work Health and Safety (WH&S) by actively supporting a positive safety culture, following the Museum’s WHS policies and procedures, and complying with reasonable instructions to ensure alignment with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011

To apply 

Applicants must include a 2-page pitch addressing their suitability for the role against the essential and desirable Skills, experience and qualifications. Applicants must also provide a resume and contact details for 2 referees.

Visit https://www.nma.gov.au/about/employment and apply online.

Applications close 11:59pm, Sunday 9 November 2025. 

Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process. If you require, or would like to discuss reasonable adjustments, please contact the Contact Officer for this position.

This position is open to Australian First Nations people only in accordance with ‘The Affirmative Measure – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment provision’ set out in Section 26 of the Australian Public Service Commissioner’s Directions 2016 and is within the meaning of Special Measures under subsection 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975.