CURATOR, ARCHAEOLOGY/ETHNOGRAPHY & STATE ARCHAEOLOGIST

Code: 74527C State Competitive Range: R30 (FY 2027) Work week NL: FLSA exemptOvertime table (4A:3, Appx. A)

Salary: $100,498.48 - $148,186.78/year FY 2027 schedule (last updated 2026-07-27)

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under the direction of the Executive Director of the State Museum, Department of State, plans the overall program and supervises the staff of the Bureau of Archaeology & Ethnography; conducts and/or supervises the development and organization of permanent, temporary, and circulating exhibitions, programs, research projects, and publications; locates and evaluates archaeological sites for study and preservation; assesses, develops, and expands the archaeology and ethnography collections; oversees the care of the archaeological and ethnographic collections on loan to the museum; prepares materials needed for grant, foundation, corporate, and other funding requests as needed; supervises staff and work activities; prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Acts as a special advisor to the director in archaeological/ethnographic research and related matters.
• Supervises prehistoric archaeological research within the State.
• Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees.
• Studies and classifies artifacts; identifies and interprets archaeological objects and materials; surveys and catalogs archaeological and ethnographic collections; makes recommendations for additions, deletions, and exchanges in the collections.
• Plans, organizes, and directs the excavation of archaeological sites, including the investigation of sites, test pitting, drafting plans and plotting areas for the scientific excavation of the site, recording stratigraphy, and preserving the recording materials in the field and in the laboratory.
• Makes detailed studies of sites to determine and interpret the customs of former inhabitants.
• Prepares impact statements as they apply to prehistory.
• Supervises collections management.
• Responsible for the accurate description, recording, care, and safeguarding of the museum's collections in archaeology/ethnography.
• Schedules all temporary exhibitions in museum areas allocated to archaeology/ethnography.
• Researches and organizes exhibitions (permanent archaeology/ethnography installations, changing in-house exhibitions, and circulating exhibitions for schools).
• Conducts statistical analyses of archaeological matters; compiles plans, tables, and graphs.
• Drafts articles on archaeological matters and prepares manuscripts for publication.
• Identifies and/or arranges for the identification of specimens referred to the museum for opinions, and answers inquiries of an archaeological nature.
• Cooperates with State and interstate archaeological programs and various organizations, and provides advice and assistance as may be required; establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships within the bureau and with other bureaus in the museum.
• Gives presentations on archaeological matters before various groups.
• Prepares special project proposals, including estimates of personnel, equipment, required materials, costs, and other items.
• Prepares the bureau's annual budget, including the required interpretation concerning the needs of various sections within the bureau; maintains bureau expenditure records.
• Advises and assists the Bureau of Education and Public Programs in developing school and public programs in archaeology/ethnography.
• Prepares correspondence.
• Prepares, clear, sound, accurate, and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Supervises the establishment and maintenance of records and files.
• Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree in Archaeology or Anthropology.

Experience

Five (5) years of archaeological field and laboratory experience, one (1) year of which shall have been in the pre-historic archaeology of the northeastern portion of the United States; three (3) years of which shall have involved performing curatorial duties related to collecting, researching, and exhibiting in a museum or college/university.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

<b>KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITITES: </b>

Knowledge of ethnographic, archaeological, and anthropological research techniques and methods.

Knowledge of the value and importance of preserving archaeological records and materials.

Knowledge of prehistoric archaeology of the northeastern portion of the United States.

Knowledge of the principles, literature, and techniques of archaeology, anthropology, and ethnography.

Knowledge of scientific field excavation techniques, including site investigation, test pitting, planning and plotting areas for scientific excavation, recording stratigraphy, and preserving and recording materials in the field and in the laboratory.

Knowledge of the methods and procedures used to classify and identify artifacts.

Knowledge of the methods used to catalog archaeological and ethnographic collections.

Ability to supervise assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement projects within the unit.

Ability to organize research and related work, analyze archaeological and anthropological problems, and develop appropriate work methods.

Ability to communicate to a variety of audiences including the general public, press, and specialized archaeology and ethnography scholars.

Ability to work harmoniously with museum staff and outside consultants.

Ability to coordinate activities with those of other bureaus in the museum.

Ability to use a collections management system.

Ability to direct the survey of sites, the excavation of sites, the preservation of artifacts, the recording of stratigraphy, and the interpretation of findings.

Ability to supervise and take part in the classification, survey, and cataloging of archaeological and ethnographic artifacts and collections.

Ability to identify artifacts and provide expert advice and assistance to inquirers.

Ability to give presentations on archaeological matters to various groups.

Ability to prepare project costs and other estimates.

Ability to prepare correspondence, manuscripts, articles, and other written materials.

Ability to prepare clear, technically sound, accurate, and comprehensive bureau reports.

Ability to supervise the establishment and maintenance of records and files.

Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of the position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.

Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.