OPT Curator Jobs
Curator roles at museums, galleries, and cultural institutions can qualify for OPT authorization when the position requires a degree in art history, museum studies, or a related field. Your 12-month OPT clock starts on your EAD start date, and STEM extension isn't available for this SOC code, so employer timeline alignment matters from day one.
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The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston seeks an Assistant Curator to support and enrich the Judaica program by taking on a wide range of curatorial and administrative responsibilities. The Shapiro-Silverberg Assistant Curator of Judaica will report to the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Curator of Judaica.
Judaica is one of the newer areas of collecting at the MFA. The museum’s growing Judaica holdings center on Jewish ritual art for the home and synagogue, but also include works – from paintings and sculpture, to postcards and ancient coins – that are an expression of the Jewish experience, history, and culture, stretching across time, place, and media.
Based within the Art of Europe department, the Shapiro-Silverberg Assistant Curator may also be included in opportunities working with the broader European decorative arts collection.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
-
Under the guidance of the Schusterman Judaica Curator, the Assistant Curator will support installations and rotations of Jewish objects, and plan for the integration of works in galleries across the museum. They will collaborate with Conservation, Exhibitions, and Design to check objects’ condition, submit installation requests, oversee installations, update locations, and notify Member & Visitor Services, PR, and Development.
-
Perform duties related to the research, care, management and documentation of the collection; catalog objects through in-depth research, generate and update object files, make proposals for conservation treatments and photography, oversee the annual audit of the Judaica collection, create and edit records on TMS, move objects to and from labs and photo studios. In consultation with museum-wide colleagues, receive new objects, and identify, catalogue and place them in storage.
-
Support the Schusterman Judaica Curator in setting up a new patron group or Curator’s Circle; this position will help with the planning and administration of the donor group, while also contributing to the program with their own talks and original research. Tasks include donor outreach, assistance with selecting annual events and inviting guest speakers (both in-house and external); writing and submitting event invitations and tracking RSVPs; coordinating logistics for on-site events, off-site trips, collection visits, and virtual programs; arranging internal meetings with the Steering Committee of the Judaica Curators Circle, colleagues, and external contacts; providing general communications and requests for various museum departments; carrying out payments for honoraria, travel, and hotel stays.
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Support the curatorial department with the MFA Pathways Internship program: assist the Schusterman Judaica curator with hiring and training interns, helping to organize their professional development in a range of museum careers and practices, and in close collaboration with different museum departments. Provide similar support for the museum’s Teens programs, such as the Teen Arts Council and STEAM Team, work with the Judaica Curator to mentor high-school students and develop a variety of workplace skills.
-
Assist the Schusterman Judaica Curator in the preparation of exhibitions, as requested; carry out research, put together object checklists, write loan correspondence, contribute to publication research, website development, and public programming.
-
As directed by the Schusterman Judaica Curator, assist with new acquisitions: conduct research, create and maintain objects files and other museum records, communicate with Conservation, Registrars and the Provenance Chair. May be required to travel to examine items for acquisition.
-
Respond to public enquiries from scholars, students, and general visitors, including requests for information on the museum’s collection, and input on objects’ images sent by email; assist visitors coming to the department and help with the identification of objects brought for examination.
-
With guidance from the Schusterman Judaica Curator, assist in the production of a wide range of museum interpretative texts and exhibition-related materials as requested, including wall panels, object labels, gallery surveys, and press releases.
-
Work with Public Relations and the Creative team to propose and write social media posts and museum website material to ensure the digital visibility of the Judaica collection.
-
Perform other duties as responsibilities necessitate.
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:
-
Postgraduate degree in Art History, Jewish history and/or Jewish studies, demonstrating scholarly ability in the field. Proven interest and work in a particular area of Judaica.
-
1 to 3 years of curatorial and museum experience in the field.
-
Reading and writing knowledge of biblical and modern Hebrew is essential; reading knowledge of Yiddish is preferred. Proficiency in another European language is desirable.
-
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
-
Scholarly research skills, with excellent writing and presentation skills, and an ability to engage different audiences.
-
Commitment to community and audience outreach and involvement.
-
Experience working with European decorative arts beyond Judaica is a plus.
-
Experience with museum databases. Knowledge of “The Museum System” (TMS) is preferred.
-
Clear commitment to IDEA (inclusion, diversity, equity, access), through projects and collaborations that foster a culturally inclusive and welcoming environment.
SALARY AND SCHEDULE:
Salary: $78,472 - $81,000
Full-Time, 35 hours per week
This position is affiliated with the United Auto Workers Union.
The MFA is an equal opportunity employer. The community and audience we serve is diverse, and we wish to foster that diversity in our workplace. Toward that end, the MFA does not discriminate against individuals in hiring, employment or promotion on the basis of race, religion, color, sex/gender, gender identity and gender expression, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, citizenship, handicap or disability, veteran or military status, political belief, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.
INTRODUCTION
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston seeks an Assistant Curator to support and enrich the Judaica program by taking on a wide range of curatorial and administrative responsibilities. The Shapiro-Silverberg Assistant Curator of Judaica will report to the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Curator of Judaica.
Judaica is one of the newer areas of collecting at the MFA. The museum’s growing Judaica holdings center on Jewish ritual art for the home and synagogue, but also include works – from paintings and sculpture, to postcards and ancient coins – that are an expression of the Jewish experience, history, and culture, stretching across time, place, and media.
Based within the Art of Europe department, the Shapiro-Silverberg Assistant Curator may also be included in opportunities working with the broader European decorative arts collection.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
-
Under the guidance of the Schusterman Judaica Curator, the Assistant Curator will support installations and rotations of Jewish objects, and plan for the integration of works in galleries across the museum. They will collaborate with Conservation, Exhibitions, and Design to check objects’ condition, submit installation requests, oversee installations, update locations, and notify Member & Visitor Services, PR, and Development.
-
Perform duties related to the research, care, management and documentation of the collection; catalog objects through in-depth research, generate and update object files, make proposals for conservation treatments and photography, oversee the annual audit of the Judaica collection, create and edit records on TMS, move objects to and from labs and photo studios. In consultation with museum-wide colleagues, receive new objects, and identify, catalogue and place them in storage.
-
Support the Schusterman Judaica Curator in setting up a new patron group or Curator’s Circle; this position will help with the planning and administration of the donor group, while also contributing to the program with their own talks and original research. Tasks include donor outreach, assistance with selecting annual events and inviting guest speakers (both in-house and external); writing and submitting event invitations and tracking RSVPs; coordinating logistics for on-site events, off-site trips, collection visits, and virtual programs; arranging internal meetings with the Steering Committee of the Judaica Curators Circle, colleagues, and external contacts; providing general communications and requests for various museum departments; carrying out payments for honoraria, travel, and hotel stays.
-
Support the curatorial department with the MFA Pathways Internship program: assist the Schusterman Judaica curator with hiring and training interns, helping to organize their professional development in a range of museum careers and practices, and in close collaboration with different museum departments. Provide similar support for the museum’s Teens programs, such as the Teen Arts Council and STEAM Team, work with the Judaica Curator to mentor high-school students and develop a variety of workplace skills.
-
Assist the Schusterman Judaica Curator in the preparation of exhibitions, as requested; carry out research, put together object checklists, write loan correspondence, contribute to publication research, website development, and public programming.
-
As directed by the Schusterman Judaica Curator, assist with new acquisitions: conduct research, create and maintain objects files and other museum records, communicate with Conservation, Registrars and the Provenance Chair. May be required to travel to examine items for acquisition.
-
Respond to public enquiries from scholars, students, and general visitors, including requests for information on the museum’s collection, and input on objects’ images sent by email; assist visitors coming to the department and help with the identification of objects brought for examination.
-
With guidance from the Schusterman Judaica Curator, assist in the production of a wide range of museum interpretative texts and exhibition-related materials as requested, including wall panels, object labels, gallery surveys, and press releases.
-
Work with Public Relations and the Creative team to propose and write social media posts and museum website material to ensure the digital visibility of the Judaica collection.
-
Perform other duties as responsibilities necessitate.
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:
-
Postgraduate degree in Art History, Jewish history and/or Jewish studies, demonstrating scholarly ability in the field. Proven interest and work in a particular area of Judaica.
-
1 to 3 years of curatorial and museum experience in the field.
-
Reading and writing knowledge of biblical and modern Hebrew is essential; reading knowledge of Yiddish is preferred. Proficiency in another European language is desirable.
-
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
-
Scholarly research skills, with excellent writing and presentation skills, and an ability to engage different audiences.
-
Commitment to community and audience outreach and involvement.
-
Experience working with European decorative arts beyond Judaica is a plus.
-
Experience with museum databases. Knowledge of “The Museum System” (TMS) is preferred.
-
Clear commitment to IDEA (inclusion, diversity, equity, access), through projects and collaborations that foster a culturally inclusive and welcoming environment.
SALARY AND SCHEDULE:
Salary: $78,472 - $81,000
Full-Time, 35 hours per week
This position is affiliated with the United Auto Workers Union.
The MFA is an equal opportunity employer. The community and audience we serve is diverse, and we wish to foster that diversity in our workplace. Toward that end, the MFA does not discriminate against individuals in hiring, employment or promotion on the basis of race, religion, color, sex/gender, gender identity and gender expression, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, citizenship, handicap or disability, veteran or military status, political belief, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.
See all OPT Curator Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Curator
Verify your role meets specialty occupation standards
Pull the O*NET profile for Curators (SOC 25-4012) and confirm your job offer requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific field. A posting that lists any degree as acceptable weakens your H-1B visa petition later.
Target institutions with active LCA filing history
Museums, university art collections, and federal cultural agencies file LCAs through DOL before sponsoring work visas. Prioritize employers whose past filings show curator or collections-related job titles, not just broad administrative categories.
Document your practicum and fellowship hours carefully
Many curator roles grow out of unpaid or stipend-based museum internships. USCIS requires that your OPT employment is directly related to your degree, so keep written records showing how each position connects to your coursework and field of study.
Ask HR about E-Verify enrollment before accepting an offer
Your OPT EAD is valid for employment at any qualifying employer, but confirming E-Verify participation early prevents delays at onboarding. Federal and state-funded institutions are often already enrolled, while smaller private galleries may not be.
File your H-1B petition paperwork through Migrate Mate
When your employer agrees to sponsor, use Migrate Mate to handle the LCA and H-1B filing process. The cap-gap rule protects your status if your OPT expires between April 1 and October 1, but only if your petition is filed on time.
Use the OFLC Wage Search to negotiate from a position of fact
Before your offer conversation, look up the prevailing wage for Curators in your city using the OFLC Wage Search. Employers filing an LCA must meet that wage floor, so knowing the Level I and Level II figures prevents low-ball offers that DOL would reject anyway.
Curator OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Curator job qualify for OPT work authorization?
Yes, if the role requires a degree in art history, museum studies, archaeology, or a closely related field. USCIS requires that your OPT employment be directly related to your major area of study. A curator position at a museum or gallery that specifies a relevant degree requirement satisfies this standard. General administrative or visitor-services roles at the same institution would not.
Can I extend my OPT as a Curator through the STEM extension?
No. The Curator SOC code (25-4012) is not on the STEM Designated Degree Program List, so the 24-month STEM OPT extension is not available for this role. Your OPT authorization runs for 12 months. Planning your H-1B sponsorship timeline from your first day of employment is critical, since you have no extension buffer in this occupation.
Which types of employers are most likely to sponsor curators for H-1B visas?
Federal agencies like the Smithsonian Institution are cap-exempt and can file H-1B petitions year-round without waiting for the annual lottery. University art museums affiliated with nonprofit colleges or universities are also often cap-exempt. Private museums and commercial galleries are cap-subject, meaning your petition enters the April lottery and your OPT must bridge any gap until October 1. Browse curator roles with sponsorship history on Migrate Mate.
What counts as qualifying OPT employment for a Curator on F-1 status?
USCIS requires that your work be directly related to your degree, at least 20 hours per week, and paid or unpaid in a way consistent with the position type. For curators, this typically means collections management, exhibition development, research, or acquisitions work tied to your field of study. Reporting through your DSO in SEVIS within 10 days of starting is required regardless of employer type.
How do I find Curator jobs where the employer is open to OPT and future sponsorship?
Search for curator openings on Migrate Mate, which filters roles by visa sponsorship history so you can focus on institutions that have filed LCAs or H-1B petitions for similar positions before. During interviews, ask specifically about the institution's experience with H-1B sponsorship for curatorial staff, not just whether they sponsor visas in general, since policies often vary by department.