Arts Program Curator

CAREER DESCRIPTION

Arts Program Curator

(Staff Specialist)

SALARY INFORMATION

Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

This recruitment will establish an open eligible list. The eligible list can be used to fill current and future positions with this specialty. This recruitment may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower-level classifications throughout the County of Orange.

DEADLINE TO APPLY

Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately as the recruitment will close on Monday, January 19, 2026 at 11:59 pm P.S.T.

JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT

Ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction among Large Airports in the J.D. Power 2024 and 2025 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, John Wayne Airport (JWA) has been a major cornerstone of Orange County for more than 100 years. Located in beautiful Southern California, we currently serve approximately 11.7 million annual passengers. We strive to provide a superior guest experience to ensure travel is convenient and stress-free. The County of Orange owns and operates the airport and the service area includes more than three million people within 34 cities and unincorporated areas of Orange County and beyond.

As a medium hub airport, we have commercial flights to more than 40 nonstop destinations in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Eleven commercial airlines and two air cargo airlines fly out of the Airport. It is home to nearly 500 general aviation (private, non-commercial) aircraft, representing 60% of total operations, and includes two full-service fixed base operators and one limited-use general aviation facility.

• Mission : Connecting People, Places and Opportunities.
• Vision: To be an airport of choice by creating exceptional experiences.
• Core Values: REACH
  • R espect
  • E nvironmental Stewardship
  • A ccountability
  • C ollaboration
  • H onesty

To learn more about John Wayne Airport, click here.
To learn more about the County of Orange, click here.

THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIVISION

The Public Affairs Divisionis responsible for all aspects of government, media and community relations, customer relations and communications at John Wayne Airport. Public Affairs staff is charged with responding to media and public inquiries; serving as front-line customer service agents; coordinating Ambassador and volunteer programs; planning and organizing museum-quality exhibitions; disbursing information via the Airport website; tracking local, state and federal legislation; enforcing the settlement agreement, educating the surrounding communities about access and noise issues and handling noise complaints. The division is comprised of five units, Access and Noise, Communications, Customer Relations, Government Relations, and Public/Media Relations.

THE OPPORTUNITY

John Wayne Airport is looking for an Arts Program Curator (Staff Specialist) who can implement and manage arts programs, projects, and initiatives. The Arts Program Curator will work under the direction of the Customer Relations Manager in the Public Affairs division and will support the JWA Arts Commission, proactively build community partnerships, and provide information and technical assistance, as needed, to artists, arts organizations, and the public. Some duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Conceptualize, organize, and implement multiple museum style exhibitions for various programs
• Manage the program budget and related contracts
• Provide administrative, logistical, and technical support to the JWA Arts Commission, including preparation of meeting agenda, supporting materials, and draft minutes, ensuring compliance with applicable public meeting laws, including the Brown Act.
• Coordinate with Public Affairs staff, County Counsel, and Arts Commission leadership to ensure timely noticing, documentation, and public accessibility of Commission meetings.
• Participate in monthly staff meetings and quarterly general department meetings
• Provide monthly status reports to Customer Relations Manager and Public Affairs leadership, as appropriate.
• Provided day-to-day oversight and work direction to an Office Assistant assigned to the Arts Program, including coordination of administrative tasks, scheduling, documentation, and program support activities.
• Oversee and administer the Airports Arts Program Internship, including recruitment, onboarding, training, mentorship, task assignment, and performance feedback for (1) intern.
• Coordinate closely with Airport Operations, Maintenance, and security staff to ensure exhibitions are installed, maintained, and deinstalled in compliance with safety, security, and operational requirements.

The Arts Program Curator supports three (3) major exhibition areas including:

• Vi Smith Concourse Gallery (VSCG)
  
• Community Focus Space (CFS)
  
• Destination Gallery
  

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS AND CORE COMPETENCIES

The ideal candidate will possess four (4) years of professional experience in arts administration or art event/production management including experience curating, organizing, and implementing art exhibitions in art galleries, art museum settings, hotels, restaurants, libraries, and/or municipal buildings, as well as experience supporting a commission, board, advisory body, including agenda development, meeting coordination, and compliance with public meeting requirements such as the Brown Act, and providing work direction to support staff and/overseeing internship or educational programs within an arts or public-sector environment.

Successful candidate's application will also demonstrate extensive experience, knowledge, and/or ability in the following core competencies:

Technical Experience | Art Exhibit Management

• Experience coordinating art installation and oversight for a variety of exhibition content
• Experience managing exhibitions within active public or operational facilities such as airports, transit centers, hospitals, or municipal buildings
• Knowledge of contemporary, modern, traditional, and historic art movements and styles
• Knowledge of art exhibition terminology
• Knowledge of art related online research techniques
• Knowledge of art exhibition design aesthetics including using negative space in exhibition design and implementation
• Ability to discern a sense of aesthetics for art exhibition design and exhibition signage identification graphics
• Ability to coordinate exhibition work within security, safety, and access constraints

Interpersonal Communication | Relationship Building

• Work with individual artists to achieve the highest professional levels of art exhibition communication and cooperation
• Ability to effectively support and collaborate with appointed commissioners, advisory board members, County staff, and the public in a transparent, professional, and legally compliant public-meeting environment
• Provide guidance, mentorship, and professional support to administrative staff and interns while fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to deliver strategic, quality, and culturally relevant curation
• Organize support for art programs from external organizations
• Coordinate with others in response to multiple, competing demands to ensure work is completed in a timely manner
• Build strong and enduring partnerships with local organizations and artists
• Liaise with organizations and individuals on achieving common goals
• Participate as a positive team member with passion for art

Oral & Written Communication

• Prepare clear, accurate, and legally compliant meeting agendas, staff reports, and draft minutes for commission or advisory board meetings.
• Ensure written materials meet public disclosure, noticing, and accessibility requirements
• Develop written exhibition description statements for press release
• Fine tune artist written statement for clarity and public understanding/access
• Prepare and conduct public presentations clearly and effectively
• Develop art exhibition titles, graphics, signage, color theme and layout
• Coordinate and lead business meetings
• Provide monthly program status updates
• Ensure timely, appropriate communication with stakeholders and communicate professionally

Organization & Planning

• Multi-task the organization of both solo and group style visually cohesive art exhibitions with distinct themes and/or concepts
• Coordinate all aspects of programming, scheduling, and communication with vendors, artists, and community partners
• Coordinate commission and advisory board meeting schedules, deadlines, and supporting documentation in compliance with public meeting laws
• Experience managing Brown Act timelines, agenda posting requirements, and records retention
• Maintain a high level of energy and commitment to juggle multiple tasks and priorities
• Facilitate art exhibitions including on-site set-up, production, and smooth operation
• Set high standards for quality work and responsiveness in providing administrative services
• Adjust priorities to respond to pressing and competing demands to ensure work is completed in a timely manner
• Experience providing work direction and coordination to administrative staff and interns
• Ability to mentor, train, and guide emerging arts professionals
• Experience managing internship or educational programs in an arts, museum, or public-sector setting
• Ability to balance program delivery with staff oversight responsibilities

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

To learn about the minimum qualifications of the Staff Specialist classification, click here.

LICENSE REQUIRED
The successful candidate must possess, obtain and maintain the following licenses:

• Valid California Driver's License, Class C or higher, by date of appointment
• Valid Airport Access Badge with an Airport Driving Endorsement within ten (10) days of employment

AIRPORT ACCESS REQUIREMENTS
The successful candidate must clear a background check which includes a Criminal History Records Check (CHRC), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and Security Threat Assessment (STA). Airport Access Badge must be maintained.

PHYSICAL, MENTAL, ENVIRONMENTAL and WORKING CONDITIONS

In addition to the standard requirements and conditions listed for all positions, some assignments may require the additional physical and mental capabilities and/or the ability to work in the more diverse environmental conditions listed for some positions.

Physical and Mental Requirements

Possess vision sufficient to read standard text and a computer monitor and to drive a vehicle; speak and hear well enough to communicate clearly and understandably in person to individuals and groups and over the telephone; possess body mobility to stand, sit, walk, stoop and bend routinely to perform daily tasks and to access a standard office environment; possess manual dexterity sufficient to use hands, arms and shoulders repetitively to operate a keyboard, utilize office equipment and to write and drive; use a County approved means of transportation.

Environmental and Working Conditions

Possess the ability to independently reason logically to analyze data, reach conclusions and make recommendations; possess the ability to remain calm and appropriately focused in rapidly changing and difficult situations involving conflict, complex issues, controversy and diverse stakeholder groups and interests; possess the ability to deal calmly and effectively with emotional interactions.

Function effectively in a standard office environment.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Human Resource Services screens all application materials for minimum and desirable qualifications. After screening, candidates who meet the minimum and desirable qualifications will be referred to the next step in the recruitment process. All candidates will be notified via email of their status in the process.

Application Screening | (Refer/Non-Refer): Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those candidates that meet the qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.

Structured Oral Interview (Oral Exam) | (Weighted 100%): Candidates will be interviewed and rated by job knowledge experts. Each candidate's rating will be based on responses to a series of structured questions designed to elicit the candidate's qualifications for the job. Only the most successful candidates will be placed on the eligible list.

Eligible List | Score Groups: Once all assessments have been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

Veterans Employment Preference: The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here to review the policy.

Completion of a background investigation to the satisfaction of the County may be required for some assignments.

Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. Candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedures.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

EMAIL NOTIFICATION
Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.

NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply.

Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com .

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.

For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, contact Cindy Mora at cindy.mora@ssa.ocgov.com or (714) 245-6265.

EEO INFORMATION

Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer,
encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Non-Management Benefits
In addition to the County's standard suite of benefits, such as a variety of health plan options, annual leave and paid holidays--we also offer an excellent array of benefits such as a Health Care Reimbursement Account, 457 Defined Contribution Plan and Annual Education and Professional Reimbursement. Employees are provided a Retirement Plan through the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS).

Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.
http://www.ocers.org/active-member-information

Click here for information about benefits offered to County of Orange employees.

Closing Date/Time: 1/19/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• 

• County of Orange

• 714.834.5315

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