Curator Ethnographic Collection 80%

The Bernische Historische Museum is one of the most significant cultural-historical museums in Switzerland. It is a growing repository of knowledge and experience for the culture and history of Bern and the world. The collections on history, archaeology, and ethnography comprise around 567,000 objects. They offer insights into lifeworlds from different historical epochs and cultural contexts. The integrated Einstein Museum places the life and work of the physicist in the context of world history. With the planned renovation and comprehensive museum renewal, the museum is facing major changes and exciting challenges. The goal is to reopen the museum in 2032 as a living house of history with diverse mediation formats, a new access to the Museumsquartier Bern, and high quality of stay. We are looking for, as of 1 January 2027 or by arrangement, a Curator Ethnographic Collection 80% with a focus on Africa and an additional focus on Orientalist collections. As part of the team, you will look after the third-largest ethnographic collection in Switzerland, which comprises around 65,000 objects from Asia, Africa, America, Europe, and Oceania. You are a historian or cultural scientist with an interest in museological issues and possess proven expertise in Africa and/or Central Asia. Experience with provenance research is a welcome plus. You are responsible for the following tasks: * Participation in defining the collection policy * Accessing and researching the collection holdings * Maintaining the collection inventory and object documentation * Ensuring the professional storage of the collection holdings in cooperation with the Conservation-Restoration team * Substantive curation and participation in conceiving and realizing mediation offers, such as exhibitions, events, participatory offers, especially with regard to the exhibition/mediation program upon the reopening of the museum in 2032 * Cooperation with partner institutions and source societies in relation to the collection of the BHM * Preparing and conducting tours through permanent and temporary exhibitions * Writing texts for a specialist audience and the general public * Supervising objects during loan traffic, including courier services at home and abroad. What you bring: A completed university degree (at least Master's level) in history, cultural and social sciences, or social anthropology, as well as a broad interest in the subject area and in-depth knowledge of Africa and/or Central Asia, are prerequisites for an application. Thanks to your several years of professional experience in museums, you are well acquainted with curatorial practice and current discourses in the museum world. You maintain a global-historical approach to the collection, reflect on the function and significance of museum collection holdings, ideally already possess a network relevant to the task, and are also willing to familiarize yourself with new subject areas. You also bring experience in project management and in participating in exhibitions. As a communicative personality, continuous exchange both within the scientific team and interdisciplinary with specialists from all other museum areas is important to you. You take great pleasure in passing on your knowledge vividly to specialists as well as to our museum guests. Very good foreign language skills in French and English (other collection-relevant languages are a plus), a structured way of working, a high awareness of quality, and proficient handling of museum databases round off your profile. We look forward to receiving your complete application (cover letter, CV, certificates) by 25 October 2026. In the cover letter, briefly describe your professional and personal competencies, your museum experience, as well as your expectations and goals for the advertised position. Further information is provided by Saskia Klaassen, Head of Collections, .[Instagram](< >)[Linkedin](< >)[Apply now](< >) Helvetiaplatz 5, Postfach 149, CH-3000 Bern 6, Phone , j4id10421361a j4it1040a j4iy26a