Assistant Book and Paper Conservator (35790)

Walters Art Museum•Baltimore, MD

About The Position

The Walters Art Museum is among America’s most distinctive museums, forging connections between people and art from cultures around the world and spanning seven millennia. Located in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon neighborhood, the Walters is free for all. The museum’s campus includes five historic buildings and 36,000 art objects. Today, the Walters serves Baltimore and Maryland by embracing its role as educators and storytellers, using the collection as a vehicle of knowledge and cultural expression to support learning, dialogue, and community engagement. The museum is committed to public education, offering essential programs that help people to connect art to their lives. The Walters’ Visitor Promise aligns staff and volunteers across the museum to preserve and share the works in our care for future generations, partner with communities, and create welcoming, accessible experiences for visitors. The museum offers challenging and creative work opportunities by promoting collaboration, teamwork, and a culture that celebrates the diversity and inclusion of all. OVERVIEW OF ROLE Assistant Book and Paper Conservator The Assistant Book and Paper Conservator is responsible for the preservation and conservation of the Walters’ collections of manuscripts, rare books, and works of art on paper. The Book and Paper Conservator works collaboratively across the institution to implement exhibitions, installations, rotations, programs, and other projects. The Book and Paper Conservator reports to the Director of Conservation, Collections, and Technical Research, a department that has a shared focus on the preservation, study, and installation of the Walters collection.

Requirements

MA or MS in art conservation with a specialization in book conservation.
Minimum of two years working in a museum or library setting, inclusive of full-year graduate level internship.
Must have demonstrated experience with structural treatment of bound volumes, preferably manuscripts and rare books.
Comprehensive knowledge of treatment methods, materials, preventive conservation principles, and methodology.
Knowledge of art history and history of the book relevant to specialty.
Knowledge of ethical and practical professional standards.
Familiarity with analytical techniques, uses, and limitations.
Excellent conservation planning, documentation, decision-making, and manual skills for structural and aesthetic treatment; must have demonstrated experience with technical studies materials research as applied to area of specialty; good research, teaching, administrative, oral and written communication skills; skills in research and analytical techniques and interpretation appropriate to specialty.
Proficient in Microsoft Word and Google platforms preferred.

Responsibilities

Prepares, examines, treats, and documents works in the museum’s manuscripts, rare books, and works of art on paper collections for exhibition, loan, and acquisition.
Conducts condition surveys of the collections to establish prioritized plan for treatment needs; carries out emergency treatment on works that are actively deteriorating.
Works with the museum’s Conservation Scientist to perform technical studies and analysis on works in the collections to determine materials, methods of manufacture, and authenticity.
Determines causes of deterioration and develops appropriate treatment methodologies.
Participates in preventive conservation, including evaluating and making recommendations for display, storage and transport, and rehousing.
Evaluates, obtains, and maintains equipment and materials needed to carry out conservation treatment and preventive maintenance to professionally accepted standards.
Assists in writing grant proposals and oversees grant projects to address priority preservation needs.
Works in collaboration with Digital Production and Publication team to support ongoing digitization of the Walters’ book collection.
Coordinates work of contractors in support of books’ and paper-based materials’ preparation for exhibition and loan.
Assists in mentoring fellows, interns, and volunteers entering the conservation profession.
Contributes to the professional conservation field through lectures, publications, and teaching.
Works in the Conservation Window, our public-facing space for engagement.
Acts as a courier for the Walters collection during transit.
All other duties as assigned.