Assistant Conservator, Preventative (36089)

Walters Art Museum•Baltimore, MD

103d•Onsite

About The Position

ABOUT THE WALTERS ART MUSEUM The Walters Art Museum is among Americas 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 educator and storyteller, 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 and teamwork. OVERVIEW OF ROLE The Assistant Preventive Conservator is responsible for leading the department’s preventive conservation program, which centralizes and builds upon existing policies and procedures. They ensure the preservation of the Walters collection by undertaking and coordinating the multifaceted work of collection maintenance, environmental monitoring, materials testing and collection surveys, as well as managing the museum’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. The Assistant Preventive Conservator works collaboratively across the institution to implement best practices for exhibitions, installations, programs, and other museum events. This role is a team member of the Conservation & Technical Research unit of the Department of Conservation, Collections, and Technical Research. This unit includes conservation professionals in objects, paintings, books, and conservation science. The Preventive Conservator will have a shared focus on the preservation, study, and installation of the Walters collection.

Requirements

Master’s degree in art conservation, with a concentration or demonstrated experience in preventive conservation required
2-3 years of museum experience preferred.
A good grounding in conservation, scientific method, materials science, preventive conservation principles, and methodology; knowledge of ethical and practical professional standards.
Demonstrated experience in conservation planning and documentation (writing and imaging); administrative, oral, and written communication skills.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and the Google suite.
Must be able to work sitting or standing for long periods of time.
Demonstrated ability and passion to work with and collaborate across departments.
All employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
The museum does not sponsor work visas.
This position is classified as exempt and is in a bargaining unit represented by a union.

Responsibilities

Coordinate and implement the work of environmental monitoring and articulate and implement assessment procedures for temperature, light and pollutants exposure.
Oversee the museum’s materials testing program.
Act as point person for the museum’s IPM program.
Collaborate with staff conservators to conduct condition surveys of the collections to prioritize the treatment and storage needs of the collection; assist in preparation of grant proposals to address priority preservation needs.
Examine, treat, and document artworks in the collections for acquisition, loan and exhibition as appropriate; provide recommendations on environmental conditions, matting and framing needs, crating and transit for works traveling outside the museum.
Collaborate with event and program teams to ensure best practices
Assist in coordination and implementation of training sessions for the Collections Emergency Operations Plan.
Work with the museum’s Conservation Scientist to carry out technical studies and analysis as related to preventive conservation practice.
Keep abreast of 21st-century sustainable practices for museum environments and make recommendations for improved practice.
Mentor and trains fellows, interns, and volunteers.
Work in the Conservation Window, our visitor-centered public engagement space.
All other duties assigned.