Assistant or Associate Photography Conservator

The Museum of Modern Art•New York, NY

10d•$101,162 - $119,557•Onsite

About The Position

The Museum of Modern Art is hiring an Assistant or Associate Photography Conservator in the David Booth Conservation Department. The position works collaboratively on photographic materials dating from the 19th century through modern and contemporary works across all curatorial departments. The conservator participates in examination, documentation, treatment, research into artists’ materials and approaches, acquisition, exhibition, collection care, loans, and courier responsibilities. The role also includes ongoing preventive care and monitoring of works in storage; collaboration with conservation, curatorial, collection management, registration, exhibition planning, design, production, and imaging teams; communication with artists and related stakeholders; and staying current with developments in conservation through professional meetings. The conservator assists with training and mentoring Fellows and Interns and helps prepare outgoing loans, including overseeing safe transport and installation. Final title assignment depends on the finalist’s credentials.

Requirements

Graduate or undergraduate degree in conservation, or equivalent training model.
For the Assistant Conservator level, preferably two years of postgraduate experience conserving photographs in a museum setting or equivalent.
For the Associate Conservator level, at least seven years of postgraduate experience in photograph conservation, including museum experience.
Knowledge and experience with current documentation procedures, including digital photography (U.V., IR, and photomicrography).
Ability to work cooperatively on projects and independently on treatments.
For the Assistant level, strong interpersonal and written communication skills.
For the Associate level, ability to communicate effectively in a highly collaborative and variable environment, including with Museum staff and the public.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with living artists, their studio assistants, and artists’ estates.
Experience conserving contemporary photographs.
Experience working with conservation scientists and understanding the application of analytical instruments, including X-ray fluorescence, Fourier-transform Infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy.
For the Associate Conservator level, experience with complex exhibitions and preventive display strategies.
For the Associate level, courier experience and ability to travel. Courier experience is not required at the Assistant level.

Responsibilities

Examine, document, and treat photographs in the collection.
Support departmental activities involving acquisitions, exhibition preparation, collection care, loans, and research.
Monitor collection works in storage and advise on environmental conditions, packing, and other preventive conservation measures.
Collaborate with Museum departments, including Conservation, curatorial, Collection Management and Exhibition Registration, Exhibition Planning and Administration, Exhibition Design and Production, and Imaging and Visual Resources.
Research historic and contemporary artist materials and practices.
Explore new conservation methods, tools, and techniques.
Communicate with artists and related stakeholders on in-depth conservation issues.
Stay current with modern and contemporary art conservation approaches by participating in professional meetings.
Assist in training and mentoring Fellows and Interns.
Help prepare works for outgoing loans and oversee their safe transport and installation.
Perform other duties reasonably related to the described functions.