Assistant Preparator

MISSOURI HISTORICAL SOCIETY•St. Louis, MO

2d•$25 - $25•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Preparator supports exhibit installation and maintenance across the Missouri Historical Society’s locations: the Missouri History Museum, Soldiers Memorial Military Museum, and Library and Research Center. The role coordinates and facilitates exhibit installation for projects ranging from temporary exhibits to a major core gallery renovation, and supervises Temporary Preparators working on assigned exhibit fabrication and installation projects under the Preparator’s supervision. The Assistant Preparator collaborates with the Preparator, Exhibits Department staff, the Exhibits Registrar, Conservator, Curators, and Soldiers Memorial staff. This contract position is expected to commence January 4, 2027, and conclude by December 31, 2028.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
At least 3 years of museum-level exhibition installation experience.
At least 2 years of supervisory experience.
Dependability, reliability, and ability to work independently.
Excellent leadership and supervisory skills.
Excellent time-management, project-management, organizational, administrative, and communication skills.
Advanced exhibit installation experience.
Moderate to advanced art or artifact handling experience.
Moderate to advanced understanding of exhibit designs and/or fabrication plans.
Moderate experience with general fabrication techniques.
Ability to manage multiple simultaneous tasks and delegate effectively.
Ability to adapt or learn new skills through creative problem-solving to accomplish complex physical projects.
Ability to routinely handle objects weighing up to 50 pounds or more.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree in construction management, studio art, or a related field, or relevant professional experience.
Experience in a nonprofit museum, museum-serving fabrication company, or equivalent sector.
Supervisory experience in a nonprofit museum or equivalent sector.
Moderate experience using lifting tools or machinery.

Responsibilities

Supervise Temporary Preparators as directed by the Preparator, and lead or co-lead assigned projects and project components.
Support the Preparator in creating and managing project schedules and calendars based on project needs and staff availability.
Support implementation of team policies and procedures, work alongside Temporary Preparators, and stay informed about daily project progress.
Facilitate large installation-team meetings with Exhibition Designers ahead of gallery turnover.
Perform project management duties associated with gallery turnover and maintenance of assigned exhibit installations.
Coordinate with Exhibition Designers and the Exhibition Specialist to ensure project costs remain within allocations.
Arrange equipment rentals needed for exhibit installation and deinstallation, following MHS policies.
Help maintain the inventory, storage, and care of installation equipment and supplies.
Ensure installation supplies and hardware are ordered and onsite before gallery turnover.
Review design packages and installation packages, and provide feedback as necessary.
Co-lead designated gallery turnovers at the Missouri History Museum with the project’s Exhibition Designer and Exhibition Registrar, coordinating leadership responsibilities with the Preparator.
Co-lead designated gallery turnovers at Soldiers Memorial Military Museum with the project’s Exhibition Designer and Soldiers Memorial Collections Manager, coordinating leadership responsibilities with the Preparator.
Support installation of small or community projects at MHS and off-site locations as directed.
Coordinate with the Exhibitions Specialist on project specifications.
Collaborate with Exhibition Designers on prototyping and fabrication of interactives as needed.
Assist the Exhibitions Fabricator with fabrication of exhibit elements as needed.
Perform regular gallery maintenance at MHS locations as directed.
Attend relevant large exhibit-team meetings as schedules allow.
Coordinate transfer of exhibit elements to and from off-site storage and other MHS locations under the Preparator’s supervision.
Assist the Preparator with maintaining off-site storage, including organizing and inventorying exhibit elements.
Ensure prep spaces at MHS and Soldiers Memorial are safe, including maintaining tools and safety equipment and attending or running appropriate training.
Research emerging best practices for fabrication and installation materials and products.
Perform other duties as necessary.