Associate Conservator of Decorative Arts and Sculpture

Philadelphia Museum of Art•Philadelphia, PA

9d•$70,000 - $70,000•Onsite

About The Position

At the Philadelphia Museum of Art, we actively seek to employ a diverse group of people who embody our organizational values. We welcome and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply, especially those from marginalized and underrepresented groups in the museum field, who are inspired by our shared purpose and enjoy working collaboratively with others. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship or immigration status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected status. Reporting to the Senior Conservator of Decorative Arts and Sculpture, the Associate Conservator has direct shared responsibility for conservation of a renowned and growing collection of decorative arts and sculpture spanning many cultures and curatorial departments. Candidates must possess outstanding visual and manual aptitudes, strong written and oral communication skills, a sound art-historical and technical knowledge of decorative arts and sculpture and demonstrated ability to deal with the complexities and dynamic pace of a large cultural institution.

Requirements

Academic credentials (Masters of Art or Masters of Science or equivalent) from a recognized conservation training program with a minimum of 5 years relevant experience in the study, care, and treatment of decorative arts and sculpture
Museum experience in the typical range of conservation activities engaged in optimal preservation and presentation of a large and varied decorative arts and sculpture collection
Involvement in the support of active loan and exhibition programs
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) and Adobe Photoshop
Experience working cooperatively with staff at large to meet departmental and institutional goals
Able to remain stationary for extended periods of time, to utilize computers and other office equipment required of this job, to perform physically administrative duties in a typical interior office environment, gallery, or exhibit space, and to access most public and staff areas of the museum campus
Minor lifting and bending (lifting of no more than 30 pounds)
Manual dexterity and exceptional fine motor skills.
Excellent corrected eyesight, color discrimination and spatial perception.

Responsibilities

Examine, perform technical and historical study, document, and treat decorative arts and sculpture in the collection
Assess the condition of decorative arts and sculpture requested for loan or being considered for acquisition, and document the condition of incoming or outgoing loans
Collaborate with colleagues across the museum advising on installations, storage, handling, packing, and transport of decorative arts and sculpture
Work independently and collaboratively with conservation scientists in chemical and instrumental analysis and characterization of materials and construction of works of art
Mentor and instruct post-graduate fellows, interns, and technicians
Promote awareness of the role and work of the museum’s Conservation Division, in part through developing content for presentation and outreach

Benefits

Free general admission to the museum for you and your immediate family
Discounted guest tickets for admission
Discounts on gift memberships
Special staff tours and presentations from our curatorial and conservation teams
Discounts at the museum restaurant, museum cafés, and museum retail and online stores
Medical, dental, and vision benefits
Fully paid short-term disability insurance, long-term disability insurance, and life insurance
Health savings or flexible spending account program
Retirement savings program with museum match
Paid vacation, personal days, sick days, and holidays