Associate Preparator

Oakland Museum of CA•Oakland, CA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Preparator prepares, handles, installs, de-installs, transports, monitors and maintains art, artifacts, specimens, museum furniture, museum exhibitry, and the museum environment for the Core Galleries, temporary exhibitions, collections storage and institutional projects. The position collaborates extensively with Production, Collections, Design staff, and other museum departments, on logistics related to the care, access, handling, storage, and presentation of art, artifacts, and specimens to enhance visitor experience and increase collections access. The Associate Preparator has an intermediate knowledge of safe handling, transportation, display, storage, and fabrication methods. Leads sub-teams. This position is exclusively represented and is covered by a collective bargaining agreement between OMCA and the OMCA Workers United, AFSCME Local 4510 (AFL-CIO).

Requirements

2+ years related experience in historic, natural science, or art museums, archives, or parks.
High School Diploma or G.E.D. certificate.
B.A. degree or equivalent experience in related field preferred.
Ability to display and encourage visitor and internal customer service, take and share responsibility, and treat others with respect.
Understanding of the principles of safe artifact and artwork handling.
Intermediate knowledge of materials and techniques for fabrication of museum exhibitry, collection storage, and display solutions.
Intermediate knowledge of preventative conservation standards for artifact handling, storage, packing, and display applied to museum collections, gallery operations, and maintenance requirements.
Ability to meet museum standards ensuring visitors’, artists’, safety, and aesthetic needs.
Ability to proficiently and safely use shop equipment, including portable and stationary power tools, vehicles, and the safe handling of fabrication materials/chemicals.
Ability to read, understand, and utilize technical drawings, reference materials, office computer systems and collections management systems.
Ability to work efficiently with regard to time and materials, balance multiple project timelines simultaneously, work independently and problem solve with minimum supervision, and work collaboratively in a team environment.
Valid driver’s license and a driving record acceptable to the Museum’s insurer.
Strong communication skills; English language proficiency in both spoken and written form.

Responsibilities

Handle, prepare, pack, transport, install and de-install art, artifacts, specimens for temporary exhibitions, gallery rotations, incoming and outgoing loans, and program spaces ensuring safe display and safe return to storage.
Fabricate, assemble, finish and work from elevations and drawings to install exhibit casework, furniture, walls and gallery surfaces, props, scenic construction, guardrails, paneling, platforms, graphic boards, interactives, and dioramas to museum standards.
Fabricate, finish, and install object mounts, brackets, and seismic restraints to museum standards ensuring object to museum standards.
Mat, mount, and frame works on paper, photographs, and textiles; prepare works for installation.
Install and de-install media, including construction of enclosures and mounts and routing and dressing of cabling; install exhibition wiring and lighting, focus and re-lamp gallery lighting to specification.
Install exhibition and display elements for large scale campus events and garden related installations.
Demonstrate museum techniques to the public and answer visitor questions while working in the galleries.
Lead sub-teams during production, exhibition installation, and gallery rotations.
Conduct ongoing condition monitoring and maintenance rounds of galleries and collections storage inspecting for physical damage, deterioration, instability, insect activity, dust accumulation, mount or media failure; maintain, clean, treat, repair, and document art, artifact, specimens, cases, and exhibit elements; replace buffering materials, verify case seals, inspect pest traps, mitigate water intrusion; place, read, download, and maintain data loggers, light meters, and UV meters; report changes in object condition, environmental exceedances, incidents, and readings.
Monitor, feed, and provide enrichment for living collections animals; fabricate and monitor animal enclosures and other animal support systems.
Monitor equipment activities such as anoxic chamber (insect fumigation), ovens, and freezers.
Handle, prepare, pack, present, and transport art, artifacts, and specimens for storage, study, loan, condition surveys, conservation treatment, digitization, collections inventories, and installation; construct storage housings, supports, crates, travel frames, and custom packing; handle materials in accordance with museum policy, including NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA.
Engage in the development, organization, and maintenance of storage facilities.
Install and maintain earthquake museum standards mitigation systems and security barriers for objects on display and in storage.
Coordinate with collections, curatorial, design, evaluation and visitor insights, facilities, and learning experience and programs staff on cross-departmental planning and projects.
Collaborate with project and production teams, provide and receive status updates, and communicate widely and effectively.
Create and maintain museum records, including monitoring logs, condition documentation, and maintenance records.
Participate in museum infrastructure and management of back-of-house locations; monitor and maintain exhibition supply inventory; source and order exhibit supplies within the budget and timeline, provide materials research and budget estimates.
Adhere to personal and workplace safety procedures, including required PPE; maintain and share knowledge of safe practices; report incidents and near misses.
Participate in and lead skills training, workshops, and seminars.