Museum Prep I, On-Call

SFMOMA•South San Francisco, CA

1d•$32 - $38•Onsite

About The Position

The Museum Preparator I prepares and handles art objects in exhibitions and the collection, supporting SFMOMA’s programs and professional standards for art handling. Under the supervision of the Head Preparator and reporting to the Assistant Head Preparator, this generalist role collaborates across the Collections, Exhibitions, and Design Division and with other museum departments. Its work focuses on logistics related to care, access, handling, framing, and storage of collection and loaned artworks at the museum’s locations at 151 Third Street and in South San Francisco. During the first month to quarter, the successful candidate will learn collections-team systems and practices while working with project points, co-points, registration, conservation, and other preparators under project-point delegation. Within the first year, the candidate is expected to proactively develop institutional understanding and art-handling skills and contribute positively to project completion. This is an on-call, fully onsite position. The workspace is divided between the museum’s Third Street location and its Collection Center in South San Francisco, depending on assigned projects.

Requirements

High school diploma or G.E.D. certificate.
At least one year of related experience, or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
Ability to understand and carry out task-based direction from more senior preparator staff.
Ability to work effectively and efficiently with time, materials, and safety.
Attention to detail, accuracy, and efficiency in project execution.
Ability to use shop equipment, including portable and stationary power tools, proficiently and safely within one’s knowledge base.
Ability to collaborate and work professionally with supervisors, museum staff, students, outside clients, vendors, volunteers, and the public.
Effective communication skills.
Knowledge of safety precautions and procedures for handling solvents, adhesives, and other fabrication-related solutions, or ability to learn.
Proactive stewardship of departmental shared and private spaces.
Active engagement with sustainability practices related to museum waste handling and recycling.
Ability to safely lift 50 pounds independently or with a team.

Nice To Haves

Interest in and knowledge of modern and contemporary art.
Art museum experience.
Interest in learning appropriate use of unfamiliar tools.
Familiarity with collections management systems.

Responsibilities

Contribute to an inclusive, rewarding, and inspiring workplace and foster safety, inclusivity, equity, collaboration, and shared responsibility.
Participate in professional networks, workshops, and programs to stay current with relevant practices, methods, and technologies and develop skills to share with the department.
Uphold standards in collection care and artwork installation, collaborating with the preparator team and working under project-point and co-point direction.
Facilitate safe movement, packing and unpacking, installation, and proper lighting of artwork using appropriate handling and security techniques.
Maintain clean work areas, storage spaces, and galleries, with attention to safety for people and artwork.
Participate in constructing or implementing exhibition elements such as walls, pedestals, boxes, fixtures, mounts, and housings.
Participate in developing procedures and standards for moving, handling, packing, and installing art.
Apply skills to support the activities of in-house framing staff.
Participate in collections inventories and plan, organize, document, and move works for access to new storage spaces.
Represent SFMOMA at other institutions, as assigned, to facilitate installation or deinstallation of exhibitions and artworks.
Participate in departmental, team, and project meetings or debriefings, and communicate concerns and plans to project teams.
Work as directed by project points, sometimes with curators, artists, and artist assistants.
Assist managers with adherence to fire code and the care and storage of hazardous waste, building materials, and machinery.
Assist with materials research and other project-specific fact-finding as assigned.
Maintain and stock work areas and alert preparator leadership or project leads when supplies are needed.
Perform other duties as required.