Museum Prep I, On-Call

Sfmoma•San Francisco, CA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

Under supervision of the Head Preparator and reporting to the Assistant Head Preparator, the Museum Preparator I prepares and handles art objects in exhibitions and the collection. This generalist role collaborates across the Collections, Exhibitions, and Design Division and other museum departments, focusing on logistics related to the care, access, handling, framing, and storage of collection and loaned artworks at the Museum’s locations on Third Street and in South San Francisco. The role supports museum programs and the development of professional standards for art handling. During the first month to quarter, the successful candidate will learn collections-team systems and practices by working with project points, co-points, registration, conservation, and other preparators under project-point direction. Within the first year, the candidate is expected to further their institutional understanding and art-handling skills and contribute positively to project completion. The position is on-call and fully onsite. Its workspace is divided between the Museum’s Third Street location and its Collection Center in South San Francisco, depending on assigned projects. This is a union position subject to the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The stated hourly range is $31.60–$37.93, with $31.60/hour listed as the starting rate.

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 safely and proficiently use portable and stationary power tools within the individual's knowledge base.
Ability to work collaboratively and 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 the ability to learn them.
Ability to safely lift 50 pounds independently or with a team.
Active engagement with sustainability practices related to the museum’s waste handling and recycling practices.

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 support a culture of safety, inclusivity, equity, empathy, collaboration, and shared responsibility.
Participate in professional networks, workshops, and programs to stay current with relevant practices, methods, and technologies and to develop skills to share with the department.
Uphold standards in collection care and artwork installation, collaborating with the preparator team and following direction from project points and co-points.
Facilitate the safe movement, packing and unpacking, installation, and proper lighting of artwork using appropriate handling and security techniques.
Maintain cleanliness and safety in work areas, storage spaces, and galleries.
Participate in constructing or implementing exhibition elements, including walls, pedestals, boxes, fixtures, mounts, housings, and other finished structures.
Participate in developing procedures and standards for the movement, handling, packing, and installation of art.
Apply skills to support the activities of the in-house framing staff.
Participate in collections inventories and in planning, organizing, documenting, accessing, and moving works into 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 project debriefings as directed by preparator leadership.
Communicate concerns and plans to project teams and work as directed by project points, sometimes directly with curators, artists, and artist assistants.
Assist appropriate 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-related fact-finding tasks as assigned.
Maintain and stock work areas and alert preparator leadership or project leads when supplies are needed.
Perform other duties as required.