Paintings Conservator

MoMA•New York, NY

9d•$128,000 - $128,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Museum of Modern Art is hiring a Paintings Conservator in the David Booth Conservation Department. The role collaborates on modern and contemporary works across curatorial departments and participates in departmental conservation activities, including examination, documentation, treatment, research into artists’ materials and approaches, acquisitions, exhibitions, collection care, loans, and courier responsibilities. The position examines, documents, and treats paintings in the collection and, occasionally, works in temporary custody. It supports acquisitions and exhibitions, monitors works in storage, advises on environmental conditions, packing, and preventive conservation, and works with colleagues across Museum departments. The Conservator researches artists’ and designers’ materials and practices, explores conservation methods and tools, communicates with artists and other stakeholders, and stays current with conservation approaches. The role also supervises, trains, and mentors junior conservators, fellows, and interns, and prepares outgoing loans, including overseeing safe transport and installation. The position reports to the Agnes Gund Chief Conservator. On-site presence is required five days per week during the initial 90-day employment period. After that, the schedule is four days per week onsite, subject to change at management’s discretion; some weeks will require five days onsite. The stated salary is $128,000 gross per annum. The application deadline is December 11, 2026, with interviews intended for January 2027.

Requirements

Graduate degree in conservation or equivalent training.
At least ten years of experience conserving paintings in a modern and contemporary museum setting or equivalent.
Experience supervising and mentoring junior-level conservators.
Experience planning treatment budgets.
Experience working with living artists, studio assistants, and artists’ estates.
Knowledge and experience with current documentation procedures, including digital photography (U.V., IR, and photomicrography).
Understanding of the application of analytical instruments, including X-ray fluorescence, Fourier-transform Infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy.
Ability to communicate effectively in a highly collaborative and variable environment, including with Museum staff and the public.
Experience overseeing complex exhibitions and employing preventive display strategies.

Nice To Haves

Experience serving as a courier and ability to travel.

Responsibilities

Examine, document, and treat paintings in the collection and occasionally works under temporary custody.
Participate in departmental activities, including acquisitions, exhibition preparation, gallery maintenance, collection care, loans, and research on possible acquisitions.
Monitor works in storage and advise on environmental conditions, packing, and other preventive conservation measures.
Collaborate with curatorial, Collection Management and Exhibition Registration, Exhibition Planning and Administration, Exhibition Design and Production, and Imaging and Visual Resources departments.
Research historic and contemporary artists’ and designers’ materials and practices.
Explore new conservation methods, tools, and techniques, and stay current with approaches to modern and contemporary art conservation.
Communicate with artists and related stakeholders about in-depth conservation issues.
Supervise, train, and mentor Assistant/Associate Conservators, Fellows, and Interns.
Prepare works for outgoing loans and oversee their safe transport and installation.
Perform other duties reasonably related to the described functions.