Paintings Conservator

The Museum of Modern Art•New York, NY

10d•$128,000 - $128,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Museum of Modern Art is hiring a Paintings Conservator in its David Booth Conservation Department. Given the interdisciplinary nature of modern and contemporary art conservation, the role works collaboratively on a wide range of modern and contemporary works across all curatorial departments and participates in departmental activities involving examination, documentation, treatment, research into artists’ materials and approaches, acquisitions, exhibitions, collection care, loans, and courier responsibilities. The Paintings Conservator examines, documents, and treats paintings; advises on preventive conservation and environmental conditions; researches artists’ materials and practices; and explores conservation methods, tools, and techniques. The role collaborates with Museum departments, communicates with artists and stakeholders on complex conservation matters, and supervises, trains, and mentors junior conservators, fellows, and interns. It also prepares works for outgoing loans and oversees their safe transport and installation. 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 still require five days onsite. The position reports to the Agnes Gund Chief Conservator. The stated salary is $128,000 gross per annum.

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, their 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 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 are desirable.

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, including the review of possible acquisitions.
Monitor collection works in storage and advise on environmental conditions, packing, and other ongoing preventive conservation measures.
Collaborate with curatorial, Collection Management and Exhibition Registration, Exhibition Planning and Administration, Exhibition Design and Production, and Imaging and Visual Resources teams.
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.