Sherman Fairchild Conservator in Charge, Photographs Conservation

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

$210K — $235K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Master's degree in conservation with a focus on photographs and time-based media.
  • 10+ years of experience in photograph or time-based media conservation, preferably in a major museum setting.
  • Strong leadership and management experience in a museum conservation department.
  • Proven track record in conservation treatments and independent research.
  • Broad understanding of modern conservation practices and analytical instrumentation.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and mentor a diverse team of conservators, fellows, and interns.
  • Manage staffing, project allocation, and professional development.
  • Coordinate examination schedules for loans and exhibitions of photographs and time-based media.
  • Oversee the conservation of photographs and time-based media across museum collections.
  • Advise on environmental decisions impacting photographic and time-based media installations.
  • Conduct treatments and technical studies of artworks.
  • Enhance donor programs and support innovative research approaches.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, vision and life insurance.
  • 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching.
  • Generous paid time off including annual leave and 13 holidays.
  • Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Account.
  • Commuter benefits for public transport or parking costs.
  • Financial planning services and training program support.
  • Museum shop discounts and access to cultural institutions.
Full Job Description
GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

The Conservator in Charge of the Department of Photograph and Time-Based Conservation, one of the museum's six conservation and science departments (Objects, Paintings, Paper, Textiles, Scientific Research), is responsible for the conservation of the collections of Photographs and Time-Based media in all departments in accordance with the highest standards of the profession and leads a team (currently) of five conservators and an administrator. You have extensive experience in the treatment and technical examination of photographs and a distinguished record in this area of conservation specialization. You will manage an intensive schedule of examinations involving acquisitions, installations, and exhibitions, working in concert with the appropriate curators, and including the installations being prepared for the new Tang Wing for Modern and Contemporary Art (opening 2030). Working with the Department of Photographs, and other relevant curatorial departments, you will advise on the conservation needs of their collections of photographs and time-based media, to establish priorities for treatment, conservation, and the technical study of objects. You will be involved in decisions relating to the Museum environment, both in galleries and storage, that involve photographs and time-based media art. It is expected that under your guidance, the department will remain a center for teaching and training of the next generation of conservators.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:
  • Lead, mentor and inspire a team of conservators, an administrator, fellows, and interns
  • Responsible for future staffing plans, project allocation, professional development, and operating budgets
  • Coordinate the examination of photographs and time-based media for the Museum's extensive loan and exhibition schedule, including installations throughout the permanent collections
  • Responsible for the conservation of photographs and time-based media throughout the museum's collections
  • Advise on decisions relating to the Museum environment, installations, capital projects, exhibitions, acquisition and storage that involve photographs and time-based media art.
  • Undertake treatment and study of works
  • Coordinate the examination of photographs and time-based media for the Museum's extensive loan and exhibition schedule
  • Organize and oversee the examination of photographs and time-based media artworks that enter the museum through acquisition, gift, and loan, including loan exhibitions.
  • Coordinate and enhance the department's donor programs
  • Encourage and support research, publishing and innovative approaches that reflect the latest advances in the field
  • Liaise with all other relevant departments, including Conservation & Science, Curatorial, Exhibitions, Registrar, Digital, Buildings, Publications, Education, Design, Development
  • Other related duties as assigned.


REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Master's degree in conservation, or the equivalent, with an emphasis on the examination and treatment of photographs and time-based media.
  • Demonstrated leadership and management skills in an active museum conservation department with wide-ranging responsibilities
  • Demonstrated achievements in conservation treatments, independent research, and publications relating to the conservation of objects and the technical history of artist's materials and techniques
  • Minimum of ten years' experience in the conservation of photographs or time-based media including experience with a major museum collection preferred
  • Broad understanding of modern conservation practice and its integration with the historical study of objects, proficiency in laboratory methods and familiarity with analytical instrumentation
  • Excellent record in conservation ethics, philosophy and practice and the use of analytical instrumentation required
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills
  • Broad recognition within the field, including internationally
  • Commitment to encouraging diversity in the field and to supporting interns and fellows
  • A demonstrated ability in teaching and training emerging professionals


COMPENSATION RANGE:
  • Pay Range: $210,000.00 - $235,000.00 / Annually


The advertised pay scale reflects the good faith minimum and maximum salary range for this role. The advertised pay scale is not a promise of a particular wage for any specific employee. The specific compensation offered to a candidate may be dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate's experience, education, special licensing or qualifications, and other factors.

Location Requirements

At time of employment, employees are expected to be located within commuting distance of the Museum. "Commuting distance" means that they are located in one of following states: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or Pennsylvania (the "Tri-state and PA" areas), and be able to commute to and from the Museum in a single day.

Benefits Offerings

The Museum provides competitive compensation, and generous benefits and perks for all eligible employees. Note: Benefits Offering may differ based on Employee Status.
  • Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
  • 403(b) basic retirement plan and optional matching retirement plan with an outstanding employer match
  • Considerable paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and 13 Museum holidays
  • Long-term disability coverage
  • Flexible Spending Accounts & Health Savings Account (pre-tax income for eligible health care expenses)
  • Commuter benefits (pre-tax income for parking or mass transit expenses)
  • Free financial-planning services
  • Financial assistance for relevant coursework, seminars, and training programs
  • 25% discount for staff in Museum shops
  • A subsidized staff cafeteria
  • Access to the Museums Council pass, which grants free admission to various museums and cultural institutions


We recognize that it is highly unlikely that someone meets 100% of the desired attributes for a role. If much of this job description describes you, then please apply for this role.

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