Revised 7/27/2017
The Princeton University Art Museum, one of the nation’s preeminent cultural institutions in an academic setting, seeks applications for the position of Conservator. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work within the setting of an art museum that is intimate in scale yet expansive in scope, overseeing the care and preservation of a highly-regarded, globe-spanning collection representing 5,000 years of world history.
Under the supervision of the Associate Director for Collections and Exhibitions, the Conservator oversees the Museum’s conservation laboratory and has responsibility for the physical care of the Museum’s extensive collections. The Conservator supervises, schedules, and/or performs conservation and preservation of the Museum’s collections, including examination, documentation, analysis, research, preventative maintenance, and treatment. The Conservator also manages all contract conservators, student interns, and volunteers who participate in conservation activities, and coordinates with the Director, curators, registrars, and other staff members to establish procedures and priorities for safe handling, storage, exhibition, and loan of the collections. Moreover, the Conservator collaborates with Museum educators to inform the campus and community about conservation and preservation initiatives. The position requires the ability to develop and oversee faculty and student collaborations and innovative art-science partnerships, and may require the ability to plan and oversee a substantial expansion of the Museum’s conservation activities and facilities at a future date. Working with the Director, the Associate Director for Institutional Advancement, and others, the Conservator assists in the stewardship of donors, prepares grant documents, and advances funding strategies.
The Museum is a fast paced, team-based environment, producing multiple projects that range in scale and complexity and are subject to demanding timetables. An ability to balance multiple projects simultaneously and to communicate effectively and regularly with many members of staff, including the Museum Director, is essential to the position.
Required qualifications include an advanced degree in art conservation. A concentration in painting conservation is preferred, although a background in the conservation of three-dimensional objects may be considered. A minimum of five to ten years of conservation laboratory work beyond the internship level, including administrative or supervisory experience, is essential. Candidates with additional experience will be prioritized.
With collecting origins dating to the 1750s, the Princeton University Art Museum is one of the finest art museums in the country. Formally established in 1882, its collections feature nearly 100,000 works of art ranging from ancient to contemporary art and spanning the globe. Its collections of Chinese painting, the art of the ancient Americas, and photography are widely regarded as being among the world’s richest. A private institution serving the public good, the Museum is committed to serving the University, local and regional communities, and beyond through a dynamic program of temporary exhibitions, new scholarship, and innovative programming. By collaborating with experts across many disciplines, fostering sustained study of original works of art, and uniting scholarship with broad accessibility, the Museum contributes to the development of critical thinking and visual literacy at Princeton University and enhances the civic fabric of our nation.
To learn more about the Princeton University Art Museum, please visit http://artmuseum.princeton.edu.
To apply for this position, please submit a cover letter, a CV, and contact information for three references to https://www.princeton.edu/acad-positions/position/682.
Appointment to this position is subject to the University’s background check policy.
Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
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