Job Posting: Conservation Studio Technician, Menil Drawing Institute – The Menil Collection (Houston, Texas)

The Menil Collection
Employment Opportunity 
Title: Conservation Studio Technician, Menil Drawing Institute
Department: Conservation
Reports to: Chief Conservator
General Responsibilities:
The Conservation Studio Technician, Menil Drawing Institute performs a variety of duties in connection with the preservation and management of works on paper in the museum’s collection and ensures that proper procedures are followed with regard to the care, registration, documentation, and exhibition of those works.
Specific Duties:

  1. Under the direction of the Paper Conservator, prepare safe housing for works on paper including mat cutting and hinging of artworks and constructing specialized housings for non-standard or unusually fragile drawings.
  2. Perform specialized handling of drawings including, but not limited to, the hinging of artworks.
  3. Construct specialized housing for works on paper.
  4. Serve as a research assistant to the paper lab.
  5. Assist with exhibition preparation, rotation, and upkeep.
  6. Manage digital image processing, printing, and filing.
  7. Collect, chart, and process environmental readings.
  8. Create, organize, and maintain files for works on paper.
  9. Provide administrative assistance in workshop and symposium planning.  Arrange travel, develop and manage itineraries and schedules, and perform related duties as needed.
  10. Collect micro-fade testing (MFT) data under the close supervision of the Paper Conservator.
  11. Support Proctor for drawing viewing room.  Monitor visitors as needed.
  12. As needed, assist in the safe transportation of drawings from storage to the viewing.

Qualifications:

  1. Bachelor’s degree and two to three years experience relevant to the position or the equivalent.
  2. Superior judgement and professional initiative.
  3. Interest and/or background in conservation, art or art history preferred.
  4. Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, TMS, Adobe Bridge/Photoshop and other standard office procedures and equipment.

Salary and benefits competitive and commensurate with experience.  Please send resume and cover letter to:  Director of Human Resources, The Menil Collection, 1511 Branard Street, Houston, Texas 77006.  Application materials may also be emailed to:  smmaloch@menil.org