Associate Objects Conservator – Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, is an encyclopedic collection comprising more than 450,000 objects. Founded in 1870, the Museum’s collections include ancient archaeological materials, American and European sculpture and decorative arts, African, Oceanic and Asian objects and sculpture, as well as contemporary works.
Conservation and Collections Management is an integral part of the Museum’s stated purpose to hold its collections in trust for future generations. Members of the department promote the long-term preservation of artworks through development of conservation treatments, study of materials and techniques, scholarly research and documentation. The department follows internationally established standards to document and maintain the aesthetic and physical integrity of works of art through six conservation disciplines, an analytical facility, and a collections management division responsible for safe exhibition, storage, transport, as well as the collections database.
Founded in 1929, the Objects Conservation Laboratory upholds a long and distinguished tradition of excellence in the examination, treatment, and preservation of cultural heritage, supported by a full range of scientific resources.
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston seeks to fill a full-time Associate Objects Conservator position beginning in the summer of 2016. The position may be renewed annually through current term end date of April 2019.
Under the direction of the Head of Objects Conservation or the Conservator, the Associate Conservator will be responsible for the conservation of works to be exhibited at the Museum’s sister museum, the Nagoya/Boston Museum of Fine Arts (N/BMFA), as well as objects to be loaned to other exhibition partners.
Essential Functions:
- Survey artworks from all areas of the Museum’s encyclopedic collection to make recommendations relating to travel and exhibition.
- Create budgets, schedule conservation treatments, and determine requirements for packing, installation, casework, and mountmaking.
- Carry out treatments and perform all work in accordance with the Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC).
- Fully document all work in writing and through photography, in accordance with AIC Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice and following departmental standards in MFA’s collections database system.
- Work closely with curatorial and other staff at the MFA, N/BMFA, and other venues to plan installations.
- Significant travel as a courier is expected.
- Supervise other staff as directed.
- Carry out research in support of treatments as needed.
- Perform additional tasks in support of conservation activities in the Objects Lab as needed.
Qualifications:
- Applicants must have a Master’s degree from a recognized conservation training program, or equivalent experience.
- A minimum of seven years of post-training experience is required.
- Familiarity with the treatment of a wide variety of materials is strongly preferred.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Experience with digital photography, Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel.
Application materials must be received by July 8, 2016. For consideration, please submit your letter of interest, résumé, and two letters of recommendation to: resumes@mfa.org. You may also submit your materials via postal mail to: Human Resources Department, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115. Confirmation of receipt of complete applications will be sent via e-mail.
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston is an Equal Opportunity Employer and seeks diversity in its workforce.