Chief Preparator

Responsibilities

• Uses advanced and specialized expertise to oversee the design, construction, installation and de-installation of museum exhibits and displays.
• Works directly with artists and curators to strategize, fabricate, and mount artworks, and customize installations and supplementary materials.
• Collaborates with Manager of Registration and Exhibitions to define work orders and execute project plans; oversees daily preparatory personnel, crew, and external contractors to satisfy institutional deadlines, budgets, and priorities.
• Manages technical elements of builds and audio/visual arrangements encompassing planning, fabrication, procurement of supplies/gear/programs, deployment, and direction of third-party suppliers.
• Manages all gallery, study room, and collections storage lighting systems, fixtures and hardware in collaboration with staff and University facilities.
• Prepares works of art on paper for display including matting and framing.
• Displays creativity in solving technical problems and flexibility in adapting to unusual circumstances.
• Collaborates with the Manager of Registration and Exhibitions in the recruitment, training, scheduling, guidance, and delivering constructive feedback to install crew.
• Collaborates with Manager of Registration and Exhibitions to determine budgetary needs of projects.
• Works with Registrar staff on receipt, packing, art-handling, and crating of all relevant artwork.
• In collaboration with Manager of Registration and Exhibitions, coordinates exhibition operations and needs with University facilities, Deputy Director, Guest Services, and other museum staff and calendars.
• Maintains production facility, art storage locations both on- and off-site, A/V inventory, and other back of house spaces.
• Handles, mounts, mats, frames packs, and moves works of art for the purposes of study, imaging, collections storage and display.
• Collaborates with conservators, registrars, photographers, project leads, curators, educators, designers, and other staff as needed, to access and/or move objects.
• Attends all mandatory safety and equipment training sessions.
• Complies with and upholds safety standards for all equipment use.
• Performs billing and accounting duties per exhibition or project as assigned.
• Serves as a keyholder staff member with full museum access and a primary point of contact for gallery and collections storage facilities and maintenance.
• Collaborates closely with other departments, particularly Facilities and Security, to provide continued assistance to the larger museum when needed and ensures compliance with all mandatory regulations.
• Works autonomously within established procedures to care for, handle, and display museum collections.
• Packs, unpacks and transports objects or artwork.
• Monitors and maintains the climate control system.
• Oversees the maintenance of exhibits, displays, storage areas, loading docks, museum grounds, building facilities, and shop equipment and supplies.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Minimum requirements include vocational training, apprenticeships or the equivalent experience in related field (not typically required to have a four-year degree). Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Preferred Qualifications

Education: College or university degree in a related field. Experience: Background in art museums, professional artist studio practices and/or galleries. Certifications: Relevant certification to use forklifts, personnel lifts and other motorized equipment.

Technical Skills or Knowledge

• Accomplished in multimedia and AV installation.
• Proficient with Adobe CS, Sketchup and or other relevant exhibition design software.
• Rigging experience.
• Advanced knowledge of museum best practices, including the safe handling, care and installation of all art objects, art collection storage and security, installation hardware and gallery lighting.
• Gallery installations and carpentry skills, advanced fabrication and construction skills; extensive experience working with hand, mechanical and power tools, hardware, shop equipment, ladders, lifts, and safety protocols.
• Knowledge of ADA accessibility requirements for exhibition layouts.
• Knowledge of fine art packing methods, materials, and related transit.
• Advanced skill in matting and framing, and mount making.

Preferred Competencies

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Multitask on a variety of concurrent projects.
• Effectively manage details as well as the larger scope of any given project.

Working Conditions

• Work early mornings, evenings, or weekends when needed, for project deadlines.
• Moving objects of up to 50 lbs.