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Reporting to the Director, Museum Services, the Chief Preparator will lead the Art Prep & Installation team as well as oversee gallery installation and maintenance. This position will manage a team of preparators working in exhibition-based logistics including mount making, carpentry, fabrication, crating, framing, installation, and transport. The ideal candidate will have experience with shop planning and management, including metal and wood shop fabrication processes, as well as a confident knowledge of large-scale rigging projects, using professional grade woodworking tools, lifts, and other heavy machinery. This position will collaborate with the larger Curatorial & Collections portfolio to build budgets for departmental needs, special projects, and associated project timelines in and around the museum. Through team building, mentoring and clear communication, this position will assist in the creation and support of a robust installation and rotation process to ensure best practices and departmental goals are met.
Responsibilities
Manages all members of the preparations team, including hiring, orienting, training and mentoring a team of full-time permanent and on-call preparators
Creates and manages schedules, budgets, and other deliverables in collaboration with the Director, Museum Services
Oversees facilities and equipment in multiple locations, including coordination with Collections Management and Facilities team for all on and offsite needs, safety standard and practice compliance, access and training protocols, and procurement processes
In coordination with other departments, facilitates processes related to exhibition installation and deinstallation, gallery maintenance and rotations, and special projects
Oversees safe installation and deinstallation of artworks in the galleries
Evaluates, engages, and manages vendors needed for fabrication, equipment rentals, rigging, transportation, and service needed for duties as assigned
Collaborates with Collections Management, Registration, Exhibitions, Design, IT, and Facilities to identify and plan collections and exhibitions projects involving mount making, framing, casework fabrication and management, rigging, tech installation, and lighting throughout the museum and grounds
Special projects and other duties as designated by Director, Museum Services
Requirements
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in art, art history, museum studies, arts administration, or a closely related field is required
Minimum 8 years of experience in supervising and leading teams in preparations and installation within a museum environment
Minimum 10 years working in art handling with a confident and comfortable understanding of best practices related to the installation, conservation, and functional needs of all types of objects (2D, 3D, Installation, multi-media, etc.) Preferred experience with an encyclopedic range of types and mediums