Associate Conservator in Los Angeles CA

Summary

Associate Conservator

J. Paul Getty Trust, The Posted on 2022-11-18

Salary	Not mentioned
Location	Los Angeles, CA 90049 (Brentwood area)
Type	Full-time

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Job Description

Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion at Getty: Getty believes diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion are essential to our excellence and to the execution of our mission. The Getty community values differences in the pursuit of inquiry and knowledge, mutual understanding, respect, trust, transparency, and cooperation. We are committed to creating a diverse and welcoming workplace that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and includes individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Individuals of color, women, LGBTQIA+, veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Job Summary:

The Getty Research Institute’s (GRI) Conservation and Preservation Department seeks applicants for a full-time position of Associate Conservator of Photographs. The Associate Photographs Conservator will join a dynamic team of conservators, mount-makers, pre-program and graduate interns and will report to the GRI’s Head of Conservation and Preservation.

This position is primarily in charge of the care of the GRI large collection of photographic items which includes prints and a wide range of glass negatives and transparencies, from the 19th century to present day. Duties will include examination, evaluation, documentation, and treatment of photographs, and preventive care. The Associate Photographs Conservator is expected to contribute to research into the collections’ materials and photographic processes, and into methodologies for its long-term preservation. They may participate in the planning and installation of exhibitions and contribute research and writing in preparation for exhibition didactics and catalogues as needed. The Associate Photographs Conservator will be required to remain current with research and advances in the conservation field and to work closely and in partnership with colleagues within the department, across the GRI and other Getty programs.

The Getty Research Institute is dedicated to furthering knowledge and advancing awareness of the visual arts and their various histories through its expertise, ongoing collecting program, public programs, institutional partnerships, exhibitions, publications, digital services, and residential scholars’ programs. Its Research Library and Special Collections of rare materials and digital resources serve an international community of scholars and the interested public. The Institute »s activities and scholarly resources guide and sustain each other and provide a unique environment for research, critical inquiry, and scholarly exchange.

Major Job Responsibilities:

This position is primarily in charge of the ongoing care of the GRI photographic holdings. Duties include:

• Examination, documentation, and treatments of photographs, assessment and prioritization of the long-term needs and preventative care of the collection.
• Advise on housing, handling, storage, installation, packing and shipping of collections, and may contributes to environment and light exposure monitoring, and advise curators, archivists, and other staff on conservation matters.
• Carry out research and publish on the materials, processes, and preservation of the collection, and may advise on media identification for exhibition labels, publications, as well as for potential acquisitions.
• May participate in the planning and installation of exhibitions, examine, and treat photographs in preparation for exhibitions and loans, and act as courier for exhibitions and loans.
• Contributes to the day-to-day workflows of the conservation department.
• Performs conservation treatments to highest current standards, and prepares comprehensive conservation documentation of objects’ condition and conservation activities.
• Works in partnership with department colleagues, curators, archivists, exhibition coordinators, art handlers, and other departments.
• Publishes and presents research and may also do outreach and education to general audiences.
• May supervise interns, provide training to staff, interns, professionals, and the general public as needed.

Qualifications:

• MA in conservation or equivalent degree
• 5-7 years experience in conservation of photographs

Requirement: All employees must be fully-vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus as a condition of employment. Exemptions from this requirement as a reasonable accommodation due to medical contraindication, disability or sincerely held religious belief or practice will be considered. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated abilities in the examination, evaluation, documentation, and treatment of photographs
• Expert hand skills and a record of successful complex conservation treatments of photographs
• Advanced knowledge of chemical and physical properties of photographs and photographic processes and their deterioration, as well as conservation materials
• Advanced knowledge of state-of-the-art research on the design, planning and operation of cool and cold storage for photographic collections
• Advanced knowledge of preventative conservation practices for collections and exhibition
• Experience with exhibition preparation is a plus
• Strong organizational skills including the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines
• Creative thinking and excellent problem-solving abilities
• Strong ability to communicate professionally and collegially
• Dedicated to furthering DEAI
• Interest in dissemination to the field and the public; interest in training and mentoring
• Ability to partner with complex teams across disciplines and to build long‐term relationships, excellent team player
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Adobe Creative Suite Knowledge of TMS desired
• Knowledge of personal safety equipment and standards

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship or immigration status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected status.

Company description:

One of the largest supporters of arts in the world, the J. Paul Getty Trust is an international cultural and philanthropic institution that focuses on the visual arts in all their dimensions. The Getty serves both the general public and a wide range of professional communities in Los Angeles and throughout the world. Through the work of the four Getty programs—the Museum, Research Institute, Conservation Institute, and Foundation—the Getty aims to further knowledge and nurture critical seeing through the growth and presentation of its collections and by advancing the understanding and preservation of the world »s artistic heritage. The Getty pursues this mission with the conviction that cultural awareness, creativity, and aesthetic enjoyment are essential to a vital and civil society.