Assistant or Associate Photography Conservator

The Museum of Modern Art; New York (NY); On-site; USD 101,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Museum of Modern Art in New York, NY is currently accepting applications for an Assistant or Associate Photography Conservator in the David Booth Conservation Department. The role involves collaboration across departments, documentation, treatment, and preventive care of photographs from the 19th century to contemporary works.

Requires a graduate degree in conservation and extensive post-graduate experience for the Associate level.

Qualifications

• Graduate or undergraduate degree in conservation or equivalent training.
• Two years of postgraduate experience in photograph conservation for Assistant level.
• Seven years of postgraduate experience in photograph conservation including museum experience for Associate level.
• Experience with living artists or artists’ estates is desirable.
• Experience in conservation of contemporary photographs is desirable.
• Knowledge of documentation procedures, including digital photography.
• Experience with analytical instruments (XRF, FTIR, Raman) desirable.
• Strong interpersonal and written communication skills for Assistant level and collaborative ability for Associate level.
• On-site presence required five days a week during the initial 90 days.

Responsibilities

• Examines, documents, and treats photographs in the collection.
• Supports all departmental activities including acquisition, exhibition prep, collection care, loans and research.
• Monitors storage, advises on environmental conditions and preventive conservation.
• Collaborates with Conservation, curatorial, Collection Management, Exhibition Planning and other departments.
• Researches historic and contemporary artist materials and practices.
• Explores new conservation methods, tools, and techniques.
• Communicates with artists and related stakeholders on conservation issues.
• Stays current with conservation approaches through professional meetings.
• Mentors Fellows and Interns.
• Assists with preparation of works for loans and overseeing transport and installation.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Written communication

Collaboration

Education

Degree in conservation

Tools

X-ray fluorescence

FTIR spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy

Digital photography (UV/IR/photomicrography)

Job description

Assistant or Associate Photography Conservator

Job Category : Conservation

Requisition Number : ASSIS002441

• Posted : October 29, 2026
• Full-Time
• On-site

Locations

Showing 1 location

New York, NY 10019, USA

Description

The Museum of Modern Art is currently accepting applications for an Assistant or Associate Photography Conservator in the David Booth Conservation Department.

Given the interdisciplinary nature of modern and contemporary art conservation, the Assistant/Associate Photography Conservator works collaboratively on a wide range of photographic materials from the 19th-century to modern and contemporary works across all curatorial departments and participates in all departmental activities, including examination, documentation, treatment, researching artists’ materials and approaches, as well as acquisition, exhibition, collection care, loan, and courier responsibilities.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Examines, documents, and treats photographs in the collection.
• Participates in supporting all departmental activities, including acquisition, preparation of photographs for exhibition, collection care, loans, and research.
• Monitors collection works in storage, provides advice on environmental conditions, packing, and other preventive conservation steps for the collection on an ongoing basis.
• Works collaboratively across departments at the Museum including Conservation, curatorial, Collection Management and Exhibition Registration, Exhibition Planning and Administration, Exhibition Design and Production, and Imaging and Visual Resources.
• Researches historic and contemporary artist materials and practices.
• Explores new conservation methods, tools, and techniques.
• Communicates with artists and related stakeholders on in-depth conservation issues.
• Stays current with approaches to the conservation of modern and contemporary art including new treatment methods, tools and techniques through participation in professional meetings.
• Assists in the training and mentorship of Fellows and Interns.
• Assists with the preparation of works for outgoing loans to borrowing institutions, which includes overseeing their safe transport and installation.
• Performs any other duties reasonably related to the functions described above.

Requirements:

• Graduate or undergraduate degree in conservation or equivalent training model.
• Preferably two years of postgraduate experience in the conservation of photographs in a museum setting or equivalent for the Assistant Conservator level.
• A minimum of seven years’ of postgraduate experience in the conservation of photographs that includes museum experience for the Associate level.
• Experience working with living artists, their studio assistants, and artists’ estates is desirable.
• Experience in the conservation of contemporary photographs is desirable.
• Knowledge and experience in current methods of documentation procedures, including digital photography (U.V., IR, and Photomicrography).
• Experience working with conservation scientists and an understanding of the application of analytical instruments, including X-ray fluorescence, Fourier-transform Infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy is desirable.
• Strong interpersonal and written communication skills for Assistant level.
• Ability to communicate effectively in a highly collaborative and variable environment, including with museum staff and the public at Associate level.
• Ability to work cooperatively on projects and to work independently on treatments.
• Experience with complex exhibitions and employing preventive display strategies is desirable for the Associate Conservator level.
• Experience serving as courier, and ability to travel is desirable at Associate. Courier experience is not required at Assistant level.
• On-site presence is required five days a week during the 90-day initial employment period. Thereafter the schedule is four days per week onsite, subject to change at management’s discretion, with the understanding that some weeks on-site presence five days a week will be required.

Reports to: Andrew W. Mellon Photography Conservator and Agnes Gund Chief Conservator

Final title assignment will be dependent on credentials of the finalist.

Salary: The salary for Assistant Conservator level is $101,162 (gross) per annum; the salary for the Associate Conservator level is $119,557 (gross) per annum.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement: Equal Employment Opportunity has been, and will continue to be, a fundamental principle at the Museum, where employment is based upon personal capabilities and qualifications without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, marital and civil partnership/union status, alienage or citizenship status, creed, genetic predisposition or carrier status, unemployment status, familial status, domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking victim status, caregiver status, arrest or conviction record to the extent required by applicable law, credit history, or any other protected category as established by applicable law, including the New York City Human Rights Law (“NYCHRL”).

This is a unionized position at MoMA with covered employees represented by Local 2110, UAW, AFL-CIO.

October 2026

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.