Associate Conservator of Photographic Materials

Philadelphia Museum of Art; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 64,800 - 79,200; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free general admission to the museum

Discounted guest tickets

Staff tours and presentations

Museum discounts

Job summary

The Philadelphia Museum of Art seeks an Associate Conservator of Photographic Materials to join its paper conservation lab. You will examine, document, and conserve a broad range of photographs, oversee preventive care, and collaborate across departments on exhibitions, loans, and storage.

The ideal candidate holds a graduate degree in art conservation with a specialty in photography, at least five years of experience, and strong communication and mentoring skills.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree from a recognized Art Conservation training program with a specialization in photographic materials.
• Minimum of 5 years professional experience beyond the degree in the study, preservation, and treatment of photographic materials.
• Ability to plan and execute a variety of conservation treatments on photographs and works on paper.
• Experience collaborating with professionals on the conservation of time-based media.
• Experience/interest in microfadometry analysis of photographs.
• Demonstrated visual, manual, and scholarly aptitudes. Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Responsibilities

• Examine, document, research, and treat a broad range of photographic materials.
• Evaluate the condition of photographs requested for loan, exhibition, and acquisition consideration.
• Collaborate with colleagues on housing, installation, storage, handling, packing, and transport of photographic materials.
• Collaborate with conservation scientists in chemical and instrumental analysis and characterization of photographic materials.
• Engage professionally with colleagues and the museum community by publishing and presenting technical and historical research, attending conferences and workshops, and pursuing continuing education opportunities to expand and refine knowledge and skills.
• Work with contemporary artists and studios to document artistic processes and preservation goals.
• Serve as an integral member on a team of museum colleagues dedicated to the exhibition and preservation of time‑based media in the collection.
• Mentor and train junior conservation staff, post‑graduate fellows, interns, and technicians.
• Participate as a member of the Conservation Division in a range of institutional initiatives and functions, including professional and public engagement.
• Examine, document, and conduct minor treatments on prints and drawings as assigned.

Skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Collaboration

Manual dexterity

Independent work

Scholarly aptitude

Education

Graduate degree in Art Conservation (photographic materials)

Job description

We Are Committed to an Inclusive Workplace

At the Philadelphia Museum of Art, we actively seek to employ a diverse group of people who embody our organizational values. We welcome and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply, especially those from marginalized and underrepresented groups in the museum field, who are inspired by our shared purpose and enjoy working collaboratively with others.

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.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art welcomes applications for the position of Associate Conservator of Photographic Materials. Working with, and reporting to, the Senior Conservator of Works of Art on Paper, the Conservator will perform conservation examinations and treatments on the museum’s collection of over 35,000 photographic works of art.

The PMA holds significant works that encompass the history of photography, including: early cased daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, and tintypes, black and white salted paper, albumen, collodion, gelatin silver, and platinum prints, analog color photographs and a growing collection of digitally printed images. The collection also contains matrices such as glass, gelatin, and film negatives.

The Conservator will examine, evaluate, document, conserve, and oversee preventative care for a wide range of photographic materials. In collaboration with other museum staff, the Conservator will conduct historical and scientific research to further understanding of the materials and photographic processes used by the artists represented in the collection. They will serve as an integral member of the museum’s paper conservation lab and will participate in activities relating to exhibitions, installations, loans, preventive care of the permanent collections, and professional and public engagement.

Specifically, you will:

• Examine, document, conduct research, and perform conservation treatment on a broad range of photographic materials
• Evaluate and document the condition of photographs requested for loan, exhibition, and acquisition consideration.
• Collaborate with and advise colleagues across the museum on a range of preservation activities, such as housing, installation, storage, handling, packing, and transport of photographic materials
• Collaborate with conservation scientists in chemical and instrumental analysis and characterization of photographic materials
• Engage professionally with colleagues and the museum community by publishing and presenting technical and historical research, attending conferences and workshops, and pursuing continuing education opportunities to expand and refine knowledge and skills
• Work with contemporary artists and studios to document artistic processes and preservation goals
• Serve as an integral member on a team of museum colleagues dedicated to the exhibition and preservation of time‑based media in the collection
• Mentor and train junior conservation staff, post‑graduate fellows, interns, and technicians
• Participate as a member of the Conservation Division in a range of institutional initiatives and functions, including professional and public engagement
• Examine, document, and conduct minor treatments on prints and drawings as assigned

Your background and experience include:

• Graduate degree from a recognized Art Conservation training program, with a specialization in photographic materials and general training in the care and conservation of works of art on paper
• A minimum of 5 years professional experience beyond the degree in the study, preservation, and treatment of photographic materials
• Proven ability to plan and execute a variety of conservation treatments on photographs and other works of art on paper
• Experience collaborating with aligned professionals on the conservation of time‑based media
• Experience/interest in microfadometry analysis of photographs
• Demonstrated visual, manual, and scholarly aptitudes. Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively

Position and Compensation Details

• The salary for this position is $72,000
• This position is Full‑Time, Exempt, and 35 hours per week
• This position is part of the AFSCME Local 397 bargaining unit.
• This position reports to Charles K. Williams, II, Senior Conservator of Works of Art on Paper
• Physical requirements:
  • Able to remain stationary for extended periods of time, to utilize computers and other office equipment required of this job, to perform physically administrative duties in a typical interior office environment, gallery, or exhibit space, and to access most public and staff areas of the museum campus
• Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job

Institutional Requirements

• Upholds the professional standards of the field, always acts in a manner that is consistent with the best interests of the museum and protects and enhances its reputation and standing within the community of museums
• Adheres to the museum’s code of ethics and Employee Handbook and avoids any real or perceived conflicts of interest
• Shows respect for co‑workers and visitors and an understanding of and appreciation for the diversity of the museum’s staff, volunteers, and audiences
• Maintains confidentiality
• Adheres to all museum protocols, procedures, rules, and policies

Application Timeline

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage candidates to apply early as the position will close once we have a robust applicant pool or a candidate has been selected.

What We Offer

• Free general admission to the museum for you and your immediate family
• Discounted guest tickets for admission
• Discounts on gift memberships
• Special staff tours and presentations from our curatorial and conservation teams
• Discounts at the museum restaurant, museum cafés, and museum retail and online stores

We offer a comprehensive benefits package for employees including:

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Fully paid short‑term disability insurance, long‑term disability insurance, and life insurance
• Health savings or flexible spending account program
• Retirement savings program with museum match
• Paid vacation, personal days, sick days, and holidays
• Eligibility for certain benefits is based on a variety of factors including the employee’s regular schedule and tenure