Conservator, Textiles

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA); Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 93,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension plan

Job summary

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is seeking a Conservator, Textiles to care for an encyclopedic collection. The position involves treatment, preventive conservation, and collaboration with curatorial staff on exhibitions and loans at the Conservation Center.

The ideal candidate holds a Master’s in Textile Conservation with 7+ years of experience and strong documentation skills, ready to lead storage and handling standards across the textiles collection.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Textile conservation.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in conservation with strong textiles background.
• Advanced knowledge of conservation principles, techniques and materials.
• Experienced museum professional with understanding of standards and practices in conservation and collections care.
• Mastery of conservation documentation and database management.

Responsibilities

• Research materials, techniques, construction, and deterioration to inform treatment and preventive conservation strategies.
• Assess and document condition of textile objects across the collection.
• Prepare condition reports, treatment proposals, and installation guidelines.
• Collaborate with curatorial and registration staff on display requirements and loan feasibility.
• Plan and install permanent, temporary, and traveling exhibitions and loans.
• Serve as courier for traveling exhibitions and loans as needed.
• Recommend environmental conditions and coordinate exhibition maintenance with staff.
• Develop and implement standards for handling, storage, mounting, packing, and transport of textiles.
• Partner with facilities staff on preventive conservation, including IPM and environmental monitoring.
• Ensure proper storage systems for textiles and costumes.
• Lecture and publish on conservation findings; engage with current literature.
• Respond to public inquiries and conduct lab tours explaining procedures.
• Provide training and supervision to interns or volunteers.

Skills

Textile conservation

Museum conservation

Education

Master's degree in Conservation (Textile)

Job description

Conservator, Textiles (Regular, Full-Time)

Conservation Center

Reporting to the Senior Conservator, Textiles, the Conservator, Textiles, is responsible for the care and study of the Museum’s encyclopedic collection of artworks, with an active exhibition, publication, and loan program. Duties in the full-time position include treatment, examination, and preventative care of the permanent collections as well as the planning and installation of exhibitions and loans, and the development of permanent collection storage standards. This role involves close collaboration with curatorial staff to ensure the care and longevity of the collection. This role also involves project coordination on behalf of conservation, for multiple gallery installations and museum initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Conducts research on materials, techniques, construction, and deterioration processes to inform treatment decisions and preventive conservation strategies.
• Examines, assesses, and documents the condition of costume and textile objects across the Museum’s collections using accepted conservation methodologies.
• Prepares comprehensive written and photographic documentation, including condition reports, treatment proposals and reports, technical analyses, and installation and handling guidelines.
• Collaborates with curatorial and registration staff to provide technical guidance on display requirements, mount-making considerations, environmental parameters, and loan feasibility.
• Organizes the planning, preparation, and installation of permanent, temporary, and traveling exhibitions, as well as incoming and outgoing loans.
• Serves as a courier for traveling exhibitions and loans, as assigned.
• Provides recommendations for environmental conditions and coordinates exhibition maintenance in collaboration with Conservation Technicians.
• Contributes to the development and implementation of standards and best practices for handling, storage, mounting, packing, and transport of costume and textile collections.
• Partners with collections management and facilities staff on preventive conservation initiatives, including environmental monitoring, risk assessment, and Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
• Ensures proper implementation of storage systems for textiles and costumes, including flat, rolled, and hanging storage solutions.
• Lectures and publishes on conservation findings, keeping informed on current literature
• Responds to inquiries from the public, conducts lab tours, and explains conservation procedures
• Participates in professional development activities, including engagement with conservation organizations, conferences, and current literature, to remain informed of advances in the field.
• Provides guidance, training, and supervision to interns, fellows, or volunteers, as assigned.
• Performs other duties or special projects as assigned
• Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time.

Benefits

• The expected annual salary for this Los Angeles, CA-based position is $80,000.00- $92,700.00, subject to change, and the position is eligible for LACMA’s comprehensive benefits package, including pension plan.
• LACMA is committed to providing its employees with valuable and competitive benefits as a core part of a strong overall employee experience.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Conservation from an accredited graduate school, with a focus on Textile conservation.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in conservation, with a strong background in textiles.
• Advanced knowledge of conservation principles, techniques, and materials.
• Experienced museum professional with a clear understanding of the standards and practices related to conservation and collections care.
• Mastery of conservation documentation and database management.

This position is represented by AFSCME District Council 36 and the terms and conditions of the role are subject to what may be negotiated with the union.