John E. and Louise Bryson Director, Getty Conservation Institute

Getty; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 200,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

403(b) Employee Investment retirement plan

Getty contribution to retirement account

Educational Assistance

Paid Vacation, Sick and Personal Days

On-Site Fitness Center

Job summary

A cultural heritage organization based in Los Angeles is seeking a Director for the Getty Conservation Institute. This role involves strategic leadership in advancing conservation practices globally and fostering an inclusive, innovative culture. The ideal candidate has over 10 years of experience in senior leadership within a conservation or cultural heritage organization, alongside a relevant advanced degree. The position requires international travel and offers comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of senior leadership in a mission-driven organization.
• Experience with institution-level responsibility for budgets and strategic initiatives.
• Multilingual proficiency is a plus.
• Multilingual proficiency a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a multi-year strategy for the GCI.
• Initiate and implement flagship GCI initiatives.
• Steer GCI’s research pipeline and training programs.
• Engage with international organizations and funders.
• Advance open access to data, tools, and publications; promote digital platforms that expand reach and provide knowledge and resources to conservation practitioners.
• Embed sustainability and climate resilience across methodologies, materials, facilities, and field operations.
• Serve as a visible, persuasive spokesperson for heritage conservation with international organizations, governments, NGOs, peer institutions, and funders.
• Build and steward strategic partnerships with intergovernmental organizations, governments, agencies, museums, universities, communities, and professional associations to co‑develop programs and scale impact.
• Engage the Los Angeles region—civic and cultural partners, academic institutions, and diverse communities—supporting Getty’s goal to be the city’s definitive arts leader.
• Build trust across cultures and sectors; negotiate alignment; communicate compellingly to technical and non‑technical audience.
• Lead and inspire a diverse staff, cultivating a human‑centered, inclusive, learning culture that values collaboration, innovation, and accountability.
• Attract, retain, and develop talent; ensure robust succession planning, professional development, and staff engagement.
• Maintain strong project governance and portfolio management to assure impact and deliver work on time, and to scope.
• Ensure fiscal discipline and resource allocation of the GCI’s $21.6M annual operating budget, as generated from Getty’s endowment.
• Develop and steward the GCI Council, which helps to support the work of the GCI, and leverage other external funding opportunities.
• Ensure management of risks and alignment with institutional processes and controls.
• Foster a culture of compliance with relevant safety, legal, and ethical standards in laboratories, studios, field sites, and data practices.

Skills

Collaborative executive leadership

Strategic initiative management

Relationship-building

Global knowledge exchange

Emotional intelligence

Education

Advanced degree in relevant discipline

Job description

Getty is committed to creating a welcoming workplace that reflects the various backgrounds of the communities we serve. We value differences in the pursuit of inquiry and knowledge, mutual understanding, respect, trust, transparency, and cooperation. 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.

Job Summary

The Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) works internationally to advance conservation practice in cultural heritage—objects, collections, buildings, sites, and heritage science—through field projects, scientific research, education and training, and the development and dissemination of new knowledge and information. In all its endeavors, the Institute creates and delivers knowledge that contributes to conservation of the world’s cultural heritage. Its work is driven by the values of excellence, innovation, leadership, collaboration, and service.

The John E. and Louise Bryson Director of the GCI is the Institute’s chief executive and strategic leader, steering and inspiring a diverse team of approximately 100 staff, cultivating a high performance, inclusive, learning culture that values collaboration, innovation, and accountability.

Serving on Getty’s executive team, the new Director will conceive, shape and execute a compelling vision for conservation in the twenty-first century, affirming GCI—and Getty more broadly—as a global leader in research-led, values-based, sustainable cultural heritage conservation practice.

This position is based at the Getty Center in Los Angeles, California.

Getty has partnered with Bridge Partners LLC and welcomes nominations or expressions of interest. To learn more about this opportunity, please contact:

Tory Clarke Amy Shea
Partner, Bridge Partners Partner, Bridge Partners

[e-mail] [e-mail]

Major Job Responsibilities

• Develop, articulate, and execute a multi‑year strategy for the GCI that advances Getty’s mission and institutional priorities.
• Initiate and implement flagship GCI initiatives and research agendas that measurably improve cultural heritage conservation practice and outcomes globally.
• Enhance a “One Getty” mindset by fostering cross‑program initiatives with the J. Paul Museum, Getty Research Institute, and Getty Foundation—aligning goals, resources, and communications.
• Steer GCI’s research pipeline, field projects, standards development, and training programs; ensure scholarly rigor, transparency, and global relevance.
• Advance open access to data, tools, and publications; promote digital platforms that expand reach and provide knowledge and resources to conservation practitioners.
• Embed sustainability and climate resilience across methodologies, materials, facilities, and field operations.
• Serve as a visible, persuasive spokesperson for heritage conservation with international organizations, governments, NGOs, peer institutions, and funders.
• Build and steward strategic partnerships with intergovernmental organizations, governments, agencies, museums, universities, communities, and professional associations to co‑develop programs and scale impact.
• Engage the Los Angeles region—civic and cultural partners, academic institutions, and diverse communities—supporting Getty’s goal to be the city’s definitive arts leader.
• Build trust across cultures and sectors; negotiate alignment; communicate compellingly to technical and non‑technical audience.
• Lead and inspire a diverse staff, cultivating a human‑centered, inclusive, learning culture that values collaboration, innovation, and accountability.
• Attract, retain, and develop talent; ensure robust succession planning, professional development, and staff engagement.
• Maintain strong project governance and portfolio management to assure impact and deliver work on time, and to scope.
• Ensure fiscal discipline and resource allocation of the GCI’s $21.6M annual operating budget, as generated from Getty’s endowment.
• Develop and steward the GCI Council, which helps to support the work of the GCI, and leverage other external funding opportunities.
• Ensure management of risks and alignment with institutional processes and controls.
• Foster a culture of compliance with relevant safety, legal, and ethical standards in laboratories, studios, field sites, and data practices.

Qualifications

• 10+ years senior leadership in a complex, mission driven, knowledge-based cultural heritage and/or conservation organization.
• Advanced degree (e.g., MA, PhD, DPhil) required in relevant discipline: conservation, heritage science, architecture, planning, archaeology, engineering, art history with conservation focus, or equivalent.
• Experience with institution‑level responsibility for people, budgets, and complex, multi‑year strategic initiatives.
• Multilingual proficiency a plus.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• International experience and a demonstrated commitment to global knowledge exchange.
• Demonstrated success as a collaborative executive leader in a complex, mission-driven, knowledge-based organization, having managed and empowered staff to support its progress, raise its profile, and elevate its impact.
• Experience in attracting, retaining, and developing staff, with a record of robust professional development, staff well‑being, and succession planning programs.
• Proven track record of leading large, multi‑partner projects; managing complex budgets; advancing standards or best practices; shaping policy; or scaling training/capacity building initiatives.
• Effective and inspiring relationship‑builder internally and externally, open‑minded with a high level of emotional intelligence, driven by a passion for knowledge-sharing.
• Broad and deep knowledge, skills and experience in cultural heritage conservation internationally, including trends and needs in the field.
• Record of scholarship, practice, or demonstrated leadership across the cultural heritage ecosystem, including intergovernmental, government, non-profit, and private sectors.
• Success as an outward-facing ambassador, engaging boards, funders, governments, international bodies, and diverse publics.
• Highly developed network of professional relationships with local, national, and international institutions and leaders in the realm of cultural heritage conservation and the ability to grow new partnerships and collaborations.
• Excellent communication skills, enjoys playing a leadership role in public-facing initiatives and convenings.
• Demonstrated commitment to Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion and record of actions to advance this commitment.
• Demonstrated commitment to, and experience in, increasing institutional success by interacting empathetically with local and global constituents of varying views and backgrounds; and a record of pursuing measurable outcomes connected to inclusion to advance an organization’s goals.

This position requires International and domestic travel (25%+) to field projects, partner institutions, and convenings.

Benefits And Perks

• Medical, Dental and Vision insurance coverage, starting on date of hire. Getty pays 75%-95% of the premium, depending on the plan selected.
• 403(b) Employee Investment retirement plan – with up to 5% Getty Match
• Getty contribution of 6%, on behalf of employee, to 401(a) retirement account
• Educational Assistance and professional development
• Paid Vacation, Sick and Personal Days
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Many positions have bi‑weekly Off‑Fridays
• On‑Site Fitness Center at Getty Center
• Community service opportunities

To learn more about our comprehensive benefits and long list of perks, go to Getty HR.