Lloyd E. Cotsen Head of Preservation & Conservation

The Huntington; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

403(b) retirement plan

Paid time off

Museum free admission

Job summary

The Huntington is seeking a visionary Lloyd E. Cotsen Head of Preservation & Conservation to direct and grow a unified program for library and art conservation. You will lead ten FTE, supervise experts in book, paper, and painting conservation, and drive strategic priorities across collections and exhibitions.

You will work closely with Library and Art Museum leadership, ensure adherence to national and international standards, and foster an inclusive environment for a diverse team and audience.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in the preservation and conservation of library materials; thorough knowledge of preservation and conservation theory.
• Proven ability to supervise conservation professionals and work on diverse materials.
• Ten years of professional experience in library or museum preservation with rare materials.

Responsibilities

• Directs the unified Preservation & Conservation program, setting high standards for preventive conservation and treatments.
• Supervises conservators, technicians, and staff; coordinates with Art Museum in strategy and operations.
• Manages department capacity, workflows, priorities, and treatment plans with senior staff.
• Oversees budget, documentation, and reporting for the department.
• Maintains lab spaces, equipment, and outside contracting for services.
• Administers environmental monitoring and pest management across storage and exhibition spaces.

Skills

Leadership

Supervising staff

Strategic planning

Communication

Cross-department collaboration

Budget management

Education

Master’s degree in preservation and conservation

Job description

About Us

At The Huntington, we believe that having a team of diverse backgrounds and voices working together will enable us to support and promote the appreciation of the humanities, the arts, and botanical science. The Huntington is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, disability, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law.

About Us

At The Huntington, we believe that having a team of diverse backgrounds and voices working together will enable us to support and promote the appreciation of the humanities, the arts, and botanical science. The Huntington is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, disability, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law.

The Huntington

Founded in 1919, The Huntington is a collections-based research and educational institution open to the public, housing world-class library, art, and botanical collections. Its mission is to support research and promote education in the arts, humanities, and botanical science and to display and interpret its extraordinary resources for diverse audiences.

The Culture

Here we are committed to the highest of standards in all that we do – from preserving and protecting the collections, to exhibitions, educational and scholarly programming, visitor and reader services, and beyond. Achieving excellence across these pursuits requires a diversity of perspectives, expertise, experience, and methodologies.

At The Huntington, our organizational Culture is shaped by the following core values: Intellectual curiosity, Collaboration, Stewardship, Belonging, and Integrity.

• Intellectual Curiosity: Knowledge, lifelong learning, and a spirit of inquiry are at the core of our mission and organizational culture.
• Collaboration: Teamwork and a collaborative attitude are important at all levels of The Huntington. We foster relationships internally among our departments and externally with organizations throughout the community.
• Stewardship: We are committed to the care and development of our collections, our financial and physical resources, our staff, and our community.
• Belonging: We strive to attract and maintain a workforce of individuals with diverse talents, backgrounds, and perspectives. Our organizational culture promotes a sense of welcome, inclusion, and connection.
• Integrity: We value respect and honesty, working to fulfill our mission with honor and ethical principles.

Job Description

About the Role

The Lloyd E. Cotsen Head of Preservation & Conservation directs all aspects of The Huntington’s unified, library and art preservation and conservation program. This position provides administrative leadership to ensure excellence in preventive conservation, technical study, and conservation treatment. In consultation with the directors of the Library and the Art Museum, the Lloyd E. Cotsen Head plays a leading role in setting long‑term strategy and guiding the institution to respond effectively to short- and medium‑term preservation and conservation priorities.

Established in 1981, The Huntington’s Preservation & Conservation department provides for the protection, care, and treatment of some 12 million library items, over 95% of which are rare and special collections, and nearly 50,000 art objects. The department is an essential partner to The Huntington’s robust research, exhibition, and collection loan programs. The Head of Preservation & Conservation leads a growing team, currently ten FTE, that includes eight professional conservators with expertise in book, paper, and painting conservation. The position supervises seven book and paper conservators and the department’s technician and administrative staff and coordinates closely with the painting conservator who reports to the Director of the Art Museum. The position oversees a 10,000 square foot conservation laboratory for book, paper, and painting conservation, built in 2004, that will be expanded with an 8,000 square foot painting and objects conservation studio addition coming online in 2029.

S/he/they will demonstrate a background of working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds, using a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible approach.

Essential Duties

• Directs The Huntington’s unified, library and art Preservation & Conservation program, ensuring excellence in accordance with the highest national and international standards for preventive conservation, technical study, and conservation treatment.
• Supervises all book and paper conservators, technicians, and department administrative staff (currently nine supervisees overall with two direct reports). Coordinates closely with the painting conservator, who reports to the Director of the Art Museum, to ensure integration of painting conservation with overall Preservation & Conservation goals, priorities, and operations.
• Manages the department’s capacity and aligns workflows with goals. Sets priorities for conservation projects in collaboration with the Library and Art Museum directors and curators, and with special guidance from the Senior Book & Paper Conservator. Advises on individual treatment plans and may work at the bench as time allows.
• Manages the Preservation & Conservation budget and ensures uniform documentation and reporting.
• Oversees the organization and maintenance of the Conservation laboratories. Responsible for the selection, purchasing, and maintenance of laboratory equipment, scientific instrumentation, and conservation supplies. Manages contracting for outside conservation services.
• Administers environmental monitoring and integrated pest management programs for all Library and Art Museum collection storage and exhibition spaces, coordinating closely with Facilities engineering and Art Museum collections care staff.
• Manages the Preservation safety calendar and ensures laboratory compliance with Cal-OSHA regulations in close consultation with the Environmental Health & Safety Manager.
• Serves as chief contact in Preservation and Conservation for library and art collections emergency and disaster response.
• Leads Preservation & Conservation’s input into capital projects and renovations affecting laboratory spaces, collection storage, and galleries.
• Represents The Huntington in the national and international preservation and conservation community through participation in professional organizations, conferences, and collegial activities. Contributes to the advancement of the field through publication, presentation, and collaboration with peer institutions. Supports the professional development of conservation staff and foster a culture of learning and growth within the department.
• Reports to the Director of the Library and serves on the Library Director’s Advisory Group. Liaises closely with the Director of the Art Museum.
• Collaborates regularly with colleagues across The Huntington, especially in the Library and Art Museum.
• Performs other related responsibilities as assigned.

Candidate Requirements And Experience

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Master’s degree in the preservation and conservation of library materials. Thorough knowledge of preservation and conservation theory and practice and of materials science as it relates to library and art objects.
• Familiarity with library and museum preservation and conservation issues and current research, and the ability to supervise conservation professionals working on a wide range of materials.
• Ten years of professional experience in library or museum preservation, working with rare and special library and archives materials in an institutional setting. Evidence of excellence in performing complex conservation treatments on a broad range of book and/or paper-based materials.
• Proven ability to plan, organize, and prioritize projects to meet deadlines and objectives in a fast-paced environment.
• Significant supervisory experience.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills. Aptitude for intra‑and cross‑departmental collaboration and consensus building.
• Proficient with standard desktop and productivity software and conservation‑oriented applications.
• Evidence of professional activity, most typically through membership and participation in the American Institute for Conservation and a commitment to the AIC Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice.
• S/he/they will demonstrate a background of working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds, using a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible approach.

Preferred

• Experience with painting and/or objects conservation.

Working Conditions

• Office and conservation laboratory environments.
• Frequent use of office equipment including computer, keyboard, and mouse.
• Must be able to lift up to 25 lbs. at a time; ability to remain stationary for extended periods; push, pull, and bend as necessary.

Compensation & Benefits

We provide competitive compensation, generous benefits and perks for all eligible employees including:

• Pay Range: $130,000.00- $145,000.00 annually. Commensurate with experience.
• Medical, Dental, Vision
• 403(b) retirement plan and matching retirement plan with an outstanding employer match
• Considerable paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and holidays
• Discounts for staff in The Huntington Store and restaurants
• Free admission to various museums and cultural institutions
• Free passes each month to welcome family and friends to visit the grounds