Textile Conservator: Care, Exhibitions & Research

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

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.