Textiles & Costume Conservator — Global Art Steward

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Houston, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Retirement Plan

Relocation Support

Paid Time Off

Holidays

Job summary

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) seeks a Conservator of Textiles and Costume to join the Sarah Campbell Blaffer Foundation Center for Conservation. This full-time position emphasizes preservation and expanding understanding of 5,000 years of global visual art, with a focus on textiles and costume across historical to contemporary contexts.

The Conservator will collaborate across disciplines, document treatments, mentor staff, and contribute to research and public programming.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in Conservation or equivalent education and training.
• Minimum two (assistant), five (associate), ten years (full) of post-graduate textile conservation experience.
• Knowledge of museum standards, ethics, and collections care.

Responsibilities

• Examine, document, and treat textiles and costume per AIC Ethics and Guidelines.
• Develop and execute treatment plans for historical to contemporary works.
• Produce documentation including technical analysis and exhibition recommendations.
• Provide condition assessments for acquisitions and loans.
• Contribute to preventive conservation planning and storage design.
• Collaborate with Conservation Science on analytical research.
• Engage in collection-based research, publications, and lectures.
• Mentor interns and emerging professionals; support knowledge sharing.
• Participate in public-facing initiatives and education programs.
• Contribute to departmental planning and emergency preparedness.

Skills

Textile conservation

Costume conservation

English communication

Documentation skills

Ethical practice

Education

Graduate degree in Conservation

Tools

Imaging systems

Museum databases

Standard software

Job description

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) seeks a Conservator of Textiles and Costume to join the Sarah Campbell Blaffer Foundation Center for Conservation. This full-time position emphasizes preservation and expanding understanding of 5,000 years of global visual art, with a focus on textiles and costume across historical to contemporary contexts.

The Conservator will collaborate across disciplines, document treatments, mentor staff, and contribute to research and public programming.