Specialist, Art Preparation and Movement

Note: No application deadline was provided by the employer. Please refer to the posting date for reference, as availability may change.

Specialist, Art Preparation and Movement (Prints & Drawings / Photography & Media) at The Art Institute of Chicago

About the Departments

The Prints and Drawings collection includes approximately 15,000 drawings, 40,000 prints, and 1,000 illustrated books, with notable strengths in French 19th-century works, British, French, and Italian drawings, and major holdings of Albrecht Dürer, Rembrandt van Rijn, Francisco Goya, and James McNeill Whistler. The Glore Study Room welcomes scholars, students, and the public, and the Jean and Steven Goldman Galleries present three exhibitions annually.

The Photography and Media collection spans the history of photography from the 1830s to the present, holding approximately 26,000 objects. Strengths include early 20th-century photography from the United States and Western Europe, Japanese postwar photography, African and South American photography, and contemporary works. The department mounts an average of four exhibitions and two permanent collection rotations annually and provides access through the Mary L. and Leigh B. Block Photography Study Room.

About the Position

The Specialist organizes, coordinates, and supervises art preparation and movement for departmental gallery rotations, reinstallations, and exhibitions. The role involves collaboration with curators, collection managers, installation crews, registrars, conservators, facilities, and security colleagues. Responsibilities include relocating and installing art, providing basic care for objects, monitoring environmental conditions, performing location tracking in the museum’s database, and supervising preparation of objects for installation and shipment. The position works equally across two departments and reports jointly to the respective collection managers.

Responsibilities

• Plan and schedule departmental art movement and installations in consultation with curators and collection managers.
• Direct departmental art handling, including moving works to galleries, storage, conservation, and imaging areas.
• Attend design and installation meetings to troubleshoot potential issues.
• Collaborate with conservation on framing and installation solutions.
• Request and supervise installation or packing crews; functionally supervise art handlers and packers.
• Update location changes in the museum database within 24 hours of art movement.
• Conduct systematic location checks in storage and galleries.
• Organize and maintain storage areas; assist in care, conservation, and housing of departmental collections.
• Perform light maintenance tasks, such as dusting, condition checks, labeling, and measuring objects.
• Assist scholars, students, and visitors in safely examining objects in study areas.
• Maintain galleries, including cleaning platforms and casework, and monitoring temperature, humidity, and lighting.
• Coordinate with Facilities and contractors for gallery and storage work; install and update object labels.
• Ensure adherence to security procedures in galleries and storage areas; respond to emergencies as needed.
• Participate in ongoing training and remain current on best practices in art handling and installation.

Physical Requirements

• Frequently lifts, carries, and moves objects, including artworks, weighing up to 70 pounds.
• Frequently moves throughout the museum between departments, storage spaces, and galleries.
• Prolonged periods of desk work, including computer and office equipment use.
• Occasional movement within offices to access files and equipment.
• Requires close vision, ability to adjust focus, and sustained visual concentration.

Qualifications

• High School diploma/GED required.
• 3–5 years of experience handling and installing works of art required.
• 2–3 years of regular experience using hand and power tools required.
• Willingness to be trained and certified on warehouse and small construction equipment.
• Ability to learn museum-specific collection database systems; prior database experience preferred.
• Familiarity with or specialization in the departmental fields a plus.

Preferred Candidate Qualities

• Highly detail-oriented and organized.
• Proven track record of safe, experienced art handling.
• Strong initiative and ability to multitask.
• Collaborative and open-minded approach to teamwork.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace.

About the Organization

The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The institution complies fully with federal and state disability laws and provides reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. Employment decisions are based solely on skills, qualifications, and experience. Applicants requiring accommodation should contact Human Resources at apply_help@artic.edu.

This job description does not represent an exhaustive list of duties. Addition