Fellow—Conservation

This content is exclusive for CfC members.

Please or register to see all our content.

As a highly engaged member of the Conservation team, the Mellon Fellow assists the Museum’s painting, paper, and object conservators in addressing the needs of works in our holdings and collections. Under the direction of the Chief Conservator, this three-year fellowship offers an opportunity to work with conservators and curators, and with collections and exhibitions staff, on general preservation activities throughout the Museum.

Qualifications:
A successful candidate will have many of the skills listed below and the desire and capacity to learn the rest on the job.

Graduate degree in art conservation from a recognized conservation training program with a specialization in paintings, paper, or objects
Demonstrated experience examining collection objects to assess condition and structure, writing conservation reports, documenting condition and treatment activities, and producing conservation documentation photographs
Knowledge of American Institute for Conservation (AIC) standards
Proficiency in conservation hand skills and art handling
Familiarity with both basic and complex conservation treatments
Basic understanding of preventive conservation best practices including environmental controls and integrated pest management
Familiarity with a range of scientific analytical techniques and equipment
Ability to work as part of a team in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Excellent research and comprehension skills

Additional qualifications:

Experience with infrared (IR), ultraviolet (UV), and X-ray imaging techniques, as well as portable X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (pXRF) and microscopy, fiber optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS), and multi-band imaging (MBI) is a plus
Desire to write and publish academic papers and posters, as well as social media posts and blog entries is helpful
Familiarity with The Museum System (TMS), Microsoft Office Suite, and/or photo editing software such as Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Bridge is desirable

Responsibilities:

Carry out research, documentation, and treatments as part of the Museum’s exhibition program, as directed
Assess condition issues and conservation needs for exhibitions, loans, and acquisitions
Prepare collections for exhibitions and loans by performing conservation treatments with varying levels of complexity
Document conservation work through written reports, conservation photography, and scientific analysis
Pursue research projects including close visual study, scientific analysis, archival research, and collaboration with other institutions
Collaborate with staff across the Museum to achieve conservation goals and meet deadlines
Maintain a safe work space and follow best practices for using and disposing of chemicals, particularly organic solvents and heavy metals
Participate in general conservation activities including giving tours, maintaining gallery and storage spaces, and updating conservation records
Perform preventive conservation tasks such as recording environmental monitoring and integrated pest management
Order supplies
Other duties as assigned
90% of this position is related to direct care of the collection as defined by the AAM.

Start date: April 2022; this is a three-year position.

Department: Conservation

Reports to: Chief Conservator

Position type: Full-time

Union status: Non-union

FLSA status: Non-exempt

Schedule: 35 hours per week, Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm

Apply online

If you have questions about our online application system, please get in touch with us at job.application.questions@brooklynmuseum.org.