Museum of Art; BMA) Director of Conservation

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) seeks an experienced leader and diligent manager to serve as Director of Conservation. This senior role oversees all aspects of the Museum’s conservation program—including treatment, research, outreach, and long-term care for a collection of nearly 100,000 artworks—and positions the BMA as a leader in values-based, people-centered, and sustainability-informed conservation practice.

Working collaboratively with Curatorial, Registration, Exhibitions, Installation, Facilities, and Education staff, the Director of Conservation establishes policies and standards that meet the highest professional expectations while thoughtfully recalibrating established norms in response to current scientific research, evolving museum practices, and audience engagement. The role is responsible for helping the institution balance risk, value, access, equity, sustainability, and long-term impact in conservation decision-making.

As the BMA develops a new strategic plan, the Director of Conservation will have a unique opportunity to shape the future of the department while serving as a key partner in advancing the Museum’s long-term institutional goals, which include a museum-wide collection reinstallation. In the near term, the Director will guide the Museum’s alignment with Bizot Green standards, develop a comprehensive Conservation Plan to inform departmental research and treatment priorities, expand the BMA’s Artist Interview Project, and further establish the BMA as a progressive leader in contemporary conservation practice.

The Director of Conservation leads a team of conservators (objects, paintings, and paper) and conservation technicians (objects and textiles, paintings and frames, matting and framing) as well as fellows, interns, and contract professionals, and reports to the Eddie

C. and

C. Sylvia Brown Chief Curator. Key collaborators include the Director of Registration, the Senior Director of Exhibitions and Program Alignment, the Director of Installation, the Director of Security, the Director of Facilities, and five Curatorial Department Heads. The successful candidate will be a visionary leader and collaborative colleague who thrives in a fast-paced, deeply engaged work environment; a researcher and educator energized by the creation and sharing of knowledge;

and a nimble manager committed to staff development and well-being.

ABOUT THE BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART

Recognized as one of the nation’s Top 20 Art Museums by The Washington Post, the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) is a vital cultural and educational resource for the region.

As Maryland’s largest art museum, the BMA welcomes nearly 250,000 visitors annually through approximately ten exhibitions each year and dozens of educational and public programs. The Museum’s work is guided by four strategic priorities:

• Interweaving global and local histories
• Building a more artist-centered institution
• Deepening commitment to education in all its forms
• Developing stronger community partnerships

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Strategic Leadership & Department Management

• Provide visionary and day-to-day leadership for the Conservation Department, ensuring operational excellence and the highest professional standards.
• Foster a collaborative, transparent, and values-driven culture that supports experimentation, critical reflection, staff well-being, and professional growth.
• Recruit, supervise, mentor, and evaluate conservators, technicians, interns, fellows, and contract professionals.
• Develop and implement conservation policies and workflows that balance risk, value, access, equity, sustainability, and long-term impact.
• Ensure compliance with the AIC Code of…