Associate Conservator of Objects and Sculpture

Company Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world‑changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high‑quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.

The Harvard Art Museums

Ever since their founding, The Harvard Art Museums—The Fogg Museum, Busch‑Reisinger Museum and Arthur M. Sackler Museum—have been dedicated to advancing and supporting learning at Harvard University, in the local community, and around the world. Displayed in galleries that mix not only media but schools of art, the collections at Harvard are celebrated and interrogated within a larger story of artistic expression and historical and contemporary issues.

The diverse collection is among the largest in the United States. Through research, teaching, professional training, and public education, the museums strive to advance the understanding and appreciation of art.

The Associate Conservator of Objects and Sculpture reports to the Assistant Director and Head of Objects Lab, Straus Center for Conservation and serves as an integral part of the collaborative Objects Lab team. The Associate Conservator demonstrates achievement, expertise, and initiative in conservation treatments, preventive care, research, and publications relating to the preservation of three‑dimensional objects, artist materials and techniques. The Associate Conservator participates in outreach and produces scholarly work demonstrating originality and conservation expertise for three‑dimensional objects in all media.

The Associate Conservator is responsible for practicing and developing these areas in support of the mission of the Harvard Art Museums, while abiding and promoting the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the American Institute of Conservation of Artistic and Historic Works.

• Performs condition reports, surveys, examinations, and treatments for three‑dimensional objects for the Harvard Art Museums, University Loans, and occasional outside clients. Collections span a broad range of cultures and time periods from ancient to contemporary.
• Prepares accompanying written and photographic documentation, estimates, correspondence, and condition reports for exhibitions, loans, and acquisitions.
• Serves as lab point person for exhibitions, loans, and projects as assigned.
• Performs preventive care for objects, including dusting, integrated pest management, housing, microclimate maintenance and monitoring.
• Reviews and makes recommendations for loans out and accompanies works of art as courier when needed.
• Participates in collections emergency planning and response.
• Follows regular health and safety training programs and is responsible for complying with University guidelines, including the safe use of certain controlled or hazardous substances.

• Participates in planning and preparing budgets for lab activities, exhibitions, and special projects.
• Collaborates with and maintains good working relations with conservation scientists, conservators, curators, and other museum staff.
• Participates in the selection, supervision, and instruction of a conservation fellow.
• Assists in the maintenance of the lab and photo studio, including supplies, records, and equipment.
• May serve as lab point person for health and safety issues.
• Practices and promotes the Guidelines for Practice and Code of Ethics as established by the AIC.

• Mentors and instructs casual employees, fellows, or students as appropriate.
• Participates in teaching, including undergraduate and…