Assistant Preparator

Overview

Join to apply for the Assistant Preparator role at University of Oregon

Join to apply for the Assistant Preparator role at University of Oregon

• Department: Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art
• Classification: Museum Technician
• Appointment Type and Duration: Regular, Ongoing
• Salary: $20.37 - $30.70 per hour
• FTE: .5
• Review of Applications Begins: November 21, 2025; position open until filled
• Special Instructions to Applicants: To ensure consideration, a complete application must include:

• A current Resume/CV.
• A cover letter demonstrating how your skills and experience meet the minimum and preferred qualifications for the position.
• Three (3) professional references with contact information. References will only be contacted once you are notified.

Motivated candidates will bring experience and innovative ideas regardless of meeting every preferred competency or qualification. Please apply if you meet some of the key qualifications and would enjoy working with the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art team to support innovation in art installation, exhibition design, and cultural engagement.

The University of Oregon’s art museum, located on Kalapuya Ilihi—the traditional Indigenous homeland of the Kalapuya people—opened its doors to the public in 1933. Designed by Ellis

F. Lawrence, then Dean of Architecture & Allied Arts at the University of Oregon, the museum was built to house the Murray Warner Collection of Asian Art—more than 3,700 works donated by Gertrude Bass Warner. After a major renovation and expansion, the museum reopened in 2005 at 70,000 square feet—twice its original size—as the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art (JSMA). Over 20,000 square feet are dedicated to exhibitions and related programs serving both the university and the broader community.

The only academic art museum in Oregon accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art features engaging exhibitions, significant collections of historic and contemporary art, and dynamic educational programs that support the university’s academic mission and the diverse interests of its off-campus communities. The collection includes more than 17,000 works of art across all media, with extensive holdings in Asian art (Chinese, Japanese, and Korean), Pacific Northwest art, Russian icons, European and American modern and contemporary art, and Latin American art.

Special exhibition galleries display works from the collection and on loan, representing many cultures of the world, past and present.

JSMA Mission Statement:
To foster global understandings of art and cultural histories by working with faculty, students, and communities to contribute to a more just, equitable, and sustainable world.

Vision:
We envision a world where art, artists, and cross-cultural understandings are essential for a holistic education and a healthy society.

JSMA Values:

• Transformative learning through art and museums.
• Student, faculty, and public engagement with art.
• Scholarly excellence and innovation.
• Artists’ voices and creative insights.
• Diverse cultures, communities, and experiences.
• Equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
• Social justice, relevance, and accountability.
• Empathy, compassion, and well-being.
• Meaningful collaborations and sustained relationships.
• Responsible collection stewardship and fiscal oversight.

Position Summary

The Assistant Preparator plays a vital role in preparing, installing, and caring for artworks in the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art’s permanent collection, traveling exhibitions, and the dynamic Shared Visions program. Shared Visions showcases significant new acquisitions from recent auction house purchases, requiring frequent installations, de-installations, and careful coordination of artwork movement.

In this role, you will:

• Assist with weekly Shared Visions activities – prepare galleries, support shipments, and help ensure timely, high-quality installations and de-installations.
• Assist with preparing and installing exhibitions – paint galleries, refurbish mounts and pedestals, mat, frame, and hang artworks of varying size and weight.
• Assist with fabricating and installing interpretive elements –…