Assistant Conservator, Easel Paintings

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Assistant Conservator will assist with the conservation of Old Master, Modern and Contemporary easel paintings in the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) collection.

As SAM heads into its second century, we are boldly reimagining what we can and should be. Our goal is to be a model for the future of museums - a bold, dynamic hub of creativity, belonging, and cultural leadership, shaping the future of art and community. Embracing new ways of engaging communities and seeking innovative partnerships - all while keeping art and community at the center of what we do.

This ambitious effort represents a transformative shift and radically redefining how art museums operate. This is a pivotal moment for SAM, and we are seeking great talent to join us on our journey. Working at SAM is not just a job—it's a chance to be part of a vibrant, creative community.

• Carry out conservation programs, including preservation, conservation, and restoration of works of art across all Seattle Art Museum sites, with a primary focus on paintings
• Carry out all facets of examination, documentation, research, treatment, and long-term preservation of paintings in the museum’s permanent collection
• Accurately track and generate documentation of projects to be archived in the museum’s collection database
• Assist in preservation planning for the paintings portion of the collection
• Assist in preservation planning and emergency preparedness and response as needed
• Efficiently project manage treatment of works of art throughout the conservation process
• If requested, serve as courier for at-risk works of art traveling to other institutions, carry out treatments, surveys, inspections and consultations as necessary
• Research paintings from the museum collections and participate in sharing outcomes of research with the public and colleagues internally and externally. When appropriate present findings in lectures, displays and publications
• Facilitate access to collections, supporting the museum's outgoing loan activities and exhibition schedule by preparing works of art for loan and display
• Assist with supervision of conservation interns
• Interact with a broad range of people, including museum visitors and the general public, donors, students, scholars and lenders, concerning conservation and preservation matters
• Maintain the highest standards of museum practice through continued education, personal research, and active dialog with colleagues at other museums
• Answer phone and mail inquiries about the collections preserved at SAM
• Contribute to an institutional focus of delivering exceptional, welcoming, and inclusive customer service—creating positive, meaningful experiences for all visitors, every time
• Participate in institutional learning opportunities to grow our collective understanding and integration of antiracism, cultural competency, and equity values into SAM’s work

• Master’s degree or post-graduate diploma in Conservation, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Three years’ experience in paintings conservation and preventive conservation, and evidence of strong bench skills
• Knowledge of environmental requirements and controls for handling, storage, exhibition, and transportation of artwork
• Ability to use hand and power tools and other equipment required in the conservation and transportation of artwork
• Knowledge of materials used to make works of art and the chemical and physical processes of their deterioration
• Knowledge of procedures relating to examination and preventive and corrective treatment of art objects, ability to remove unwanted material from delicate surfaces, perform structural repairs, match colors, and execute in-painting
• Ability to work with extraordinary precision and attention to detail
• Professional verbal and written communication, with an ability to tailor communications according to audience
• Successfully assess priorities and work well with deadlines
• Strong time management, problem solving, and analytical skills
• Exercise discretion in maintaining confidentiality of sensitive information
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Zoom, Asana, Slack…