Description

MUSEUM INFORMATION

Since its establishment in 1941, the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University (IU) has grown from a small university teaching collection into one of the foremost university art museums in the country. A preeminent teaching museum, its internationally acclaimed collection includes more than 47,000 objects representing nearly every art-producing culture throughout history. Collection areas include African art, ancient art, Asian art, global contemporary art, European and American Art, Indigenous art, Oceanic art, and prints, drawings, and photography.

JOB SUMMARY

The museum is a premier teaching museum that develops breakthrough programming, experiences, and storytelling that advance its mission in powerful ways. In support of these goals, the museum seeks a Painting Conservator who will be responsible for the long-term study and care of works in the museum's collection, specifically, approximately 1,200 European and American paintings dating from ca. 1500 to the present. Strengths include Italian Renaissance and Baroque paintings, nineteenth-century American paintings, and modernist styles, including German Expressionism, Cubism, and post-war abstraction.

Requirements

Department-Specific Responsibilities

--Responsible for a large range of treatment projects, focusing on paintings within the museum's collection. These projects may range from short-term aesthetic treatments to complex structural work.

--Prepares outgoing and incoming condition reports for paintings on loan, makes recommendations for ensuring works are travel-ready, advises on packing, and serves as a courier on occasion.

--Advises on technical issues related to potential acquisitions and gifts.

--Responsible for strong knowledge and practice of preventive conservation, including protocols and thresholds for: integrated pest management, maintaining appropriate light levels, relative humidity and temperature levels, and appropriate housing for paintings in storage.

--Arranges for consultations, analytical work, and treatments with external conservators and laboratories; assesses treatment proposals from contract conservators; and oversees any subsequent treatments.

--Contributes to researching, developing, and overseeing innovative methodologies for the long-term preservation of paintings.

--Consults with Campus Art on certain master works on campus, including "Peau Rouge" by Alexander Calder and the "History of Indiana" murals by Thomas Hart Benton. In consultation with the Director of Curatorial Affairs, curators, and registrar, advises on all matters pertaining to the conservation and preservation of paintings in the museum's collection.

--Develops policies for the long-term care and preservation of paintings in the collection following professional standards in museum conservation.

--Administers and oversees activities in the department, including budgets, staffing, and performance planning and review.

--Participates in grant writing and development activities as requested.

--Maintains thorough records of written and photographic documentation of conservation assessments, treatment proposals, all stages of treatment, and final treatment reports filed on paper and digital format to be stored and shared in the museum's collections database program.

--Supervises assistant objects conservator, pending position approval and hiring.

--Collaborates with museum's education department and actively participates in the teaching and outreach activities of the museum.

--Proposes research and collaborative projects with partner institutions, curatorial staff, and conservation professionals.

General Responsibilities

--Responsible for the practice of preventive conservation, including developing protocols and thresholds for integrated pest management, maintaining appropriate light levels, relative humidity and temperature levels, and appropriate housing for artifacts in storage.

--Develops schedule for museum services staff for dusting objects and conducting periodic condition surveys of works on view. Prepares outgoing and incoming condition reports for artifacts on loan, makes recommendations for ensuring works are travel-ready, advises on packing, and serves as a courier on occasion.

--Develops policies for the long-term care and preservation of artifacts in the collection with an understanding of the specialized care of a teaching collection following professional standards in museum conservation. Plans and sets priorities for major conservation and restoration projects within the collection. Conducts and oversees condition surveys, assessing conservation needs, and establishing treatment priorities. Examines and treats works for exhibition and for loan.

--Administers and oversees activities in the department, including staffing, performance planning and review, and staff development.

--Maintains the highest level of expertise by keeping abreast of recent advancements in the field of state-of-the-art conservation practices, equipment, and materials, including reading, attending national and international symposia and workshops, publishing in peer-reviewed journals, and maintaining frequent contact with outside conservators and conservation scientists.

--Undertakes primary research relating to the materials and manufacture of fine art and historic objects; researches the implications of subsequent chemical alteration of those objects resulting from exposure to the modern environment or previous non-professional intervention and conservation treatments; and when feasible, publishes and presents results at meetings and symposia.

--Proposes and serves as institutional head for research and collaborative projects with partner institutions, curatorial staff, and conservation professionals.

QUALIFICATIONS

Combinations of related education and experience may be considered. Education beyond the minimum required may be substituted for work experience. Work experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted for education.

Education

Required - Bachelor's degree in art conservation or related field

Preferred - Master's degree from a recognized graduate program in Art Conservation with specialty in painting

Work Experience

Required - 5 years in art conservation or related field

Preferred - 3 years of professional publication and or teaching/conducting seminars a plus

Skills

Required

--Proficient communication skills

--Maintains a high degree of professionalism

--Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills

--Demonstrates a high commitment to quality

--Possesses flexibility to work in a fast paced, dynamic environment

--Seeks to acquire knowledge in area of specialty

--Highly thorough and dependable

--Demonstrates a high level of accuracy, even under pressure

--Possesses a high degree of initiative

--Ability to influence internal and/or external constituents

 Preferred

--Demonstrates record of successful treatments and/or professional designation (with peer review) within an organization such as the American Institute for Conservation.

--Expert knowledge of chemical and physical properties of art materials, conservation materials, and deterioration processes

--Expert hand skills, color acuity, artistic practice, and sensitivity for objects

--Expert knowledge of conservation history, ethics, and methodology

--Expert knowledge of scientific instrumentation and ability to operate analytical and technical imaging equipment

--Sound judgment based on expertise in art history, physical and organic chemistry, and the materials and manufacture of fine art is required

--Knowledge of emergency preparedness and emergency response procedures

--Proficient in collection management database (preferably TMS), and digital asset management tools

 WORKING CONDITIONS / DEMANDS

This role regularly requires the ability to communicate effectively. This role frequently requires the ability to stand for long periods of time, climb scaffolding, and operate lifts

This role requires the ability to move objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

This role requires the ability to effectively communicate and to operate a computer and other standard office productivity equipment. The position involves sedentary work as well as periods of time moving around an office environment and the campus.

BENEFITS OVERVIEW

 For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:

--Comprehensive medical and dental insurance

--Health savings account with generous IU contributions

--Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts

--Basic group life insurance paid by IU

--Voluntary supplemental life, long-term disability, critical illness, and supplemental accidental death & dismemberment insurance

--Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject to vesting

--Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options

--Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IU courses

--10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year

--Generous paid time off plans

--Paid leave for new parents and IU-sponsored volunteer events

--Employee assistance program (EAP)

Learn more about our benefits by reviewing the IU Benefit Programs Brochure, https://hr.iu.edu/_docs/benefits-pubs/iu-benefits-brochure.pdf.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring. See Indiana University Notice of Non-Discrimination which includes contact information.

TO APPLY AND FOR MORE INFORMATION

Interested candidates should review the application requirements and submit their application on the Indiana University Human Resources website, https://jobs.iu.edu/. This is a full-time, in-person staff position, Job ID 318007, https://go.iu.edu/8wOo. For best consideration please apply no later than March 2, 2026. Questions regarding the position may be directed to Danielle Johnson, PhD, Director of Curatorial Affairs, dj87@iu.edu.