Job Opportunity:  Curator III, Curator of Conservation

Annual Compensation Range:  $103,168 – $125,502

Link to Apply:  Curator III, Curator of Conservation

We’re hiring: Curator of Conservation!

Join our team and help shape the future of art conservation at SFO Museum! As a Curator of Conservation, you’ll work closely with curatorial, collections, and prep teams to care for and preserve museum objects — from hands-on treatments to setting long-term conservation standards.

In addition to overseeing conservation strategies, you will provide expert input on the design and construction of new museum spaces, as well as exhibition-related elements such as mounts, lighting, and climate control. You will also serve as a liaison to the San Francisco Arts Commission, supporting the care and maintenance of permanent artworks displayed throughout San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

This role offers collaboration across departments, city agencies, and creative partners. If you’re passionate about preserving art and cultural heritage, we want to hear from you! Apply now!

1. Reviews objects from the permanent collection and objects received for loan and creates treatment proposals and treatment reports as necessary;
2. Provides guidance and procedures for object care, handling, and storage;
3. Updates SFO Museum’s emergency plan annually;
4. Contributes to exhibition design by recommending specific materials, positioning objects to better protect from light exposure, setting climate ranges for cases and reviewing mounting methods;
5. Provides input on case design, lighting design, HVAC, and other design and environmental considerations for proposed and current Museum spaces;
6. Identifies and prioritizes collection objects for conservation and/or storage rehousing with Collections Management;
7. Reviews potential donations or purchases to inform curatorial recommendations for acquisition;
   Collaborates and consults with the San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) and SFO Museum’s registration team to monitor and maintain SFO’s Public Art Collection and when appropriate provides cleaning and conservation treatments;
8. Serves as a liaison with conservation contractors for SFAC projects;
9. Works with the Museum Director and contractors to review potential new acquisitions for the Public Art Collection;
10. Maintains inventory of conservation materials and maintains the condition and cleanliness of SFO Museum’s conservation facility;
11. Trains new staff and interns in proper art handling, movement and storage; may supervise interns and contractors;
12. Performs other functions and related projects as assigned and related to the 3544 Curator III.3544-Curator III

Note: this position requires after-hour shifts 5-10 times a year for maintenance and cleaning of the Public Art Collection.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in the fine arts, art history, decorative arts, design, history, library science, museum studies, natural history, science, technology, or other closely related disciplines;

AND

Experience: Five (5) years of museum experience.

Desirable Qualifications:

1. Possession of a Master’s degree from an accredited Art Conservation training program, or equivalent training, with a specialization in object conservation;
2. Three (3) years of post graduate experience in object conservation in a museum or similar organization;
3. Experience in planning and executing variety of complex conservation treatments and experience with a wide range of collections;
4. Experience in managing multiple projects; liaise and communicate effectively with multiple stakeholders;
5. Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite, including Outlook, Teams, Word, and Excel;
6. Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, curators, volunteers, assistants, Museum and Airport staff, outside agencies and the public;
7. Demeanor suited to a fast-moving and dynamic environment;
8. Demonstrated concern for detail, accuracy, and neat execution of work with strong written and verbal communication skills.