Furniture Conservator

Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library encompasses an unrivaled museum of American decorative arts in its mansion and galleries and a magnificent 60-acre naturalistic garden—all set on 1,000 gorgeous acres.

Winterthur employs a wide array of positions in the areas of curatorial, horticulture, education, conservation, library, maintenance, marketing, development, technology, and administration.

Winterthur offers a unique and rewarding experience that is rich in culture and natural beauty. Winterthur considers its employees and volunteers to be among its greatest assets and welcomes applications from candidates who will contribute their specific skills to its mission “to inspire, enlighten, and delight all of its visitors while preserving and enhancing [Winterthur]” and also uphold its core values of agility, excellence, innovation, integrity, inclusion, and transparency.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Conservator of Furniture is responsible for administration, implementation, and supervision of all aspects of their conservation discipline. They demonstrate a command of conservation practices, technology, hand skills, preventive conservation, and collection work. The individual is to serve as an affiliated professor for the Winterthur/University of Delaware (WUDPAC). They are to be capable of research, teaching and mentoring graduate students and others at the highest professional level. They possess an established ability to collaborate with other collections staff and faculty including conservators, curators, exhibition staff, educators and scientists and are professionally active by staying current with conservation literature and engaging in professional organizations.

Compensation: $70,000 - $78,000; consideration for Associate or full Conservator rank and associated salary will be commensurate with experience.

Benefits:  Including, but not limited to, medical, dental, and vision insurance; generous paid time off plan including 10 holidays, vacation, personal, and sick time; 403b with employer match for eligible employees; discounts in the museum store and cafe; free general admission for you and your immediate family

Work Schedule:  Monday – Friday, 35 hours/week, occasional weekend and evening hours 

Responsibilities:

1. Manage all aspects of the Furniture and Wooden objects conservation discipline. Supervise assigned personnel, which may include staff, interns, volunteers, contractors and students. Give direction to section in a manner consistent with institutional goals. Establish and sustain procedures to ensure consistent treatment, assessment, preventive care, preparation for exhibition, and documentation procedures of collection objects for the section. Ensure oversight of the laboratory facility and the woodshop by managing safety standards, equipment upkeep, and laboratory organization. Fulfill conservation department team assignments, including institutional committee work and  the Collections Emergency Plan
2. Perform assessment and treatment of collection objects within the furniture and wooden objects’ discipline in accordance with standards established by professional organizations such as the American Institute for Conservation, in line with the most recent practices.
3. Participate in the planning for, preparing and moving objects to, and participation in the management of the furniture portion of the Collections Engagement Center, scheduled to open in 2028
4. Perform WUDPAC responsibilities including teaching and academic committee assignments such as curriculum development and admissions. Supervise M.S. students’ course work and conservation treatments, and advise with other aspects of their education, including internship selection. Occasional support for the WPAMC students and the Winterthur Research Fellows
5. Lead or contribute to grant proposals and manage grant funding, when applicable, for Winterthur and WUDPAC projects and initiatives.
6. Engage in professional activities including research, publication, leadership in professional organizations, and outreach. Demonstrate professional leadership by engaging with established conservation publications and contributing to the leadership of professional organizations. Serve as an ambassador for the museum, WUDPAC and profession; and represents the section, department, Winterthur, and WUDPAC at professional conferences and on the local, national and international level 

Minimum Experience: Master's degree in conservation with 7/10 years conservation experience, which includes proven record of teaching 

Preferred Experience: Additional training in wood-working and furniture-making skills with evidence of active participation and leadership in professional activities, professional scholarship and outreach at local, regional, national and international level and  supervisory responsibility for personnel.

Knowledge/Skills: 

1. Thorough understanding of conservation terminology, practices, technology and hand skills in the preventive care, treatment and assessment of furniture and wooden objects and understanding the needs of collections. In addition, a thorough knowledge of the history and technology of furniture and wooden objects.
2. Strong skills in supervision, communication, and interpersonal relationships. Capable of managing highly educated staff and successful interactions with other staff, students, visitors, donors and professional colleagues.
3. Highly developed understanding of conservation in general and the individual’s specific discipline
4. A strong understanding of Winterthur’s practices and procedures related to conservation and the skills to work within them
5. Skilled in research, writing, and publication of conservation topics for professional organizations and public outreach which includes social media.
6. Adept in grant writing and overseeing grant funded projects.
7. Detail oriented, organized.
8. Good computer skills, including but not limited to, Microsoft Office Suite
9. Ability to work in a team environment as well as independently
10. Ability to handle competing deadlines and pivot between priorities 

Essential Functions:

1. Regular contact with and proper handling of museum collections including movement of large objects
2. Proper safe usage and maintenance of woodworking equipment and tools
3. Potential exposure to toxic material requiring PPE and conscientious adherence to health and safety best practices.
4. Potential collections emergencies requiring flexible, knowledgeable, and safety-conscious response. 

The work of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance is made possible through the generous support of committed individuals and institutions.