Chief Preparator, Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, CA

Chief Preparator
Hammer Museum, Los Angeles

The Chief Preparator supervises art handling and collection management for the museum, including all incoming and outgoing loans and daily art movement of the museum’s collection and temporary exhibitions. Incumbent is responsible for managing the handling, packing, and storing of artworks according to museum standards, including the design and implementation of long-term storage solutions for the museum’s permanent collection. The incumbent hires and supervises three full-time preparators, assigning lead preparator and framing roles to each; hires, trains, and supervises the part-time installation crew; manages the crew schedule for each exhibition; and manages all administrative functions related to the crew. The incumbent also oversees the installation and de-installation of all temporary exhibitions, while actively participating in the movement, hanging, and placement of artwork. Additionally, the Chief Preparator supervises the maintenance of all gallery spaces and preparator facilities.

Requirements: B.A. in studio art, art history, or related field; a minimum of 3 years experience as a preparator in a public gallery or museum; detailed knowledge of museum standards for packing, crating, handling, installing, and housing artworks; knowledge of loss-prevention and earthquake mitigation techniques; excellent verbal and written communication skills, including technical writing; detailed knowledge of materials and construction techniques for display, furniture, and light construction; physical abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Salary: $73,000-95,000 DOE annually, plus a generous benefits package through UCLA, including pension plan.
To apply for this position and read the full job description, please go to https://jobs.ucla.edu/jobs/7656.