Overview

Our Mission
The J. Paul Getty Museum seeks to inspire curiosity about, and enjoyment and understanding of, the visual arts by collecting, conserving, exhibiting, and interpreting works of art of outstanding quality and historical importance and is one of four programs of the J. Paul Getty Trust. The Museum operates two sites, the Getty Villa in Malibu, which exhibits its collection of Greek and Roman antiquities, and the Getty Center in Brentwood, which displays its collections of European art: Medieval and Renaissance illuminated manuscripts, paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, drawings to 1900, and photography to the present day (including non-European works). The Museum mounts approximately 25 temporary exhibitions a year across its two sites; maintains an annual permanent gallery improvement program and offers wide-ranging and ambitious programming for its visitors.
The Opportunity
The J. Paul Getty Museum seeks an experienced arts professional to oversee the complex installation and maintenance of permanent galleries, special exhibition and temporary exhibition spaces, and art storage areas, under minimal supervision. Reporting to the Head of Preparations, and working collaboratively with curators, conservators, designers and exhibitions specialists, the Senior Lead Preparator supports the Getty’s mission by fulfilling the Museum’s requirements for the safe handling, movement, and storage of its collection and in the installation of its temporary exhibitions and displays.
The Senior Lead Preparator manages a dedicated and experienced team of technical specialists skilled in art handling and installation based at the Museum’s Getty Center site. The ideal candidate will ensure appropriate materials, equipment, and methods are used to display, store, pack and transport works of art, and oversee the fabrication, installation, disassembly, and storage of works of art, associated materials and furniture.
The Preparations Department plans and delivers the fabrication of all changing exhibition and permanent collection installations; collections movement; packing and crating of permanent collection loans and special projects; fabrication and finishing of display assets; gallery lighting and scheduling; and manages collection storage.
The Museum’s Exhibitions Division comprises four Departments: Exhibitions Coordination; Registration; Design and Preparations. The Division’s mission is to realize ambitious, impactful exhibitions, including tours and special projects, and successful gallery installations, working collaboratively to ensure excellence and creativity in scholarship, design, display, and interpretation, supported through disciplined budget management and systematic planning.


Responsibilities


  • Oversees the movement, packing, crating, and installation of works of art.
  • Oversees the cleaning of art and ensures adjacent areas in all of the museum’s galleries are serviced and maintained.
  • Manages the Getty Center installation team: Orients, trains, coaches, and assigns work, ensuring appropriate staff training and safety guidelines are met. Includes staff performance review.
  • Collaborates with Exhibitions Coordination dept with the development of exhibition installation and deinstallation schedules.
  • Collaborates with Registration dept in the scheduling of art transfers from private lenders, local art institutions, and transport hubs such as Los Angeles International airport (LAX).
  • Oversees the safe and controlled installation and deinstallation of works of art.
  • Ensures that the fabrication and installation of works of art and supporting materials adheres to Getty standards.
  • Ensures the appearance of the galleries adhere to Getty standards, including cleaning and dusting showcases, frames, and pedestals.
  • Ensures that gallery and showcase lighting, skylight and shade systems are functional.
  • Applies extensive knowledge of area of expertise and works on the most complex assignments to the Department.
  • Coordinates with other Dept section leads to schedule use of departmental vehicles for the transfer of exhibition furniture and supplies from offsite storage facilities.
  • Assists the Head of Preparations with organization and planning in area of expertise. Includes scheduling and coordination of routine display changes and art movements within the permanent collection galleries, often communicating directly with Curatorial, Conservation, and Registrars.
  • Contributes to projects based on area of expertise and assists Head of Preparations with project related budgeting.
  • Assists Head of Preparations in design reviews.
  • Other duties, as assigned.




Qualifications


  • High School/GED
  • 8+ years related experience


Apply Here


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