Description
Beverly and Gayle W. Doster Painting Conservator (Collection Conservation Specialist)
Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University
Bloomington, Indiana
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.
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.
- Prepare outgoing and incoming condition reports for paintings on loan, make recommendations for ensuring works are travel-ready, advise on packing, and serve as a courier on occasion.
- Advise 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.
- Arrange for consultations, analytical work, and treatments with external conservators and laboratories; assess treatment proposals from contract conservators; and oversee any subsequent treatments.
- Contribute to researching, developing, and overseeing innovative methodologies for the long-term preservation of paintings.
- Consult 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, advise on all matters pertaining to the conservation and preservation of paintings in the museum’s collection.
- Develop policies for the long-term care and preservation of paintings in the collection following professional standards in museum conservation.
- Administer and oversee activities in the department, including budgets, staffing, and performance planning and review.
- Participate in grant writing and development activities as requested.
- Maintain 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.
- Supervise assistant objects conservator, pending position approval and hiring.
- Collaborate with museum’s education department and actively participate in the teaching and outreach activities of the museum.
- Propose 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.
- Develop schedule for museum services staff for dusting objects and conducting periodic condition surveys of works on view. Prepare outgoing and incoming condition reports for artifacts on loan, make recommendations for ensuring works are travel-ready, advises on packing, and serve as a courier on occasion.
- Develop 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. Plan and set priorities for major conservation and restoration projects within the collection. Conduct and oversee condition surveys, assessing conservation needs, and establishing treatment priorities. Examine and treat works for exhibition and for loan.
- Administer and oversee activities in the department, including staffing, performance planning and review, and staff development.
- Maintain 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.
- Undertake primary research relating to the materials and manufacture of fine art and historic objects; research 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, publish and present results at meetings and symposia.
- Propose and serve 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
- Demonstrated 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 arts
- 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.
WORK LOCATION
Bloomington, Indiana
This is an in-person position.
ADVERTISED SALARY
$80,000 - $85,000 per year based on education, skills and experience
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 and 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.
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 here 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. Click “View staff jobs as an external candidate” and search for Job ID 319302. For best consideration please apply no later than July 18, 2026. Questions regarding the position may be directed to Danielle Johnson, PhD, Director of Curatorial Affairs, [email protected].
