Modern & Contemporary Department Undergraduate Internship

About the role

The Director, Conservation plays a pivotal role in the examination, documentation, preservation, restoration, analysis, and technical research of artworks in the Detroit Institute of Arts' encyclopedic collection and under its custody. Reporting to the Vice President, Exhibition and Collection Strategies, this position oversees the department, manages a team, and collaborates across the museum to ensure the collection's safety and preservation.

Responsibilities

• Manage the department, determine priorities and goals, and ensure department resources support the museum's strategic goals and annual museum-wide goals.
• Mentor, develop, and manage a team to achieve strategic objectives and department needs in alignment with the museum’s annual priorities and strategic vision.
• Create a collaborative work environment by using a performance support process including goal setting, feedback, and development.
• Ensure all collection preservation activities are conducted in adherence with the American Institute for Conservation Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice.
• Develop conservation plans and procedures for the department and collection, identify opportunities for continuous process improvement, and collaborate with other teams in risk assessment, management, and emergency planning.
• Act as department's primary liaison and collaborate with other departments in achieving core department and division functions, including planning and installing special exhibitions and permanent collection galleries, monitoring environmental conditions, evaluating potential acquisitions, and assessing and preparing objects for loan.
• Provide technical guidance to resolve conservation issues in museum galleries and guide other teams in maintaining ideal storage and exhibition conditions, handling, packaging, and storage.
• Lead staff and coordinate departmental public outreach and advocacy activities that engage tri-county, state, national, and international audiences promoting accessibility to the department, collection, and special exhibitions.
• Oversee department initiatives and support conservation staff in their pursuit of technical research on artworks, including documentation of structure through written reports, scientific analysis, and imaging in support of acquisitions, treatment, curatorial and scholarly inquiries and exhibition and gallery content.
• Promote the dissemination of this information by conservation staff at conferences, symposia, and in peer-reviewed publications to raise the profile of the department and the museum among our museum colleagues and with the public.
• Oversee department initiatives and support conservation staff in their pursuit of technical research on artworks, including documentation of structure through written reports, scientific analysis, and imaging in support of acquisitions, treatment, curatorial and scholarly inquiries and exhibition and gallery content.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in art conservation from a recognized training program.
• Ten (10) years of progressive conservation experience, including preventative conservation, research, publications, or other academic work, preferably in a large fine arts museum.
• Experience with extensive treatment, scientific analysis, research, and process management in conservation required.
• Five (5) years of management experience as a section head or equivalent, including supervisory responsibilities.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to plan and execute goals and objectives.
• Leadership skills and the ability to lead a team to meet strategic goals supporting the museum strategy and vision.
• Demonstrated experience with budget management including budget development and stewardship of resources and demonstrated fiscal responsibility to stay within budget.
• Understanding and sensitivity required to handle, store, and display museum-quality artworks in compliance with the American Institute for Conservation's Code of Ethics and Standards for Practice.
• Able to advocate for collection care and conservation standards to ensure safety of artworks.
• Knowledge of analytical techniques (e.g. microscopy, X-ray fluorescence analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, fiber optic reflectance spectroscopy, gas/liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS/LC-MS)), digital photography and other imaging techniques.
• General knowledge of preparation, framing and mounting techniques for artwork.
• Experience with collections database software, The Museum System (TMS) preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to share complex information, ideas, and instructions clearly, effectively, and professionally to diverse audiences through talking or writing.
• Demonstrated organizational skills to plan, manage, prioritize, and complete multiple on-going projects to meet deadlines and goals.
• Knowledge of standards and best practices for museum environments and environmental monitoring systems.
• Demonstrated ability to make creative, effective, and timely decisions aligned with organizational mission, vision, values, and strategic direction considering risk and long-term impacts.
• Demonstrated ability to be an engaged listener with the ability to build consensus within the Museum and with diverse stakeholders externally.
• Ability to work occasional weekend and evening hours and respond to unplanned emergencies.
• Proficient in the latest version of Microsoft Office 365.
• Proficiency in the use of remote work technology such as scheduling with, connecting to, and using digital collaboration platforms such as Microsoft Teams.
• Ability to establish and maintain professional, productive and courteous interactions that promote positive teamwork.