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.

At Winterthur, employment is more than just work. The Winterthur employee is offered 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. Winterthur welcomes applications from candidates who will contribute their specific skills to its mission to build upon the vision of Henry Francis du Pont to inspire and educate through its collections, estate, and academic programs by engaging diverse audiences in the study, preservation, and interpretation of American material culture, art, design and history, and also uphold its core values of agility, excellence, innovation, integrity, inclusion, and transparency.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Winterthur seeks new leadership of its Paper Lab following the retirement of the previous paper conservator. We seek an individual who is eager to build on the strong foundation and reputation of Winterthur's paper conservation lab and who will bring their own expertise, energy, and ideas to this exciting role.

The Assistant/Associate Paper Conservator is responsible for administration, implementation, and supervision of all aspects of their conservation discipline . The Assistant/Associate Paper Conservator demonstrates expertise and leadership in paper conservation treatment and technology, hand skills, preventive conservation, and collection work. The individual is a full-time Winterthur employee who will also serve as an affiliated professor for the Winterthur/University of Delaware (WUDPAC) program. They are to be capable of research, teaching, and mentoring graduate students and others at a professional level. They possess an established ability and eagerness to collaborate with other collections staff and faculty including conservators, curators, library staff, educators, and scientists. They remain professionally active by staying current with conservation literature and engaging in professional organizations. The person in this role will be a leader in building and promoting equitable practices within conservation and cultural heritage related to Paper materials.

We welcome all candidates who seek a next step in their professional development and who bring their curiosity and skillsets to this highly collaborative role. The successful candidate would be joining a team where collaboration and providing mentorship is highly encouraged.

Compensation: Assistant Conservator minimum of $55,000, Associate Conservator minimum of $65,000; title and compensation 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 required

Responsibilities:

1. Perform assessment and treatment of works of art on paper and select non-bound library objects, in accordance with standards established by professional organizations such as the American Institute for Conservation and in line with the most recent practices.
2. Manage all aspects of the paper conservation laboratory, including projects related to exhibition, loan and acquisition. Supervise graduate students and volunteers; co-supervise the conservation assistant for preservation housing. Ensures oversight of the laboratory facility by managing safety standards, equipment upkeep, and laboratory organization. Collaborates on conservation department team assignments, including institutional committee work.
3. Perform WUDPAC responsibilities including teaching the annual 3-week Paper block and academic committee assignments such as curriculum development and admissions. Supervise M.S. students’ course work and conservation treatments, and advise on other aspects of their education, including internship selection.
4. Contribute to grant proposals and manage grant funding, when applicable, for Winterthur and WUDPAC projects and initiatives.
5. Engage in professional activities including research, publication, participation in professional organizations, and outreach. Serve as an ambassador for the museum and profession; and represent the department, Winterthur, and WUDPAC in professional settings.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Minimum Experience: Master’s degree in Conservation with 2-5 years of professional experience

Preferred Experience: Master's degree in Conservation; major in paper with focus on art on paper and experience with non-bound library materials such manuscripts, maps, and prints. Evidence of teaching in academic or non-academic environment.

Knowledge/Skills:

1. Highly developed understanding of conservation in general and the individual’s specific discipline
2. Extensive knowledge of conservation terminology, technology and hand skills in the preventive care, treatment and assessment of collection objects and understanding the needs of paper-based collections.
3. Strong communication and interpersonal skills. Potential for supervising students, staff and volunteers. Successful outreach with visitors, donors and professional colleagues
4. Potential for research, writing, and publication of conservation topics.
5. Strong writing skills applied to documentation, social media, departmental communications, and potential grant writing.
6. Detail oriented, organized.

Essential Functions:

1. Regular contact with and proper handling of museum and library collections.
2. Various deadlines and occasional competing priorities.
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
5. Ability to work at a computer for up to 8 hours a day
6. Ability to communicate with various sized groups in order to teach and mentor students