Chief Preparator - Supervisor

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JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

The Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State is seeking applicants for the position of Chief Preparator. This is a full-time staff position reporting directly to the Assistant Director. This professional position requires considerable experience and expertise in art handling, preparation, and installation, as well as mastery of specialized skills, strategic thinking, and knowledge of best practices in the field of museum preparation.

The Palmer Museum of Art is situated administratively in the College of Arts and Architecture. For more information on the Palmer Museum of Art please visit our website at: https://palmermuseum.psu.edu/.

The College of Arts and Architecture at Penn State is working to establish a culture of anti-racism and anti-oppression that embraces individual identities, fosters a culture of inclusion, and promotes equity through curricula, values, standards, ideals, policies, and practices. The ideal candidate will provide evidence of their experience with, and interest in, contributing to these goals.

The Chief Preparator supervises and coordinates the installation of permanent collection displays and temporary exhibitions; oversees the preparation and maintenance of gallery spaces (including painting, lighting, and exhibition furniture); matting, framing, and mounting works of art; and preparation of budgets for maintaining and upgrading design, exhibition furniture, framing, gallery lighting, and shop supplies.

This position will be filled at the Museum Preparator Supervisor level as it will direct and supervise a full-time Senior Preparator, Assistant Preparator, and student interns. As a collaborative member of the exhibition leadership team, the Chief Preparator will strive to accomplish the museum's mission and to support its strategic direction as set by the Director and the senior leadership of the college and university.

Experience:

Requires a Bachelor's degree (Master's degree preferred) plus three years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Extensive experience in fine art handling and installation, with a minimum of five years' experience in a museum or gallery setting preferred. Requires some occasional work on evenings and weekends. Supervisory experience and familiarity with principles of exhibition design are strongly preferred. Evidence of equitable considerations, awareness, and practice regarding inclusive practices in educating diverse student bodies and working with a diverse faculty, staff, or work populations to cultivate a culture that supports success and enables all members of a community to thrive.

• Direct the design, fabrication, and installation of all art exhibits

• Evaluate exhibition site conditions, create construction documents, develop systems and procedures
• Provide cost estimates and purchase materials to support exhibitions
• Conduct project planning and scheduling; coordinate installations and traveling exhibitions by supervising tasks with internal and external partners
• Perform various gallery maintenance functions to ensure proper upkeep of the facility
• Communicate and coordinate logistics and details with facilities, Office of the Physical Plant, and other partners to ensure projects are compliant with code, ADA, fire safety, and/or other safety concerns
• Provide strategic advice and guidance related to the maintenance of exhibits and art pieces
• Research new materials, production techniques, and technical advances
• Supervise staff and interns, and conduct hiring, development, and performance management

Workforce diversity, cultural inclusiveness, and employment equity are deeply rooted in Penn State's historic mission. Just as we are committed to being a diverse educational environment, we are also committed to being a diverse working community. As a community, we endeavor to be a kaleidoscope of cultural backgrounds, life experiences, individual perspectives, and numerous other characteristics that add variety and vitality to the workplace.

This position requires that you operate a motor vehicle as a part of your job duties. A valid driver's license and successful completion of a motor vehicle records check will be required in addition to standard background checks.

Application Procedures:

To be considered for this position, submit a cover letter and resume. In your cover letter, address how equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging relate to your professional experience.

Penn State offers competitive benefits to full-time employees, including medical, dental, vision, and retirement plans, in addition to tuition discounts (75% discount for spouse and children), and paid holidays. Please visit https://hr.psu.edu/current-employee/benefits for more detailed information.

About the College of Arts & Architecture:

The College of Arts and Architecture at Penn State (https://arts.psu.edu) is a comprehensive arts and architecture community including academic programs in architecture, landscape architecture, music, theatre, visual arts, graphic design, and art history, with a center for the performing arts, and a university art museum, which collectively serve as important cultural resources that provide educational engagement programs for Penn State and area communities. The college is committed to artistic and scholarly creativity, research, community engagement, and the preparation of specialized practitioners in all the arts and design disciplines, along with community engagement in its programs. In addition, the college is home to several research centers, institutes and initiatives, which foster a vibrant culture of inquiry that promotes excellence within the arts and design disciplines, while at the same time leveraging the potential of a comprehensive research university. There are approximately 1,700 graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in the college. The college is housed in sixteen buildings on the University Park campus. It includes performance spaces, gallery/exhibition spaces, a lighting and design lab, computer labs, special subject libraries, specialized studios and a stage lighting archive.

About Penn State:

Penn State (http://www.psu.edu) is a comprehensive, multi-campus research University serving all regions of the Commonwealth, as well as the nation and the world in instruction, research, and service roles that require responsiveness to and support from society's public and private sectors. As a land-grant University, Penn State has responsibility for providing a wide array of programs in the professional and technical disciplines, as well as a balanced offering of undergraduate and graduate programs in the arts and sciences. Penn State shares with other major research universities the traditional responsibilities to discover, develop, preserve, and disseminate knowledge. The University Park campus is located in the State College metropolitan area, a university town located in Centre County in central Pennsylvania. State College has a population of approximately 42,000 residents and is within a half-day`s drive to Washington D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and New York City. The University Park Airport is served by three major carriers with non-stop flights to Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Chicago, and Detroit.

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades is:

Salary Structure - additional information on Penn State's job and salary structure.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS: