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Title: Chief Conservator
State Role Title: VMFA Senior
Hiring Range: $150,000
Pay Band: UG
Agency: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Location: MAIN MUSEUM
Agency Website: https://vmfa.museum/
Recruitment Type: General Public – G
Job Duties
The Chief Conservator position leads the Susan and David Goode Center for Advanced Study in Art Conservation. Opened in 2010, the Goode Center is dedicated to the care and treatment of the museum’s collection of more than 50,000 works of art. With almost 10,000 square feet of lab space, it is one of the largest art conservation facilities in the southeast and is outfitted with advanced analytical and examination capabilities including hyperspectral imaging, infrared and multiband imaging, scanning and portable x-ray fluorescence, FT-IR and FT-Raman spectroscopy, polarized light microscopy, microfade testing, and computed x-radiography. The Goode Center’s staff includes conservators, conservation technicians, and mount makers specializing in paintings, objects, paper, and photographs. With the generous support from the Carpenter Foundation, the Goode Center will also be expanding its areas of specialization to include Chinese and Japanese paintings, making it one of only seven institutions in the United States with this focus. The Goode Center aspires to be a leader in the field of art conservation and technical art history through collaborative research and scholarship with conservators, curators, researchers, scientists, and students around the globe. Conservators within the Goode Center share research findings through engagement with the public on-site and online, lecturing nationally and internationally, in peer-reviewed publications, and through the museum’s exhibitions and statewide programs. The Goode Center is also dedicated to promoting diversity in the field and training the next generation of conservators through outreach, workshops, paid internships, and fellowships.
The Chief Conservator has primary responsibility for the conservation of works of art in the museum’s collection and for overseeing all aspects of the Goode Center, including treatment of objects, technical analysis, scientific research, and the supervision of departmental staff and contract employees. This position oversees the operation of three conservation teams – Sculpture and Decorative Arts, Paintings, and Works on Paper – and ensures that the highest conservation standards and protocols are utilized for the care and maintenance of the museum’s collection. The Chief Conservator is also responsible for developing and maintaining the Conservation budget and establishing priorities and strategic direction for the Goode Center in support of the museum’s objectives and Strategic Plan.
As a state agency, the VMFA provides a generous benefits package to all full-time classified staff. All VMFA staff also enjoy museum benefits like free admission to special exhibitions, previews of special exhibitions, employee pricing for select museum programs and classes, and discounts at Amuse Restaurant, Best Cafe, and VMFA Shop.
Minimum Qualifications
• Minimum of 10 years at levels of increasing responsibility in positions related to the management of a multidisciplinary art conservation program.
• Direct, hands-on experience encompassing all aspects of conservation, including treatment of works of art.
• Demonstrates leadership experience at a senior level with high responsibility and accountability.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise and work successfully with others, including museum staff, students, donors, volunteers, and diverse public constituencies.
• Advanced comprehensive knowledge of art conservation methods and materials and the resources needed to support the care and treatment of the collection.
• Demonstrated experience of motivating and leading experienced conservators and mentoring entry-and mid-level professionals in the field.
• Proven supervisory, planning, organization, budget, and project management skills.
• Capacity to prioritize and deal with many projects and assignments at once.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and make recommendations and decisions based upon a sophisticated understanding of art museum practices.
• Ability to work with collection management databases.
• Excellent ability to write reports and effectively present information, including responding to inquiries and requests from the museum staff, outside organizations and the general public.
Additional Considerations
Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities typically gained and demonstrated through completion of:
• B.A. from a four-year college or university with a major in Chemistry, Art History, or a related major course of study.
• M.A. from an accredited conservation training program or equivalent training.
Special Instructions
You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.
You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.
Please submit three (3) references. Provide full name, phone number, and email address. References may be attached in a separate document in the “other” field in the portal; or they may be included with the resume or cover letter.
Professional references are preferred. Other reference types will also receive consideration. References should be able to attest to your knowledge, skills, and abilities, especially qualifications relevant to the position for which you are applying.
Selected candidates must pass a criminal history background check.
The selected candidate must complete the Statement of Economic Interest form and associated Conflict of Interest training as a condition of employment.
Interested individuals must submit an online application. This posting will close at 11:55 p.m. on the designated closing date.
Please contact the HR office at recruitment@vmfa.museum if you need assistance.
VMFA is an EEO/AA and Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Certified Employer. Diverse and inclusive hiring practices are at the heart of what we do at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
Contact Information
Name: Human Resources Services
Phone: please email
Email: recruitment@vmfa.museum
In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.
Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.