Department: Block Museum
Salary/Grade: NEX/15

Job Summary:

In conjunction with the Associate Director of Collection and Exhibition Management, and in coordination with the Assistant Director of Collection and Exhibition Management and Senior Registrar, and the curatorial team, the Lead Preparator is responsible for helping to translate installation ideas and content into exhibitions in the museum's galleries spaces. When requested, the Lead Preparator will also help support new commissioned works by contemporary artists and off-site projects. Takes a lead role in recruiting, hiring, training, and retaining qualified candidates for our team of part-time preparators. Oversees all aspects of this team's work, working closely with them to ensure the safe and successful implementation of all museum exhibitions. This routinely includes providing professional display and mounting solutions for many institutional loans, as well as for work from the Block's collection. Through pre-planning, attending meetings and providing communications, both written and visual, the Lead Preparator helps with the coordination of all incoming and outgoing exhibitions, including correspondence with lending and partner institutions. Coordination with suppliers and contractors is also a regular facet of this position. The Lead Preparator also plays an important role intaking new acquisitions, and also helps plan for their long-term preservation. This often includes the design and fabrication of custom storage solutions for newly acquired works of art.

The Block Museum of Art prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion across all of its programming, and within its organizational culture and working practices, by centering the voices and experiences of those who have been historically excluded from or underrepresented in higher education and museum practice. Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, access, and inclusion is required.

*Note: Not all aspects of the job are covered by this job description.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Typically administers multiple research projects such as:
• Working closely with the Associate Director of Collection and Exhibition Management, the Lead Preparator helps plan for exhibitions by visualizing ideas and designs into mature plans that can be evaluated by exhibition team members in advance of exhibition installations.
• Recruits, hires, trains, and supervises a team of preparators, monitoring workflow and scheduling assignments. Provides training as necessary to team members.
• Assists with planning and supervising or directing the fabrication, installation, disassembly and storage of exhibits and collections, including the fabrication of display cases and furniture and temporary walls.
• Helps coordinate the installation and deinstallation of exhibitions, collections and displays, providing input that helps to ensure the appropriate number and type of staff are available.
• In collaboration with the Senior Registrar, and other key team members, the Lead Preparator helps receive and care for newly acquired works of art. This collection care housing and responsibility often includes the design and fabrication of custom storage solutions.
• In collaboration with the Associate Director of Collection and Exhibition Management and the curatorial team, the Lead Preparator works with artists to help realize their installations in the museum's galleries, as well as off-site exhibition installations.
• In addition to helping install the annual MFA Thesis exhibition, the Lead Preparator meets with the MFAs every winter and spring, to help advise on their installation plans and logisitics. This includes studio visits, as well.
• Ensures works of art and their accessories are transported and installed in the museum in a safe and expeditious manner.
• Performs routine walkthroughs of exhibits on the floor and completes necessary upkeep and maintenance.
• Manage workshop inventory, including the purchase tools and equipment and maintain their proper storage and care.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Bachelor's degree in art, History, or related field.
• Five or more years' experience working in a museum environment.
• Ability to properly handle and move delicate and valuable art and artifacts, and also ensure the best art handling practices are observed by all temporary preparators.
• Good knowledge of museum construction practices and experience building out exhibition spaces.
• Ability to work from drawings and verbal instructions to build and install artifact mounts.
• Working knowledge of a range of time-based media art works, and how to care and install them.
• Skill in working with a number of different kinds of materials including lumber, metal, fabrics, plastics, mechanical fasteners, and adhesives.
• Excellent verbal and communication skills
• Ability to lift 50+ pounds.

The target hiring range for this position will be between $26.27 to $30.00 per hour. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.

#LI-IW1