Susan Morse Hilles Chief Conservator

University Job Title: Chief Conservator
Bargaining Unit: None - Not included in the union (Yale Union Group)
Time Type: Full time
Duration Type: Regular
Compensation Grade: Administration & Operations
Wage Ranges: Click here to see our Wage Ranges
Work Location: Central Campus
Worksite Address: 1111 Chapel Street
New Haven, CT 06510
Work Week: Standard (M-F equal number of hours per day)
Searchable Job Family: Museum/Curatorial
Total # of Hours to be Works: 37.5

Position Focus:
The Susan Morse Hilles Chief Conservator should be a leader of international stature in the conservation community. This position directs a thriving Conservation Department at the Yale University Art Gallery in treatments, research, and teaching, in keeping with the professional ethics and educational mission of the Gallery and University. The Chief Conservator directs the care and preservation of the Yale University Art Gallery's world-class and growing collections covering all media, historical periods, and points of geographical origin. Specialization can be in either paintings or objects, but a wide knowledge of all fields—including materials, treatment options, and current research—is essential, as is an extensive network of global contacts with other conservators and research scientists. This position works closely with the Gallery's conservators and curators to develop a long-range philosophy and strategy for conservation treatment and research in all areas of the permanent collection. The Chief Conservator steers the Gallery's educational opportunities in conservation through teaching, internships, and research opportunities at both the undergraduate and graduate level and actively fosters and supports initiatives and opportunities that diversify the field of conservation and cultural heritage. The Chief Conservator also fosters close collaborations with the Director of the Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (IPCH) and IPCH research scientists and laboratories. Collection-based research in conservation is a key focus of the Art Gallery, involving curators, other conservators at Yale and worldwide, students, and interns. The Chief Conservator plays a primary role in this broad initiative, encouraging partnerships with colleagues across the University and participating in collaborative efforts to make conservation at Yale a model for American university museums. This position reports to the Director of the Art Gallery.

Essential Duties:
1. Manage and oversee all Gallery Conservation Department activities including the establishment of treatment priorities, assignment of work to staff and outside conservators, documentation of research, analysis, preservation, and treatment of the collection. Formulate, develop, and implement conservation and preservation treatments, programs, and policies. 2. Work closely with the Gallery’s curators and conservators to develop a long-range philosophy and strategy for preservation, conservation, research, and teaching. 3. Oversee conservation department staff, postgraduate fellows, interns, and students, and work with curatorial, registrar and installations staffs to assure that conservation standards are met across the collections. 4. Provide recommendations to curators and registrars to support acquisition, loan, and exhibition decisions. Assure collections receive proper care prior to exhibition, loan, or other travel. 5. Manage departmental budget and assist the Director and Development Officer in efforts to secure funds and prepare grants for staffing, housing, and conservation of collections. 6. Advise Gallery staff concerning conservation principles and practices. 7. Teach courses or individual classes in the History of Art Department, School of Art, or other interested departments across the University. 8. Strategically hire and mentor outstanding conservation department staff and guide educational opportunities in conservation at both the undergraduate and graduate level. 9. Travel to perform relevant research and comparative study and inform treatments. 10. Attend conferences and symposia and contribute to the field through professional publications and papers. 11. Maintain awareness of developments in the field and work to develop the Yale University Art Gallery’s stature in the museum world and within the international world of art conservation. 12. Represent the Art Gallery on University committees, and the department on Gallery committees, as requested.

Required Education and Experience:
1. Master’s degree in art conservation and ten years of experience in museums of regional and national standing caring for collections of notable quality, or an equivalent combination of experience and education. 2. Demonstrated skills at a high level in a wide range of conservation methods and familiarity with a variety of analytical procedures, including such techniques as x-radiography, infrared reflectography, and optical or chemical microscopy, as well as film-based and digital photographic documentation.

Required Skill/Ability 1:

Excellent communication and leadership skills. Demonstrated administrative, managerial, and supervisory skills. Ability to communicate with staff and public in a knowledgeable and professional manner.

Required Skill/Ability 2:

Uncompromising diplomacy and commitment to collaboration.

Required Skill/Ability 3:

Ability to think strategically in support of the Gallery’s long-range academic program and profile at the University.

Required Skill/Ability 4:

Self-directed; ability to take initiative and anticipate actions needed; excellent interpersonal skills.

Required Skill/Ability 5:

Familiarity with digital technology. Well-developed manual dexterity, visual acuity, and craft skills.


Preferred Education, Experience and Skills:


Drug Screen: No
Health Screening: No

Background Check Requirements:
All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.

COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement:
Thank you for your interest in employment at Yale University. Please also note that the university has a COVID-19 vaccination and booster requirement for all students, staff & faculty which is described in the COVID-19 Vaccine Program. As you search our open positions, you will see that all postings list their on-site addresses which gives more detail on the on-campus work location of the role.


Posting Disclaimer:
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the particular position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through their hiring departments.

To apply, visit https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/home/HomeWithPreLoad?partnerid=25053&siteid=5248&PageType=JobDetails&jobid=1531859



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