Preparator II

At The Huntington, we believe that having a team of diverse backgrounds and voices working together will enable us to support and promote the appreciation of the humanities, the arts, and botanical science. The Huntington is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, disability, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law.

Founded in 1919, The Huntington is a collections-based research and educational institution open to the public, housing world-class library, art, and botanical collections. Its mission is to support research and promote education in the arts, humanities, and botanical science and to display and interpret its extraordinary resources for diverse audiences.

Here we are committed to the highest of standards in all that we do – from preserving and protecting the collections, to exhibitions, educational and scholarly programming, visitor and reader services, and beyond.  Achieving excellence across these pursuits requires a diversity of perspectives, expertise, experience, and methodologies. 

At The Huntington, our organizational Culture is shaped by the following core values: Intellectual curiosity, Collaboration, Stewardship, Belonging, and Integrity.

• Intellectual Curiosity: Knowledge, lifelong learning, and a spirit of inquiry are at the core of our mission and organizational culture.

• Collaboration: Teamwork and a collaborative attitude are important at all levels of The Huntington. We foster relationships internally among our departments and externally with organizations throughout the community.

• Stewardship: We are committed to the care and development of our collections, our financial and physical resources, our staff, and our community.

• Belonging: We strive to attract and maintain a workforce of individuals with diverse talents, backgrounds, and perspectives. Our organizational culture promotes a sense of welcome, inclusion, and connection.

• Integrity: We value respect and honesty, working to fulfill our mission with honor and ethical principles.

About the Role

The Preparator II is a member of the institution’s Preparation Department, under the Registration and Collection Management Department. This position is integral in the consistent planning and implementation of the institution’s schedule of special exhibitions, permanent collection rotations, and collections care. This position is part of a team of preparatory staff. The position’s primary responsibility is to assist in all handling, display preparations, installation, packing, storage and care of artworks according to museum standards.  Reports to Head of Preparations.

Essential Duties 

Assists with object preparation, installation/de-installation of exhibitions, gallery rotations, and collection rehousing projects, working with colleagues in the Registration, Exhibitions, and Preservation department. Related duties will include, but are not limited to:

• Receiving, unpacking and packing artworks

• Acting as point person for object prep and installation projects

• Assist curators in placement of artworks in galleries

• Handling and installing artworks and collections objects

• Hinging, matting and framing artworks

• Generating profiles and schematics for display mounts (book cradles, slants)

• Creating or modifying display mounts and case risers/buildups

• Performing carpentry work such as retrofitting crates and modifying pedestals

• Spackling and painting

• Lighting exhibitions, to Curatorial and Preservation standards

• Monitoring and maintenance of exhibition lighting and installation of A/V elements

• Performing regular gallery dusting and cleaning

• Assisting with and occasionally leading buildouts of historic painting frames

• Organizing supplies and communicating resupply needs

• Driving art preparation vehicles to transport art on and off campus

• Attending and occasionally leading in-house training workshops in Huntington object prep procedures

• Providing guidance to Broad DAP apprentices during their placement at The Huntington

• Attending regular departmental meetings

• Attending object review meetings and consulting with Preservation Dept. on object prep needs

• Providing input to supervisors and colleagues on preparation and installation methods

• Sharing project status information with supervisor and colleagues

• Accessing FileMaker and TMS databases for object information

• Updating object preparation status via Excel

• Tracks and communicates object location changes

• Procuring materials and processing payments

Candidate Requirements and Experience

• Several years of experience in preparation, collections management, and installation in a gallery or museum setting.

• Expertise in industry standard materials, processes, equipment, and safety protocols.

• Excellent working knowledge of installation methods required.

• Proficiency in mounting, matting, framing of works on paper.

• Working knowledge of fabrication methods

• Extensive experience using heavy equipment, including scissor-lift, gantry, pallet jack, pedal lift.

• Must have safe driving record.

• Demonstrated knowledge of art-handling procedures for two- and three-dimensional objects in various materials, sizes, and weights

• Knowledge of museum-quality packing, and crating.

• Must be able to lift 50 pounds.

• Conduct self in a professional manner and establish positive working relationships with museum staff, representatives from other arts institutions, consultants, artists, and vendors.

Other Desirable Qualifications:

• Ability to plan, prioritize, multi-task, and meet deadlines

• Woodworking and/or metalworking skills

• Working knowledge of electrical wiring

• Rigging experience

• Facility with word processing, Excel, Outlook/Gmail

• Proven solutions-oriented, diplomatic problem solver and true team player

• Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills

• Adherent to the institution’s core values in all activities

Working Conditions

• Gallery, workshop, and office settings. Most of the work will be indoors, but there is some occasional outdoor work.

• Prolonged periods of standing, bending, sitting, and stooping.

• Lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds.

• Pay Range: $28.00-$31.00/hr. Commensurate on experience.

• Medical, Dental, Vision  

• 403(b) retirement plan and matching retirement plan with an outstanding employer match 

• Considerable paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and holidays 

• Discounts for staff in The Huntington Store and restaurants 

• Free admission to various museums and cultural institutions 

• Free passes each month to welcome family and friends to visit the grounds