ASSOCIATE BOOK CONSERVATOR

THE WALTERS ART MUSEUM

ABOUT THE WALTERS ART MUSEUM 

The Walters Art Museum is among America’s most distinctive museums, forging connections between people and art from cultures around the world and spanning seven millennia. Located in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon neighborhood, the Walters is free for all. The museum’s campus includes five historic buildings and 36,000 art objects. 

Today, the Walters serves Baltimore and Maryland by embracing its role as educator and storyteller, using the collection as a vehicle of knowledge and cultural expression to support learning, dialogue, and community engagement. The museum is committed to public education, offering essential programs that help people to connect art to their lives. The Walters Visitor Promise aligns staff and volunteers across the museum to preserve and share the works in our care for future generations, partner with communities, and create welcoming, accessible experiences for visitors. The museum offers challenging and creative work opportunities by promoting collaboration and teamwork. 

OVERVIEW OF ROLE 

The Associate Book Conservator is responsible for the preservation and conservation of the Walters’ collections of manuscripts, rare books, and works of art on paper. They will join a team of conservation professionals with specialties in objects, paintings, preventive, and conservation science. They will work collaboratively across the Department of Conservation, Collections, and Technical Research to implement exhibitions, installations, rotations, programs, and other projects. This role reports to the Managing Head of Conservation and Technical Research. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Prepares, examines, treats, and documents the museum’s manuscripts, rare books, and works of art on paper collections for exhibition, loan, and acquisition.  
• Conducts condition surveys of the collection to establish treatment priorities; carries out emergency treatment on works that are actively deteriorating. 
• Works with the museum’s Conservation Scientist to perform technical studies and analysis on works in the collections to determine materials, methods of manufacture, and authenticity. 
• Determines causes of deterioration and develops appropriate treatment methodologies. 
• Participates in preventive conservation, including evaluating and making recommendations for display, storage and transport, and rehousing. 
• Evaluates, obtains, and maintains equipment and materials needed to carry out conservation treatment and preventive maintenance to professionally accepted standards. 
• Assists in writing grant proposals and oversees grant projects to address priority preservation needs. 
• Works in collaboration with Digital Production and Publication team to support ongoing digitization of the Walters’ book collection. 
• Coordinates work of contractors in support of book and paper-based materials in preparation for exhibition and loan. 
• Assists in mentoring fellows, interns, and volunteers entering the conservation profession. 
• Contributes to the professional conservation field through lectures, publications, and teaching. 
• Works in the Conservation Window, our public-facing space for engagement. 
• Acts as a courier for the Walters collection during transit. 
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• MA or MS in art conservation with a specialization in book conservation. 
• Minimum of five years working in a museum or library setting, inclusive of full-year graduate level internship. 
• Must have demonstrated experience with structural treatment of bound volumes, preferably manuscripts and rare books. 
• Comprehensive knowledge of treatment methods, materials, preventive conservation principles, and methodology. 
• Knowledge of art history and history of the book relevant to specialty. 
• Knowledge of ethical and practical professional standards. 
• Familiarity with analytical techniques, uses, and limitations. 
• Excellent conservation planning, documentation, decision-making, and manual skills for structural and aesthetic treatment; must have demonstrated experience with technical studies materials research as applied to area of specialty; good research, teaching, administrative, oral and written communication skills; skills in research and analytical techniques and interpretation appropriate to specialty. 
• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Google platforms preferred. 

SCHEDULED SHIFT

Standard workweek is Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with periodic Saturdays to work in the Conservation Window. Event weeks are subject to different hours, as needed. Must have flexibility to work weekends and evenings and to travel as necessary. 

ANNUAL SALARY $77,813

The Walters Art Museum provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, prescription, vision, subsidized transportation and parking, museum membership, short term disability, long-term disability, life insurance, FSA (flexible spending account), 457b retirement, and free professional financial management counseling. This is a 100% onsite position and is part of the AFSCME-WWU collective bargaining unit. All employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The museum does not sponsor work visas.