Asian Art Museum
Senior Museum Preparator (3522)
Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, California, United States, 94199
Senior Museum Preparator - City and County of San Francisco - Asian Art Museum
200 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102, USA
Full-time
Job Code and Title: 3522-Senior Museum Preparator
Fill Type: Permanent Civil Service
Compensation: USD33.663- USD40.963- hourly
Please apply directly to the City of San Francisco: https://us.smrtr.io/4nNsy
Application Opening:12/12/2025 Application Deadline:01/11/2026 Recruitment ID:RTF0160551-01113426
This is a Position-Based Test (PBT) conducted in accordance with Civil Service Rule 111A. Learn more about the City’s hiring process: https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/process/
About the Asian Art Museum Located in the heart of San Francisco, the Asian Art Museum houses one of the world’s premier collections of Asian art, with 20,000 artworks ranging from ancient jades and ceramics to contemporary multimedia installations. Special exhibitions, cultural events, and dynamic programs bring art to life for diverse audiences.
Job Description Overtime eligibility - Covered (Non-Z) - Nonexempt
Labor agreement - SEIU Local 1021
The Asian Art Museum seeks a skilled Senior Museum Preparator to support the construction, installation, de-installation, and safe handling of artworks for exhibitions and gallery rotations. Working closely with a cross-departmental creative team, this role helps bring exhibitions to fruition through expert craftsmanship, problem-solving, and thoughtful design collaboration.
Under direction, this position constructs museum-quality fixtures, showcases, pedestals, temporary walls, and mounts; installs and arranges exhibits; packs, unpacks, and oversees storage of art objects; and performs related duties as assigned. Work requires a high degree of manual dexterity and exceptional care in handling valuable artworks.
Distinguishing Features The 3522 Senior Museum Preparator is distinguished from the 3524 Principal Museum Preparator in that the latter performs duties of a more difficult and complex nature and has greater supervisory responsibilities. Class 3522 Senior Museum Preparator is distinguished from Class 3520 Museum Preparator in that the latter is an entry level with no supervisory responsibility. Positions at this level require more knowledge, skills, abilities, and expertise than those of class 3520 and possess greater expertise than expected at the entry level.
Major, Important, and Essential Duties
Confers with curatorial, design, and other staff in planning and constructing exhibit components; designs and builds installation elements, such as showcases, pedestals, partitions, and special effects; paints and wallpapers exhibition spaces; adjusts and installs lighting; hangs artworks and sets up sculptures; and serves as a lead during installation, removal, and salvage of exhibition fixtures.
Prepares cost and material estimates for construction and installation projects; requisitions lumber, supplies, and specialized equipment.
Packs, ships, receives, and unpacks paintings and other valuable objects; supervises storage and inventory of paintings, statuary, and furniture; notifies the registrar of any discrepancies.
Uses professional-grade hand and power tools for carpentry, cabinetmaking, and mount fabrication, including constructing cases, pedestals, mounts, and display furniture using conservation-safe materials and methods.
Ensures all work aligns with museum conservation standards, safety protocols, and industry best practices, including PPE use, equipment safety, and proper artwork handling procedures.
Work Environment & Physical Demands Work occurs in active gallery, workshop, and storage environments. Duties require:
Standing, bending, and lifting
Climbing ladders or scaffolding
Performing fine motor tasks
Safely handling and moving heavy, delicate, or high-value artworks
Early mornings, evenings, and weekends may be required for installation schedules.
Qualifications Education Possession of an associate degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Art, Fine Arts, Museum Studies, or related field.
Experience Two (2) years of verifiable experience in:
Preparation, fabrication, installation, and care of valuable artworks
Museum mount-making
Building exhibition furniture
Working in a museum, gallery, or traveling exhibition program
Substitution Additional full-time work experience (2,000 hours = 1 year) may substitute for required education on a year-for-year basis. One year of work experience equals 30 semester units or 45 quarter units.
License/Certification Valid California Driver’s License.
Desirable Qualifications
Experience supervising or leading installation teams
Experience preparing exhibitions in a fine art museum
Knowledge of museum mount-making materials and methods
Familiarity with digital tools for shop drawings and basic design layouts
Verification of Education & Experience Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any stage. Information on verifying educational requirements, including foreign degree equivalency, is available at: https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/experience-education
Note: Falsifying education, work experience, or training may result in disqualification.
For additional information and to apply to this position: https://us.smrtr.io/4nNsy
Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
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200 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102, USA
Full-time
Job Code and Title: 3522-Senior Museum Preparator
Fill Type: Permanent Civil Service
Compensation: USD33.663- USD40.963- hourly
Please apply directly to the City of San Francisco: https://us.smrtr.io/4nNsy
Application Opening:12/12/2025 Application Deadline:01/11/2026 Recruitment ID:RTF0160551-01113426
This is a Position-Based Test (PBT) conducted in accordance with Civil Service Rule 111A. Learn more about the City’s hiring process: https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/process/
About the Asian Art Museum Located in the heart of San Francisco, the Asian Art Museum houses one of the world’s premier collections of Asian art, with 20,000 artworks ranging from ancient jades and ceramics to contemporary multimedia installations. Special exhibitions, cultural events, and dynamic programs bring art to life for diverse audiences.
Job Description Overtime eligibility - Covered (Non-Z) - Nonexempt
Labor agreement - SEIU Local 1021
The Asian Art Museum seeks a skilled Senior Museum Preparator to support the construction, installation, de-installation, and safe handling of artworks for exhibitions and gallery rotations. Working closely with a cross-departmental creative team, this role helps bring exhibitions to fruition through expert craftsmanship, problem-solving, and thoughtful design collaboration.
Under direction, this position constructs museum-quality fixtures, showcases, pedestals, temporary walls, and mounts; installs and arranges exhibits; packs, unpacks, and oversees storage of art objects; and performs related duties as assigned. Work requires a high degree of manual dexterity and exceptional care in handling valuable artworks.
Distinguishing Features The 3522 Senior Museum Preparator is distinguished from the 3524 Principal Museum Preparator in that the latter performs duties of a more difficult and complex nature and has greater supervisory responsibilities. Class 3522 Senior Museum Preparator is distinguished from Class 3520 Museum Preparator in that the latter is an entry level with no supervisory responsibility. Positions at this level require more knowledge, skills, abilities, and expertise than those of class 3520 and possess greater expertise than expected at the entry level.
Major, Important, and Essential Duties
Confers with curatorial, design, and other staff in planning and constructing exhibit components; designs and builds installation elements, such as showcases, pedestals, partitions, and special effects; paints and wallpapers exhibition spaces; adjusts and installs lighting; hangs artworks and sets up sculptures; and serves as a lead during installation, removal, and salvage of exhibition fixtures.
Prepares cost and material estimates for construction and installation projects; requisitions lumber, supplies, and specialized equipment.
Packs, ships, receives, and unpacks paintings and other valuable objects; supervises storage and inventory of paintings, statuary, and furniture; notifies the registrar of any discrepancies.
Uses professional-grade hand and power tools for carpentry, cabinetmaking, and mount fabrication, including constructing cases, pedestals, mounts, and display furniture using conservation-safe materials and methods.
Ensures all work aligns with museum conservation standards, safety protocols, and industry best practices, including PPE use, equipment safety, and proper artwork handling procedures.
Work Environment & Physical Demands Work occurs in active gallery, workshop, and storage environments. Duties require:
Standing, bending, and lifting
Climbing ladders or scaffolding
Performing fine motor tasks
Safely handling and moving heavy, delicate, or high-value artworks
Early mornings, evenings, and weekends may be required for installation schedules.
Qualifications Education Possession of an associate degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Art, Fine Arts, Museum Studies, or related field.
Experience Two (2) years of verifiable experience in:
Preparation, fabrication, installation, and care of valuable artworks
Museum mount-making
Building exhibition furniture
Working in a museum, gallery, or traveling exhibition program
Substitution Additional full-time work experience (2,000 hours = 1 year) may substitute for required education on a year-for-year basis. One year of work experience equals 30 semester units or 45 quarter units.
License/Certification Valid California Driver’s License.
Desirable Qualifications
Experience supervising or leading installation teams
Experience preparing exhibitions in a fine art museum
Knowledge of museum mount-making materials and methods
Familiarity with digital tools for shop drawings and basic design layouts
Verification of Education & Experience Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any stage. Information on verifying educational requirements, including foreign degree equivalency, is available at: https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/experience-education
Note: Falsifying education, work experience, or training may result in disqualification.
For additional information and to apply to this position: https://us.smrtr.io/4nNsy
Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
#J-18808-Ljbffr