City and County of San Francisco

Under direction, designs and constructs special museum fixtures, showcases, temporary walls and partitions; installs and arranges exhibits; packs, unpacks and supervises the storage of valuable works of art, and performs related duties as required. Requires responsibility for explaining and carrying out methods and procedures relating to the handling of valuable objects of art. Nature of work requires some manual dexterity in unusual care in the handling of valuable art objects.

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 that those of class 3520 and possess greater expertise than expected at the entry level.

1. Confers with curatorial staff in the planning and construction of exhibits and accessory materials; designs and constructs certain types of installations, such as showcases, pedestals, settings, parti-tions, walls and special exhibit effects; paints and wallpapers exhibition installations; adjusts or installs additional lighting fixtures for exhibits; installs art objects in showcases, hangs paintings and sets up statuary; acts as leadman in the installation, removal and salvage of exhibit fixtures.

2. Prepares cost and material estimates for new installation and construction jobs; requisitions lumber and other supplies and equipment.

3. Packs, ships, receives and unpacks paintings and other valuable art objects; supervises the storage and inventory of paintings, statuary and furniture and notifies museum registrar of any discrepancies.

Requires good knowledge of: the qualities of wood and of the tools, materials, equipment and procedures used in the carpentry and cabinetmaking trade.

Requires ability to: establish and maintain effective working relationships with the curatorial staff; design, estimate costs and construct a wide variety of wooden fixtures; physically handle delicate and valuable works of art with extreme care; direct and work with a small group of assistants in the installation and storage of property.

Requires considerable skill in the use and care of the usual hand and power tools of the carpentry and cabinetmaking trades.

These minimum qualifications establish the education, training, experience, special skills and/or license(s) which are required for employment in the classification.  Please note, additional qualifications (i.e., special conditions) may apply to a particular position and will be stated on the exam/job announcement.

Education:

Possession of an Associate degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Art, Fine Arts, Museum Studies or a related field.

Experience:

Two (2) years of verifiable experience in the preparation, fabrication, installation and the care and handling of valuable art objects; making museum mounts for objects; building exhibition furniture and working closely with museum staff at a museum, gallery, or traveling exhibition program.

License and Certification:

Substitution:

Additional qualifying full time work experience (2000 hours equal one year) as described above may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis. One year of work experience equals thirty (30) semester units or forty-five (45) quarter units.

AMENDED DATE: 3/20/15

All City and County of San Francisco employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the City requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.