Director, Conservation

Detroit Institute of Arts

Director of Conservation at DIA managing conservation activities, team development, and public outreach while ensuring adherence to professional standards and practices.

Posted 5/24/2026full-timeDetroit • Missouri • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $108,047 - $135,058 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Ray

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Manage the department, determining priorities and goals, scheduling and annual budget for all sections ensuring that department resources and staff support the museum's strategic goals and annual museum-wide goals, and that those goals are met on schedule and within budget
Recruit, mentor, develop and successfully manage a team to achieve the strategic objectives and the present and future needs of the department in alignment with the museum’s annual priorities and strategic vision
Create a collaborative work environment by using a performance support process including goal setting, feedback, and development
Ensure that all collection preservation activities, including providing preventive conservation guidance, conservation research, treatment, and documentation, are conducted in adherence with the American Institute for Conservation Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice
Develop conservation plans and procedures for the department and collection, identify opportunities for continuous process improvement for current policies and procedures for work that touches conservation and the care of the collection
Act as department's primary liaison and collaborate with other departments across the museum in achieving core department and division functions and support the conservation staff in fulfilling their duties in the planning and installation of special exhibitions and permanent collection galleries, monitoring environmental conditions, evaluating potential acquisitions, and assessing and preparing objects for loan both outgoing and incoming
When needed, act as a courier to oversee artworks in transit
Travel as a courier accompanying DIA artwork, loans, and traveling exhibitions
Supervise handling at airports, truck shipments, packing and installation/de-installation at borrowing institutions
Define preventive conservation parameters, coordinate HVAC system and air conditioning monitoring, and light level management, and collaborate with other teams in risk assessment, management, and emergency planning
Provide technical guidance to resolve conservation issues in museum galleries and guide other teams in maintaining ideal storage and exhibition conditions, handling, packaging, and storage
Lead staff and coordinate departmental public outreach and advocacy activities that engage tri-county, state, national, and international audiences that promote accessibility to the department, collection, and special exhibitions
Lead the department in collaborating with Development, the Director, President and CEO, and the VP of Exhibition and Collection Strategies in fundraising activities including donor cultivation, endowment-building, securing in-kind relationships with tech, industry, and university partners, and seeking grant funding opportunities
Oversee department initiatives and support conservation staff in their pursuit of technical research on artworks including documentation of structure through written reports, scientific analysis, and imaging in support of acquisitions, treatment, curatorial and scholarly inquiries and exhibition and gallery content
Promote the dissemination of this information by conservation staff at conferences, symposia, and in peer-reviewed publications with the goal of raising the profile of the department and the museum among our museum colleagues and with the public
Responsible, as department head, for chemical safety in the department as defined by current MIOSHA Laboratory Standard
Seek out and participate in ongoing professional development to remain up-to date on the newest materials, techniques, and advances in the field by reading professional publications, attending conferences and workshops
Monitor and manage contracts including budgets and schedules for contract conservation services and other contractual services
Foster, promote, and support Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) through the DIA values, active listening, embracing difference, and engaging with empathy to promote a culture of belonging among internal and external stakeholders
Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Master's degree in art conservation from a recognized training program
Ten (10) years of progressive conservation experience, including preventative conservation, research, publications, or other academic work, preferably in a large fine arts museum
Experience with extensive treatment, scientific analysis, research, and process management in conservation required
Five (5) years of management experience as a section head or equivalent, including supervisory responsibilities
Must possess leadership skills and the ability to lead a team to meet strategic goals supporting the museum strategy and vision
Demonstrated experience with budget management including budget development and stewardship of resources and demonstrated fiscal responsibility to stay within budget
Must possess the understanding and sensitivity required to handle, store, and display museum-quality artworks in compliance with the American Institute for Conservation's Code of Ethics and Standards for Practice
Must be able to advocate for collection care and conservation standards to ensure safety of artworks
Knowledge of analytical techniques (e.g. microscopy, X-ray fluorescence analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, fiber optic reflectance spectroscopy, gas/liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS/LC-MS)), digital photography and other imaging techniques
General knowledge of preparation, framing and mounting techniques for artwork
Experience with collections database software, The Museum System (TMS) preferred
Demonstrated organizational skills to plan, manage, prioritize, and complete multiple on-going projects to meet deadlines and goals
Knowledge of standards and best practices for museum environments and environmental monitoring systems

Benefits

Comp & perks

Partial remote work eligibility

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

preventive conservationscientific analysisbudget managementanalytical techniquesdigital photographyimaging techniquespreparation techniquesframing techniquesmounting techniquescontract management

Soft Skills

leadershipteam managementorganizational skillsadvocacycollaborationcommunicationempathyactive listeningstrategic planningproblem-solving

Certifications

Master's degree in art conservationAmerican Institute for Conservation Code of Ethics