Description
The Folger Shakespeare Library, located on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, seeks a skilled conservation professional to lead the long-term care and treatment of its world-renowned collection as the next Eric Weinmann Head of Conservation and Preservation. This individual, reporting to the Associate Librarian for Collections Care and Development, oversees the Collections Division’s Conservation and Preservation program, including the strategic leadership for the safeguarding of printed books, manuscripts, paintings, works on paper, realia, and textiles across all spaces where collections are stored, displayed, used or transported. Working closely with colleagues across Collections and Exhibitions and throughout the institution, the Head of Conservation and Preservation ensures that Folger’s collections receive the highest standards of care and that both traditional and emerging preservation practices are integrated into institutional planning.
The Head of Conservation and Preservation manages the Gundersheimer Conservation Lab and leads a dedicated team of four conservators. They oversee and complete complex treatments, establish preservation priorities, guide preventive strategies, and serve as a key advisor on loans, exhibitions, storage planning, and emergency preparedness. They also represent the team to external partners, support grant-funded conservation initiatives, and contribute to public engagement and professional dialogue.
The ideal candidate is an accomplished conservation professional with deep hands-on expertise in book and paper conservation, a strong grounding in material science, and experience managing conservation teams and cross-departmental workflows in a museum or library setting. They will bring proven experience in exhibition preparation and installation, including the ability to confidently offer guidance and make decisions. They should demonstrate highly refined manual skills and sound judgement concerning conservation treatment and exhibition display. They are an effective communicator and team builder who fosters a respectful, healthy work environment and thrives in a small, collaborative, cross-departmental setting. Successful candidates will demonstrate a passion for mentoring and developing staff. They will have strong project management skills with the ability to coordinate schedules, budgets, and documentation across stakeholders.
The standard schedule for this role is Monday-Friday, 8:45am-4:45pm. Occasional evening and weekend hours may be required for special projects. This position is onsite. The selected candidate will need to be within a commutable distance to the D.C. office (DC, MD, VA) by their start date.
Health & safety: The health and well-being of all staff, contractors, and visitors is our top priority. While the Folger no longer requires masks or vaccinations (except for AEA spaces), we support and encourage individuals to take the safety precautions they are most comfortable with, and we ask that individual choices are respected. The Folger offers organization-funded healthcare plans for full-time staff and extensive leave options to all staff in the case of any health issues that arise.
Note: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage all interested applicants to apply as soon as they are able.
Compensation:
-This is a salaried position with an annual pay of $90,000-$100,000.
-Total compensation includes an extensive benefits plan, including fully-covered health, dental, and vision insurance for the individual and a generous 403b contribution and match, outlined at
https://www.folger.edu/employee-benefits
Requirements
Supervisory Duties: The Head of Conservation and Preservation supervises four full-time conservators including a Preventive Conservator and three Book and Paper Conservators, one of whom is focused on exhibitions. Additionally, this role may oversee any relevant contracted staff or conservation fellows.
Duties:
Conservation and Preservation
-Leads both treatment and preventive care for the Folger’s collections including printed books, manuscripts, paintings, works of art on paper, objects and textiles.
-Provides expert analysis and recommendations to support long-term preservation, with a strong emphasis on preventive strategies such as environmental monitoring, integrated pest management, and risk mitigation across all spaces where collections are stored, accessed, exhibited, digitized, or transported.
-Oversees complex conservation treatments, focusing on strategic decisions, quality assurance, and thorough, up-to-date documentation following best practices and digital preservation standards.
-Ensures that treatment reports and conservation documentation are maintained and updated as new conservation processes occur.
-Performs risk assessment and establishes priorities for preserving the collection in all areas where the collection resides or moves, -including incoming and outgoing loans and all collections storage.
-Serves as the primary liaison with external preservation and conservation services. May conduct research and contribute to the field through writing, presentations, and professional engagement.
Administration and Strategic Planning
-Manages the daily operations of the conservation and preservation program, including departmental planning, budgeting, and resource allocation.
-Works to establish and implement conservation and preservation priorities and workflows. Works cross-departmentally to address high-priority needs and ensure cohesive preservation strategies across the organization.
-Provides strategic leadership and oversight for all conservation and preservation activities, ensuring alignment with AIC (American Institute for Conservation) guidelines and institutional priorities.
-Serves as the primary spokesperson and advocate for the conservation and preservation program and its staff, representing their priorities, practices, and policies to internal stakeholders and external partners.
-Contributes to space planning and collection storage initiatives.
-Makes recommendations regarding upgrades and acquisitions of new equipment for the conservation laboratory.
-Identifies, pursues, and oversees grant-supported conservation initiatives and projects.
Loan Oversight
-Serves on the Loan Committee, advising on treatment needs and preservation conditions for outgoing loans.
-Oversees the preparation, safe handling, risk management, and logistics of loan materials, including documentation, packing, and transport.
-Coordinates the preparation of items for loan to other institutions, including the arrangement and logistics of transport.
-Oversees the care and handling of artifacts lent by other institutions for Folger exhibitions, in collaboration with Exhibitions staff, including the unpacking on site and preparation for return.
Staff Leadership and Training
-Supervises and mentors conservation and preservation staff, conducts annual performance reviews, and supports staff development.
-Fosters a healthy, inclusive work environment and encourages collaborative decision-making within a small, team-based setting.
-Oversees the conservation intern program, ensuring that training aligns with professional standards and institutional goals, and that interns receive a comprehensive, high-quality experience.
-Ensures or provides education and training in conservation and preservation techniques, and regular instruction in safe handling, emergency response, and preventive care, including onboarding sessions and refresher workshops.
Cross-Team and External Collaboration
-Advises and consults with Collections division staff on all matters related to the handling, care, storage, display, treatment, and transportation of Folger collections.
-Supports Exhibition development and installation process, working closely with conservators, curators, exhibition staff, and other project partners to advise on object selection, treatment, mounting, lighting, and safe display to minimize risk to collection materials. Directs Conservation staff in exhibition object preparation, mount making, and installation.
-Represents the Folger in conservation and preservation matters through external partnerships and professional engagement.
-Engages with diverse audiences by participating in public programs, tours, and demonstrations to communicate the mission and work of the Gundersheimer Conservation Lab.
-Establishes and advises on handling guidelines for staff and researchers facilitating continued access to collections and participates in reading room duties as needed.
-Participates in committees, institutional initiatives, and performs other duties as assigned.
Education and Experience:
-Graduate-level degree/certificate from an accredited conservation program, Master of Arts or Science in Conservation, Master’s in Library and Information Science with a certificate in conservation, or equivalent education, training/experience required.
-Minimum of 10-12 years post-graduate experience in book and paper conservation at progressively advanced levels of responsibility required.
-Minimum of 3-5 years of management experience, including leading teams with varied skill sets and levels of expertise within a museum, library, or related cultural institution.
-Minimum of 3-5 years managing a conservation lab.
-Demonstrated advanced expertise in conserving books, paper-based materials, manuscripts, realia, and works of art on paper.
-Demonstrated experience in bench work and the treatment of objects required.
-Strong experience and competency in advanced technical equipment related to conservation documentation, such as computer database applications, and the photographic equipment required for transmitted, UV, and IR imaging.
-Experience in exhibition preparation and installation required.
-Experience training staff, fellows, or interns is desirable.
-Public engagement/outreach experience is desirable.
Skills and Knowledge:
-A solid foundation in conservation ethics, material science, and book and paper history.
-Familiarity with environmental monitoring and analysis, lighting, pollutant mitigation, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies, and their implementation within cultural institutions.
-Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to effectively present professional and technical information to diverse audiences.
-Commitment to fostering a collaborative work environment and presenting innovative and pragmatic approaches to problem-solving. -Familiarity with museum exhibition and object storage practices, including appropriate materials and environmental considerations.
-Demonstrated ability to lead and execute complex, multi-stakeholder projects requiring professional judgement and coordination.
-Demonstrated use of logic and reasoning to determine appropriate course of action, or alternative solutions for a variety of preservation/conservation problems.
-Ability to determine appropriate treatments and procedures needed to conserve an artifact, and to implement the most complex conservation treatments.
-Demonstrated leadership skills in a team-oriented approach are essential.
-Requires excellent decision-making, leadership, managerial, organizational, and analytical skills to manage people, budgets, and resources effectively.
-Ability to develop and oversee annual and project-based budgets, monitor variances, and identify potential expenses and cost savings.
-Familiarity with digital tools such as Outlook, Excel, Word, Airtable, FileMaker Pro, Adobe Creative Suite.
