3524-Principal Museum Preparator

Company Description

Amended MQ's 5/26/2026- Extending recruitment announcement. End date: 5/29/2026 5 PM. Reposting as of  6/08/2026. Please apply before 6/15/26. 

FOR CURRENT CITY EMPLOYEES ONLY. This is a Provisional to Permanent position in accordance with Position-Based Test (PBT) Civil Service Rules. This recruitment is restricted to current provisional employees of the City and County of San Francisco, San Francisco Unified School District, or San Francisco City College, working within the posted classification.

The City and County of San Francisco is committed to excellence in public service and strives to achieve a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce.

The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco is one of the world’s leading museums dedicated to Asian art and culture. Located in the Civic Center area of San Francisco, the museum houses a world-renowned collection spanning more than 6,000 years of history and serves as a vibrant center for art, education, and public engagement.

The museum’s Preparation Department plays a critical role in exhibition production, gallery installations, art handling, lighting, mount making, packing, and the safe movement and care of artwork.

Job Description

Under general direction, the Principal Museum Preparator supervises and participates in the preparation, installation, movement, packing, lighting, and care of artwork and museum exhibitions. This position oversees complex exhibition projects and provides technical leadership to preparator staff and contractors while ensuring museum standards for safety, preservation, and presentation are maintained.

Essential duties include, but are not limited to:

• Supervising and coordinating the work of preparators, contractors, and support staff involved in exhibition installation and deinstallation activities.
• Planning and overseeing exhibition layouts, gallery preparation, object movement, mount installation, lighting adjustments, and casework.
• Participating in the handling, packing, crating, transportation, and installation of valuable and fragile artworks.
• Coordinating schedules, materials, tools, and staffing needs for exhibitions and gallery rotations.
• Interpreting installation plans, drawings, schematics, and exhibition designs.
• Ensuring compliance with museum handling standards, workplace safety practices, and preservation requirements.
• Operating specialized tools, lifts, rigging equipment, and other museum preparation equipment.
• Collaborating with curators, registrars, conservators, designers, facilities staff, and vendors to complete exhibition projects.
• Monitoring work quality and resolving technical installation issues.
• Assisting with fabrication, carpentry, mount making, painting, and lighting work associated with exhibitions and gallery preparation.
• Maintaining records, inventory, tools, and supplies related to museum preparation operations.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong technical museum preparation skills, leadership abilities, problem-solving capabilities, attention to detail, and experience working collaboratively in a museum or cultural institution environment.

Qualifications

Current Provisional Employee in Class 3524 who has worked at least 2,080 hours in Class 3524.

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

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.

Desirable Qualifications:
The stated desirable qualifications may be used to identify job finalists at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring.

• Experience working in an art museum or cultural institution.
• Experience supervising preparator teams or leading complex exhibition installations.
• Experience with museum-quality art handling and packing procedures.
• Experience operating lifts, rigging systems, and specialized installation equipment.
• Knowledge of museum conservation handling standards and gallery lighting systems.

Verification:
Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process.

Selection Procedures

1. Job Application - Applicants must fully complete the job application. Informa