Associate Preparator

OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA (OMCA) VALUES

• Equity: We acknowledge injustices in our society and take responsibility for challenging them.
• We hold ourselves accountable and strive to repair harm and invite healing with openness and humility.
• Courage: We take risks experiment and explore with curiosity and a commitment to growth.
• Collaboration: We partner in reciprocity with community to catalyze dialogue and elevate stories movements and creative expressions that shape our world.
• Belonging: We aspire to be a gathering place where everyone feels welcome. We foster connection with family community and the natural world to which we all belong.
• Inspiration: We celebrate art and culture that broaden the imagination. Our museum and garden spark contemplation wonder and joy.

OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA (OMCA) MISSION

We inspire understanding and empathy with stories and experiences of Californias art history and natural environment to build more equitable and connected communities.

OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA (OMCA) VISION

We envision a just and vibrant future where our communities value and honor one another and the world around us.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Associate Preparator prepares handles installs de-installs transports monitors and maintains art artifacts specimens museum furniture museum exhibitry and the museum environment for the Core Galleries temporary exhibitions collections storage and institutional projects. The position collaborates extensively with Production Collections Design staff and other museum departments on logistics related to the care access handling storage and presentation of art artifacts and specimens to enhance visitor experience and increase collections access. The Associate Preparator has an intermediate knowledge of safe handling transportation display storage and fabrication methods. Leads sub-teams.

This position is exclusively represented and is covered by a collective bargaining agreement between OMCA and the OMCA Workers United AFSCME Local 4510 (AFL-CIO).

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The following reflects OMCAs definition of essential functions for this position but does not restrict the tasks that may be assigned. OMCA may assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons.

INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the Museums mission values vision and core commitment to the visitor experience community engagement and institutional relevancy for the future
• Contribute to and support the OMCA strategic plan annual priorities and institutional initiatives such as diversity advancement
• Contribute to a positive organizational culture based on mutual respect a spirit of collegiality cooperation and openness to many perspectives
• Participate in a culture of ongoing learning collaboration innovation creativity and community engagement
• All positions will have core functional responsibilities cross functional team activation and learning and development as a core function of each role.

POSITION DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Exhibitions/Programs

• Handle prepare pack transport install and de-install art artifacts specimens for temporary exhibitions gallery rotations incoming and outgoing loans and program spaces ensuring safe display and safe return to storage.
• Fabricate assemble finish and work from elevations and drawings to install exhibit casework furniture walls and gallery surfaces props scenic construction guardrails paneling platforms graphic boards interactives and dioramas to museum standards.
• Fabricate finish and install object mounts brackets and seismic restraints to museum standards ensuring object to museum standards.
• Mat mount and frame works on paper photographs and textiles; prepare works for installation.
• Install and de-install media including construction of enclosures and mounts and routing and dressing of cabling; install exhibition wiring and lighting focus and re-lamp gallery lighting to specification.
• Install exhibition and display elements for large scale campus events and garden related installations.
• Demonstrate museum techniques to the public and answer visitor questions while working in the galleries.
• Lead sub-teams during production exhibition installation and gallery rotations.

Collections Care

• Conduct ongoing condition monitoring and maintenance rounds of galleries and collections storage inspecting for physical damage deterioration instability insect activity dust accumulation mount or media failure; maintain clean treat repair and document art artifact specimens cases and exhibit elements; replace buffering materials verify case seals inspect pest traps mitigate water intrusion; place read download and maintain data loggers light meters and UV meters; report changes in object condition environmental exceedances incidents and readings.
• Monitor feed and provide enrichment for living collections animals; fabricate and monitor animal enclosures and other animal support systems.
• Monitor equipment activities such as anoxic chamber (insect fumigation) ovens and freezers.
• Handle prepare pack present and transport art artifacts and specimens for storage study loan condition surveys conservation treatment digitization collections inventories and installation; construct storage housings supports crates travel frames and custom packing; handle materials in accordance with museum policy including NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA.
• Engage in the development organization and maintenance of storage facilities.
• Install and maintain earthquake museum standards mitigation systems and security barriers for objects on display and in storage.

Administration

• Coordinate with collections curatorial design evaluation and visitor insights facilities and learning experience and programs staff on cross-departmental planning and projects.
• Collaborate with project and production teams provide and receive status updates and communicate widely and effectively.
• Create and maintain museum records including monitoring logs condition documentation and maintenance records.
• Participate in museum infrastructure and management of back-of-house locations; monitor and maintain exhibition supply inventory; source and order exhibit supplies within the budget and timeline provide materials research and budget estimates.
• Adhere to personal and workplace safety procedures including required PPE; maintain and share knowledge of safe practices; report incidents and near misses.
• Participate in and lead skills training workshops and seminars.

EXPERIENCE

• 2 years related experience in historic natural science or art museums archives or parks. High School Diploma or G.E.D. certificate. B.A. degree or equivalent experience in related field preferred.
• Ability to display and encourage visitor and internal customer service take and share responsibility and treat others with respect.
• Understanding of the principles of safe artifact and artwork handling.
• Intermediate knowledge of materials and techniques for fabrication of museum exhibitry collection storage and display solutions.
• Intermediate knowledge of preventative conservation standards for artifact handling storage packing and display applied to museum collections gallery operations and maintenance requirements.
• Ability to meet museum standards ensuring visitors artists safety and aesthetic needs.
• Ability to proficiently and safely use shop equipment including portable and stationary power tools vehicles and the safe handling of fabrication materials/chemicals.
• Ability to read understand and utilize technical drawings reference materials office computer systems and collections management systems.
• Ability to work efficiently with regard to time and materials balance multiple project timelines simultaneously work independently and problem solve with minimum supervision and work collaboratively in a team environment.
• Valid drivers license and a driving record acceptable to the Museums insurer.
• Strong communication skills; English language proficiency in both spoken and written form.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The environment may include:

• Museum environment involves both indoor and outdoor working conditions.
• Ability to travel between OMCA locations and other travel as required by position responsibilities.
• Engagement with diverse visitor populations in the galleries and throughout the campus.
• Work occasional nights and weekends during installation and de-installation periods and campus events.
• Tasks that require recognizing and accurately describing visible conditions.
• Strenuous physical work including lifting up to 50 lbs. pushing pulling reaching standing and walking for long periods working at height on ladders scissor lifts and scaffolding.
• Operate scissor lift forklift gantry pallet jack rigging equipment and museum vehicles.
• Tasks that require the use of personal protective equipment such as safety glasses safety shoes protective clothing hearing protection respiratory protection and gloves.
• Work near hazardous materials moving mechanical parts moderate to loud noise; exposure to dirt dust and fumes.

EEO STATEMENT

The Oakland Museum of California is dedicated to diversity inclusion accessibility and equity. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age race color religion sexual orientation gender identity national origin ability/disability status protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. We highly encourage our diverse community to apply for available employment internship fellowship and volunteer positions at the Museum as we aim to ensure our staff reflects the diversity of our visitors and surrounding compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act OMCA will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.

COMPENSATION: $32.95/hr.