3524-Principal Museum Preparator

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.

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.

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. Information from resumes does not substitute for the information on the job application or preliminary questionnaire.
2. Preliminary Questionnaire – Training and Experience Assessment (100% Weight) - During the application process, candidates will be prompted to complete a Preliminary Questionnaire as part of the online employment process. Please answer the Preliminary Questionnaire carefully and thoroughly; it will serve as the Training and Experience Assessment for this recruitment and will be used to determine your eligibility for this recruitment and your score and rank on the eligible list. Qualified applicants will be ranked on the eligible list based on the length of their provisional City service in the 3524 Principle Museum Preparator class, along with any additional qualifying points (e.g., promotive status), as outlined in Civil Service Commission (CSC) rules. All work history will be verified using official City records, which will serve as the final authority in determining qualifying service.

Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, deadlines, and other details.

Important Information:

• Information submitted in your application may be verified.
• Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application.
• Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility or disqualification.
• Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempting to practice deception or fraud in the application or examination process may result in disqualification.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities, and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation, marital status, color, medical condition, or other protected category under applicable law.

Reasonable accommodation requests should be directed to [email protected]. 

Disaster Service Work

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.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.