THE BROAD
The Broad’s mission is to make contemporary art accessible to the widest possible audience. Founded in 2015 on Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles by philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad, the museum offers free general admission and presents an active Program of special exhibitions and innovative live events, all within a landmark building designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro. Welcoming around 900,000 visitors per year, The Broad is a bustling public space and serves as home to the Broad collection, one of the world’s leading collections of postwar and contemporary art, which continues to grow as new artists and artworks are added. The museum is also the headquarters of The Broad Art Foundation’s worldwide lending library, which has been loaning collection works to museums around the world since 1984. An expansion of the museum will open before the 2028 summer Olympics in Los Angeles, creating even greater public access.
About The Position
Reporting to the Head Preparator, the Lead Preparator provides daily leadership for the Preparations team, combining hands-on art handling with task delegation, workflow oversight, and furthering established team goals. In addition to overseeing installations, deinstallations, and gallery operations, the Lead Preparator utilizes digital design tools to support exhibition planning and manage exhibition furniture production. Acting as the bridge between strategic planning and on-the-ground implementation, the Lead Preparator ensures smooth coordination across all phases of exhibition execution.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Set and communicate daily priorities for full-time preparation staff and Variable Preparators, assign tasks, and ensure smooth team operations.
- Supervise Preparations Assistants to manage maintenance of galleries, vaults, and back of house areas, including dusting of artwork, light replacement, repair of walls, casework, floors and diffusers, upkeep of time-based media and AV systems.
- Schedule, train and supervise Variable Preparators.
- Assist Head Preparator with managing gallery construction schedule, construction contractors, and exhibition installations.
- Collaborate within and across teams to ensure everyone is working toward the same goals, meeting deadlines, and managing scope of projects.
- Design and oversee production of cases, pedestals and mounts and other components, coordinating with outside vendors when required.
- Oversee audio/video installations, exhibition lighting, and installation of exhibition labels, didactics and graphics.
- Prepare floorplans, elevations, exhibition furniture drawings, exhibition maintenance manuals, installation instructions and documentation.
- Read, build from, and communicate about architectural plans and drawings.
- Manage purchasing and maintenance of equipment, tools and materials.
- Complete projects under tight timelines. Perform art-handling and installation tasks, assist registrars with inventory, conservation projects and condition reporting as needed.
- Ensure compliance with Cal OSHA safety standards.
- Other duties as assigned.
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
- 6+ years art handling experience.
- Strong leadership skills with at least two years in a leadership position.
- Self-motivated, reliable, detail oriented, collaborative.
- Strong organizational, writing and oral communication skills.
- Experience in all aspects of art installation including large-scale artwork, A/V and multi-media installations.
- Proficiency with power and hand tools, material and personnel lifts.
- Knowledge and understanding of a wide range of materials and the techniques to apply to them.
- Ability to work at heights up to 25 feet. Support and demonstrate the museum’s culture of developing a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible environment for staff, contract staff, vendors, and visitors.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
- Demonstrate and practice cultural awareness/sensitivity to all programs and services the museum provides.
- Carpentry, metalworking, rigging, or mount-making experience preferred.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite and other architectural/design applications, especially Adobe Illustrator and SketchUp preferred.
- Familiarity with sustainability practices in a gallery/museum setting preferred.
- Experience mentoring or training junior staff preferred.
SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
- All employees of The Broad are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19, subject to certain exemptions as required by law. All newly hired staff must show proof of their COVID-19 vaccination within 45 days of hire. Please contact Human Resources if you have questions regarding the COVID-19 vaccination policy.
- Adhere to all safety measures and guidelines.
- Ability to wear a mask during your scheduled work shifts.
- Ability to adhere to a health screen in compliance with health and safety guidelines as outlined by LA County Department of Public Health.
- Must adhere to COVID-19 policies and procedures.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
- Ability to stoop, bend, squat/crouch, crawl/kneel, stand for long periods of time, lift 60+ pounds, climb (ladders), and reach above the shoulders. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. The user must be able to remain stationary and use repetitive movements of wrists, hands, and fingers while working on the computer.
SCHEDULE
- Work is typically performed onsite between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The work schedule for this position may require weekends, evenings, holidays, and extended hours during exhibition installations.
PAY RANGE
- $77,000 - $82,000 annually, based on applicant’s education, experience, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.
BENEFITS
- Medical, Dental, and Vision.
- Employer-paid short-term disability, long-term disability, and basic life insurance.
- 401(k) up to 4% match, with immediate vesting
- Additional generous 5% retirement contribution to eligible employees
- Accrued vacation, sick, volunteer days, and a floating holiday.
- Free parking or free LA Metro pass or bike/walk stipend.
- Discount at The Shop at The Broad, and at local eateries.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. Employment is contingent upon a satisfactory background and reference check.
TO APPLY
Please submit your resume and letter of interest. We will only contact candidates selected for further consideration. No phone inquiries please.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The Broad is an equal opportunity employer, and we aspire to reflect the diversity of Los Angeles in both our staff and our visitors. It is the practice of The Broad to offer equal opportunity consistent with applicable federal and state law in all aspects of employment. All employment decisions will be made in compliance with applicable federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race (including traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles), religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, sex, pregnancy, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, medical condition (as defined by California law and including Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), actual or perceived), genetic information, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, having filed a discrimination complaint or any other status protected by applicable law. The Broad believes that by actively building a diverse workforce we can innovate, inspire, and engage with the widest possible audience.
Reasonable accommodations will be made for qualified candidates with disabilities in accordance with the ADA and the ADAAA.
Statements in this description represent typical elements, criteria, and general work performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the job.