Technician - Arts of Africa & Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium

About the Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago shares its singular collections with our city and the world. We collect, care for, and interpret works of art across time, cultures, geographies, and identities. We are a place of gathering and learning, committed to fostering an inclusive understanding of human creativity.

About the Department

The Arts of Africa (AA) department encompasses intricate masks, statuary, jewelry, beadwork, textiles, carved reliefs, and stone and ceramic vessels, reflecting over 5,000 years of the continent's great diversity and complexity. The works in the collection attest to the creativity and aesthetic sensibilities of African artists and their patrons, showcasing the cultural, geographical, and historical expanse of Africa.

The Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium (AGRB) department showcases the early development of Western art from the dawn of the third millennium BCE to the time of the Byzantine Empire. It includes examples of sculpture in stone, clay, and bronze, as well as coins, glass, jewelry, vases, and mosaics of outstanding quality and interest. There are some 2,300 works of ancient Mediterranean art in the department's holdings.

Position Summary

This position works equally in two separate departments and reports to the shared Collection Manager of those departments. Assignments, priorities, and time allocations shall be determined through collaborative decisions by the two department chairs.

Responsibilities

• Plans and schedules departmental art movements and installations in close consultation with Curators, Department Chairs, and Collection Managers.
• Submits and tracks work requests for art handling crews, as well as facilities maintenance needs (including gallery lighting, casework, painting, and stanchions).
• Provides functional supervision and guidance to art handlers and packing crews during the installation, deinstallation, packing, and unpacking of objects.
• Coordinates the safe movement of art objects to and from galleries, storage areas, imaging and conservation studios, and trustee or committee meetings.
• Fabricates custom mounts, mannequins, and archival housing for the safe long-term storage and display of 3D objects.
• Assists with physical or digital gallery mockup proposals for collection rotations and special exhibitions.
• Performs foundational preventive conservation care under the direction of Conservation and Science, including inspecting object conditions, measuring, surface dusting, and labeling.
• Regularly monitors gallery and storage environments—tracking temperature and relative humidity levels, reporting fluctuations, and facilitating monthly pest management walkthroughs.
• Updates object locations in the museum collection database within 24 hours of any movement, per standard museum procedures.
• Creates and maintains comprehensive installation notes, post-installation gallery measurement maps, and systematic storage records.
• Installs, aligns, and replaces object labels across departmental galleries.
• Supports visiting scholars, students, and researchers with the safe viewing and examination of collection objects in study rooms.
• Upholds strict gallery and storage security protocols, including securing objects to mounts or walls, posting temporary removal notices, and responding to art or facility emergencies.
• Participates in ongoing art-handling and safety training, staying current on best practices and recommending process improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience preferred.
• At least one year of experience handling 3D objects or works of art preferred.
• Familiarity with or demonstrated ability to learn museum collection management software and basic digital mockup tools.
• Knowledge of or specialization in departmental field a plus.

Physical Requirements

• Navigates galleries, storage areas, and computer workstations, involving extended periods of walking, standing, and sitting.
• Works safely at elevated heights on ladders, scaffolding, or aerial lifts.
• Close visual acuity to inspect object details, assess surface conditions, and maintain focus, with or without corrective lenses.
• Safely lifts, carries, and positions objects weighing up to 50 pounds independently, as part of a team lift, or with mechanical assistance.
• Capable of safely operating material handling equipment (such as stackers and aerial lifts) following training.
• Willingness and ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE).

Compensation & Benefits

Please click on the links below to view our competitive, comprehensive benefits package:  

• Hiring Range

The expected hiring range is an estimated amount for positions based on the grade. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, qualifications and other job-related reasons. 

• Benefits        
• PTO Overview
• Job Classification: Non-exempt
• Employment Category: Full time staff
• Grade Level: 6

If you are accessing this listing from a third party, not all links to salary and benefits information may work. Please visit our career page at saic/artic.edu/employment for complete information

Application Instructions

Please submit your resume and cover letter to be considered for this position.

Union

This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by AFSCME Council 31.

Accessibility

If you are a job seeker with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to apply for one of our jobs, you will find the contact information to request the appropriate accommodation by visiting the following page:

Accessibility Accommodation for Applicants

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals compliant with federal and state laws. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at  [email protected].