Paintings Conservation Fellowship

Paintings Conservation Fellowship 
NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation 

Duration: Fall 2026 (12 months)
Location: Peebles Island State Park (Cohoes, NY)
Hours: 37.5 hours/week (flexible hours)

Pay: $24.13/hour 
 

Established in 1972, the Bureau of Historic Sites (BHS) provides technical support to New York's state-owned parks and historic sites. It is headquartered at the Peebles Island Resource Center, a rehabilitated factory complex located in Peebles Island State Park, a scenic, 158-acre green space at the confluence of the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers. The Bureau helps to safeguard New York's rich heritage through a variety of projects and programs that document, preserve, and interpret historic, cultural, and natural resources at state parks and historic sites.

The Conservation Unit is made up of seven discipline-specific labs with separate dedicated workspaces, along with shared analytical equipment, photography studio, and spray booth. Under the supervision of a NYS Parks conservator, the selected candidate will perform various tasks related to the conservation and preservation of New York State’s historic collections. In particular, work will focus on conservation treatments in support of the reinstallation of collections at the John Jay Homestead Historic Site in 2028.

Job duties may include but are not limited to:
• Writing examination reports, treatment proposals, and treatment reports
• Photography of artworks before, during, and after treatment
• Conducting conservation treatments of paintings
• Speaking with curators and site managers about treatment options and choices
• Working with TMS online database to upload treatment documents
• Analysis of objects using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, and/or InGaAs and Apollo Infrared imaging
• Preparation of collections for storage or travel
• Installation of collections at New York State Historic Sites
• Attending unit and exhibition meetings

Work will take place mostly at the Bureau of Historic Sites (BHS) Collections Care facility on Peebles Island near Albany, NY, with the potential for some travel to NY State Historic Sites (during work hours, in a provided state vehicle driven by a Parks employee). The fellow will work mainly with the Paintings Conservator, with exact projects to be determined based on their skills and interests, as well as BHS project priorities.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

•Candidate should hold a master’s degree in Conservation with a specialization in paintings conservation by the start of the fellowship. Equivalent training and work experience considered in lieu of a master’s degree will be considered.
• Candidate should possess strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Candidate should be self-motivated with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Candidate should have excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Candidate should be familiar with TMS Collections or a similar database.

BENEFITS:
This position has the option to join the NYS Employee’s Retirement System and may be eligible for health insurance, dental and vision coverage as well as the opportunity for paid time off in the form of vacation, sick, personal and holiday leave after time and service requirements has been met.

TO APPLY: 

Please email your letter of interest and resume to Elizabeth Robson at: Elizabeth.Robson@parks.ny.gov

Please include "Fellowship" in your subject line.

Applications will be accepted until April 1, 2026