John E. and Louise Bryson Director, Getty Conservation Institute

The Role:

Reports to:           J. Paul Getty Trust, President and CEO

Location:               Los Angeles,CA    

Overview:             The John E. and Louise Bryson Director of the GCI is the Institute’s chief executive 

and strategic leader, steering and inspiring a diverse team of approximately 100 staff, cultivating a high performance, inclusive, learning culture that values collaboration, innovation, and accountability.

Serving on Getty’s executive team, the new Director will conceive, shape and execute a compelling vision for conservation in the twenty-first century, affirming GCI—and Getty more broadly—as a global leader in research-led, values-based, sustainable cultural heritage conservation practice.

This responsibility comes at a pivotal moment marked by rapid technological change and intensifying environmental, economic and ideological risks to cultural heritage. The Director will drive impact, innovation, deepen global partnerships.

Key Relationships:           

• External: Partners including peer institutions; domestic and international government and non-government cultural agencies; multilateral organizations; universities and research labs; professional associations; community partners; funders and philanthropies; GCI Support Council Members.
• Internal: President and CEO; Directors of the J. Paul Getty Museum, Getty Research Institute, and Getty Foundation; Executive Vice President, Finance & Operations; Vice President, Communications & Community Engagement; Vice President, Chief Digital Officer; Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary to the Board of Trustees; Vice President, Development and Institutional Advancement; and Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Vision

• Develop, articulate, and execute a multi year strategy for the GCI that advances Getty’s mission and institutional priorities.
• Initiate and implement flagship GCI initiatives and research agendas that measurably improve cultural heritage conservation practice and outcomes globally.
• Enhance a “One Getty” mindset by fostering cross program initiatives with the J. Paul Museum, Getty Research Institute, and Getty Foundation—aligning goals, resources, and communications.

Program Oversight

• Steer GCI’s research pipeline, field projects, standards development, and training programs; ensure scholarly rigor, transparency, and global relevance.
• Advance open access to data, tools, and publications; promote digital platforms that expand reach and provide knowledge and resources to conservation practitioners.
• Embed sustainability and climate resilience across methodologies, materials, facilities, and field operations.

External Engagement and Partnerships

• Serve as a visible, persuasive spokesperson for heritage conservation with international organizations, governments, NGOs, peer institutions, and funders.
• Build and steward strategic partnerships with intergovernmental organizations, governments, agencies, museums, universities, communities, and professional associations to co develop programs and scale impact.
• Engage the Los Angeles region—civic and cultural partners, academic institutions, and diverse communities—supporting Getty’s goal to be the city’s definitive arts leader.
• Build trust across cultures and sectors; negotiate alignment; communicate compellingly to technical and non technical audience.

Team Leadership and Organizational Culture

• Lead and inspire a diverse staff, cultivating a human-centered, inclusive, learning culture that values collaboration, innovation, and accountability.
• Attract, retain, and develop talent; ensure robust succession planning, professional development, and staff engagement.
• Maintain strong project governance and portfolio management to assure impact and deliver work on time, and to scope.

Fiscal and Operational Stewardship

• Ensure fiscal discipline and resource allocation of the GCI’s $21.6M annual operating budget, as generated from Getty’s endowment.
• Develop and steward the GCI Council, which helps to support the work of the GCI, and leverage other external funding opportunities.
• Ensure management of risks and alignment with institutional processes and controls.
• Foster a culture of compliance with relevant safety, legal, and ethical standards in laboratories, studios, field sites, and data practices.

The Leader:

Organizational Leadership

• Demonstrated success as a collaborative executive leader in a complex, mission-driven, knowledge-based organization, having managed and empowered staff to support its progress, raise its profile, and elevate its impact.
• Experience in attracting, retaining, and developing staff, with a record of robust professional development, staff well being, and succession planning programs.
• Proven track record of leading large, multi-partner projects; managing complex budgets; advancing standards or best practices; shaping policy; or scaling training/capacity building initiatives.
• Effective and inspiring relationship-builder internally and externally, open-minded with a high level of emotional intelligence, driven by a passion for knowledge-sharing.

Global Cultural Heritage Expertise

• Broad and deep knowledge, skills and experience in cultural heritage conservation internationally, including trends and needs in the field.
• Record of scholarship, practice, or demonstrated leadership across the cultural heritage ecosystem, including intergovernmental, government, non-profit, and private sectors.
• Succes as an outward-facing ambassador, engaging boards, funders, governments, international bodies, and diverse publics. 

Community Engagement

• Highly developed network of professional relationships with local, national, and international institutions and leaders in the realm of cultural heritage conservation and the ability to grow new partnerships and collaborations.
• Excellent communication skills, enjoys playing a leadership role in public-facing initiatives and convenings.
• Demonstrated commitment to Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion and record of actions to advance this commitment.
• Demonstrated commitment to, and experience in, increasing institutional success by interacting empathetically with local and global constituents of varying views and backgrounds; and a record of pursuing measurable outcomes connected to inclusion to advance an organization's goals.

Experience & Qualifications:

• 10+ years senior leadership in a complex, mission driven, knowledge-based cultural heritage and/or conservation organization
• Institution-level responsibility for people, budgets, and complex, multi-year strategic initiatives
• International experience and a demonstrated commitment to global knowledge exchange
• Multilingual proficiency a plus

Education: 

• Advanced degree (e.g., MA, PhD, DPhil) required in relevant discipline: conservation, heritage science, architecture, planning, archaeology, engineering, art history with conservation focus, or equivalent.

Travel:

• International and domestic travel (25%+) to field projects, partner institutions, and convenings

Compensation: 

• Getty offers competitive compensation, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment.
• For this position, the base salary range is $500,000 to $550,000. Internal equity considerations and the average salary of the peer range will be reviewed before making a final offer.

Benefits and Perks

Below are just some examples that Getty offers/provides for full-time employees:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance coverage, starting on date of hire. Getty pays 75%-95% of the premium, depending on the plan selected.
• 403(b) Employee Investment retirement plan – with up to 5% Getty Match
• Getty contribution of 6%, on behalf of employee, to 401(a) retirement account; plus 10% on earnings above the social security wage base, up to IRS limits
• Accrued paid Vacation, Sick, and Personal Days
• 12 Paid Holidays, plus two “floating” holidays
• This position will have bi-weekly Off-Fridays
• On-Site Fitness Center at Getty Center
• Community service opportunities

To learn more about  the comprehensive benefits and long list of perks, go to Getty HR. 

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Equal Opportunity Employer

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship or immigration status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected status.

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To learn more about this opportunity, please contact:

Tory Clarke                                                                    

Partner, Bridge Partners                                               

tory.clarke@bridgepartnersllc.com                           

or 

Amy Shea 

Partner, Bridge Partners

amy.shea@bridgepartnersllc.com 

Priority will be given to applications submitted by March 6th 2026 although we will continue to receive and review applications until the position is filled..