The Museum has an exciting opportunity for highly motivated professionals with specialist objects, paper, or textiles conservation skills to join the Collection Care and Management team.
The Museum’s Collection Care and Management team currently have five positions available. The objects, paper and textiles Conservator roles will be part of a diverse team, reporting to a Senior Conservator in a busy and dynamic environment. While the positions are based in material specialist conservation teams, the roles will also involve developing skills and working across all types of materials. There will be a wide range of activities associated with exhibitions, collections care and maintenance of labs and equipment.
The roles involve varied conservation tasks such as condition, pest and hazard assessments, interventive conservation treatments, preventive conservation programs, preparation of objects for display, gallery maintenance, exhibition installs and de-installs, mount assessments and preparation, storage advice and collection rehousing activities. There will also be opportunities to participate in public programs, respond to occasional public and sector enquiries and work on collaborative projects within the sector. They will also represent their team at meetings where appropriate, and occasionally travel domestically and internationally to support touring exhibitions.
The positions entail working closely with conservation, registration and curatorial colleagues and a broad range of internal stakeholders across the organisation, external clients, volunteers and contractors on a variety of collection matters. The roles will also contribute to cross-skilling other conservators by providing training and mentoring in materials conservation and collection activities related to areas of expertise and knowledge.
The key duties of the position include:
The successful candidates will have proven specialist skills and experience in objects, paper or textiles conservation, as well as general experience working across a broad range of material types and collection preservation activities. A technical understanding and experience working with painted surfaces, photographic, audiovisual and/or book collections will be highly regarded.
They embrace a flexible working approach and are willing to support the team by working across all conservation areas when required. They have an understanding of complex conservation treatment practices, including risk management, preventive and interventive. They can apply their skills to interventive treatments using established and new techniques, while willing to experiment and take measured risks in developing treatment alternatives and improvements. They can demonstrate their capacity to work collaboratively with peers to implement initiatives to drive long-term preservation outcomes.
They have good analytical skills with the capacity to research efficiently, then analyse and present complex data to support decision making processes. The candidates will have proven experience in preparing treatment proposals and the ability to implement, organise, monitor, report and deliver quality conservation outcomes.
They are good communicators who can effectively negotiate, influence and persuade to achieve results and positive outcomes. They are flexible, adaptable and outward looking and able to navigate changing and competing demands with professionalism. They work collegiately with a broad range of museum colleagues to deliver conservation and exhibition outcomes.
They show commitment to supporting corporate goals and priorities and can plan and organise their own work, as well as actively engage with planning the work of their team to ensure effective delivery of program objectives.
They have good IT skills and prior experience of collection management systems, and have proven capacity to utilise a range of information systems and tools to improve efficiency and productivity.
Selection criteria
Applicants must respond to the selection criteria, provide a CV and include contact details for 2 referees in their application. Only one application is required to apply for one or multiple roles outlined in this position.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for this vacancy, applicants must:
- be an Australian citizen
- undergo a number of pre-employment checks, including a police records check
Ready to apply?
Visit https://www.nma.gov.au/about_us/employment and apply online.
Please note: Only one application is required to apply for one or multiple roles outlined in this position description.
Notes
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and those from culturally diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. The National Museum of Australia is an equal employment opportunity workplace.
The National Museum of Australia is committed to ensuring a child-safe and child-friendly environment. All employees are expected to demonstrate a commitment to, and support for these principles in theory and practice.
