Collection Care Conservator – Australian Museum

About the Australian Museum

The Australian Museum (AM) operates within the NSW Department of Premier & Cabinet.  The AM is the first museum in Australia and was founded in 1827. The AM provides access, engagement and scientific research to increase our understanding of natural history and culture, particularly of the Australasian region. The AM holds more than 21 million objects of biological, geological and cultural collections and develops programs, exhibitions and school and community education initiatives onsite, online and offsite. The AM’s purpose is to make nature, Indigenous cultures and science accessible and relevant to everyone

For more information, visit the website.

Conservation – About us

The Collection Care and Conservation team is responsible for the ongoing care and conservation management of the collection according to standards appropriate to Australian conditions and in accordance with legislative obligations in line with accepted National Standards. The department is responsible for ensuring the ongoing collection care, conservation, maintenance, storage and protection of the collection. This is done through – preventive conservation, conservation treatment, storing collections, display and use, research and outreach. Collection Care and Conservation develops policy outlining the high-level principles and guidelines to facilitate the Museum caring for Collections into the future.

About the role

To ensure optimal long-term collection care and conservation for the Australian Museum Collections. Apply best practice to undertake conservation assessments and treatments of collection material and prepare full documentation. Implement improvement of collection storage systems, carry out the preparation of collection material for loans and exhibitions, and maintain aspects of the Museum’s preventive conservation programs with minimum supervision. To work with other museums, stakeholders and the public on the care of cultural and scientific heritage.

Essential Requirements

As the successful candidate, you will demonstrate;

• Tertiary qualifications in materials conservation; OR an appropriate qualification in a related field, together with two years’ relevant conservation experience working under the supervision of an experienced, qualified conservator; OR a minimum of five years’ conservation experience working under the supervision of an experienced, qualified conservator.
• Knowledge of national and international conservation frameworks and ethics and issues relevant to the conservation of scientific and cultural collections.
• Experience in materials conservation, conservation techniques, related scientific processes and the characteristics of materials and their deterioration processes – in relation to the Australian Museum collections.
• Considerable experience in communications across project teams and stakeholders (written and verbal); preparing high quality documentation and reports within a multidisciplinary organization
• Demonstrated ability to plan, schedule and manage projects, allied with excellent organisation skills and attention to detail
• Adequate knowledge and experience in order to deliver the Key Accountabilities and perform to the Focus Capabilities outlined in this Role Description. 
• Willingness to travel between Australian Museum Collection sites

For more information or to apply visit: JobsNSW.