The Museum has an exciting opportunity for a professional to join the Collection Care and Management Business Unit to develop and lead our preventive conservation, hazards management and conservation science programs. This will involve providing preventive conservation support through expert advice and leadership in regard to collection storage and housing, exhibition displays and galleries, touring, new acquisitions and loans for a diverse and eclectic historic collection spread over four sites in the ACT.
The position will lead a small team and work closely with multi-disciplinary conservation and registration teams as well as with exhibition, curatorial and public program sections across the organisation. The role will be responsible for developing conservation science programs through a combination of modernisation and skills development, education, scientific analysis as well as partnerships and procurement. The role will also be responsible for effective environmental management including data gathering, analysis and reporting, condition surveying and monitoring, emergency planning, coordinating minor incident responses, staff education, strategic hazard management and ensuring related compliance. The role will actively promote preventive conservation across the organisation and develop and implement environmental sustainability programs across the collection care and management business unit.
The key duties of the position include:
The successful candidate for this position will have expertise across a broad range of conservation areas. They bring with them extensive and varied experience in conservation of Museum collections and well-developed knowledge of conservation ethics and current good practice. They provide technical advice on a broad range of conservation matters and can successfully communicate that advice in a manner easily understood by a cross section of staff and stakeholders.
As a leader, they inspire their teams to innovate and support initiative and measured risk taking. They are highly organised with excellent time management, good planning, and prioritising skills, and understand how to broadly apply principles of risk assessment and management. They are experienced staff managers and program leaders and have had success in program development and team performance.
They spearhead the production and implementation of strategic long term collection conservation planning. They initiate continuous improvements including refining and implementing collection policies and procedures in collaboration with staff across the Museum. They advocate for the care and management of collection and raise the knowledge and awareness across the Museum and wider sector.
The successful candidate is intuitive and anticipates risks and issues before they arise. They are analytical and know how to present information and technical detail to persuade and influence action and support. They enjoy problem solving, and see challenges as opportunities for change, growth, and innovation.
Project management skills is a must, along with ability to effectively negotiate and skilled in resolving complex matters. They are persistent and have determination to see initiatives completed, to overcome obstacles and take responsibility for achieving quality outcomes. They have exceptional interpersonal skills that leads to productive and collaborative working relationships with a broad range of museum professionals and stakeholders.
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.
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.
Ready to apply?
Visit https://www.nma.gov.au/about_us/employment and apply online.
Applicants must respond to the selection criteria and include a current CV and contact details for two referees in their application.
Please note that selection may be based on application and referee reports only.
