Conservation Technician (State job title – Museum Specialist)
Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens
New Bern, NC
Deadline: May 12th, 2010
Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens is seeking a Conservation Technician
This is a permanent full-time state position.
Description of Work
The position assists the Museum Conservator in providing conservation
of the buildings & objects of the Tryon Palace decorative arts &
utilitarian collection. Conservation includes individual object
treatment conservation, preventive conservation, educating the public
and staff about the importance of conservation, and increasing public
and staff awareness of conservation. Collection objects providing
conservation for include: furniture, upholstered objects, glass,
ceramics, books, paper, paintings, metal objects, textiles &
ethnographic objects. Duties include object condition surveys,
performing condition reports, organizing treatment schedules,
transporting objects, examining & documenting objects with photos &
written descriptions, performing research & analysis to develop
conservation steps and completing conservation treatment. Assists in
promoting conservation awareness to staff & outside organizations.
Works closely with collections, education & exhibits staff.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
The conservation technician must possess knowledge of period
cabinetmaking & finishing techniques, & the materials & techniques of
construction of several period decorative art objects. The technician
must have the skills & abilities to reproduce these techniques. The
technician must have the knowledge of the most recent preservation
safe materials, and ability in performing the most recent conservation
techniques. This requires knowledge of chemistry & art history, &
ability in studio art. The conservation technician must be well
versed in the theory & practice of preventive conservation including
environmental monitoring & control, integrated pest management &
visitor traffic. The conservation technician must be able to identify
problems & propose solutions to supervisor. Must have ability to
effectively use Microsoft Office software; store and retrieve digital
images; use a digital camera & familiarity with collection data base.
Valid N.C. driver’s license is needed.
Training and Experience Requirements
Graduation from a four-year college or university preferably with a
major in history, art/history, museology, or closely related field and
one year of experience in progressively responsible museum work in
specific area assigned; or an equivalent combination of education and
experience; management prefers a master’s degree in a conservation
program and experience with further treatment and preventative
conservation with a similar institution or with a private conservator;
experience in inorganic and physical chemistry; and experience with
digital cameras and Photo Shop or similar software. Degrees must be
from appropriately accredited institutions.
About Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens:
Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens’ mission is to engage present and future
Generations in the history of North Carolina from early settlement and development
of statehood through the mid twentieth century by collecting, interpreting and
preserving objects, buildings, landscapes and events that enrich understanding
of the making of our state and nation.
Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens is an accredited museum, which includes
the reconstructed 18th-century Palace of a Colonial royal governor, five house museums,
1 gallery museum with permanent exhibits, 11 period gardens and a visitation of 100,000
visitors annually. It is located on 22 acres on the waterfront in downtown New Bern,
North Carolina, a historic coastal town founded in 1710. The site is expanding with the addition
of the North Carolina History Center, a 60,000 square foot visitor services and museum building
scheduled to open in the summer of 2010. The Center contains two interactive museums,
timeline gallery, rotating exhibits gallery, gift shop, orientation theaters, classroom,
performance hall and cafe. The Center is designed to revolutionize the historic site experience.
Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens is part of the State of North Carolina, Department
of Cultural Resources, Office of Archives & History. There are currently 53 permanent
employees, with the staff anticipated to expand to 90 upon the opening of the North Carolina
History Center. In addition many temporary employees and volunteers staff our operations.
Salary Range: $32,796 – $51,446
Hiring Range: $32,796-$32,796
To Apply: For detailed instructions on how to apply go to www.tryonpalace.org or www.osp.state.nc.us/jobs/ .
Look under Vacancy Listings: Agency: Department of Cultural Resources.
Application Deadline: All applications must be received by May 12, 2010.