CHIEF CONSERVATOR
The Preservation Society of Newport County
The Preservation Society of Newport County seeks a full-time Chief Conservator to join our team. The Chief Conservator is responsible for supervising and performing conservation services including assessment, treatment, subcontracting and advisory expertise for The Preservation Society of Newport County’s collection of 11 historic museum buildings (seven designated National Historic Landmarks) and 60,000+ collections objects dating from antiquity to the mid-20th century. The collection includes a range of significant materials including paintings, furniture, fabrics, outdoor sculpture, ceramics, lighting and metals. The Chief Conservator will ensure that collection care abides by the Code of Ethics of the American Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC), as well as conforms to all relevant AAM and Secretary of Interiors standards and guidelines. The Chief Conservator will represent the Preservation Society at professional conferences, public lectures and programs and through publications. The Chief Conservator reports to the Director of Museum Affairs and collaborates with other departments in the care and display of the museum collections and historic houses. This is an opportunity for a mid career conservator to work on a significant collection in historic Newport, RI.
Hours of work are Monday through Friday, 9am – 5pm, but may require seasonal or temporary adjustment for specific projects or departmental requirements. The position may require occasional travel, evening, weekend, and/or holiday work.
Responsibilities of the Chief Conservator Include:
Advises the CEO, Director of Museum Affairs, Collections Manager and other senior staff on conservation and stewardship issues.
- Acts as institutional resource to give reports and provide expert advice on conservation stewardship and treatment at regular meetings of Collections Committee, as well as committees associated with individual properties.
- Provides technical and writing assistance with conservation related grant applications.
- Develops and implements treatment proposals for the active or preventive conservation treatment of historic objects and surfaces including furniture, gilded objects, sculpture, ceramics, plaster, paintings, metals and other decorative media, as well as architectural masonry, painted surfaces, woodwork and other materials.
- Performs and supervises conservation and restoration treatments on PSNC collections in area of expertise and oversees employees and subcontractors working in other media/materials.
- Participates in outreach activities including supervision of undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate Interns or Research Fellows
- Communicates technical material to general audiences through lectures and written articles in an engaging, accessible manner, including conducting shop or on-site tours for special interest groups and VIPs and working in publicly accessible sites.
- Maintains membership and represents PSNC in professional organizations.
- Advises and provides support for other departments in performance of conservation-related issues such as climate control and monitoring, pest control, art installation and handling.
DEADLINE: until filled
HOW TO APPLY:
Please email resume/cv, cover letter and contact information for three professional references to Maria Corey at humanresources@newportmansions.org
or mail to:
Human Resources, 424 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI 02840 Attn: Maria Corey