Assistant Conservator

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is looking for a well-qualified Assistant Conservator with a specialization in the conservation of objects. The Assistant Conservator provides support to the Head of Conservation to perform conservation activities related to the preservation of the cultural and natural science collections on exhibit and in storage. We seek an experienced individual who demonstrates professionalism, sound judgment, flexibility, and excellent attention to detail to effectively implement conservation treatments and other tasks as directed.
Responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited to:

Examine objects, prepare conservation assessments, and propose treatments as required under the supervision of the Head of Conservation
Perform conservation treatments on objects as required under the supervision of the Head of Conservation
Prepare conservation documentation, including photography, condition reports, treatment proposals, and treatment reports
Enter conservation information in the KE EMu collections database system and maintain conservation records
Construct custom boxes and other housing for objects to help prevent damage during handling, storage, or transport
Assist in installation and de-installation of exhibit material under the supervision of the Head of Conservation, Registrar(s), and/or Collection Manager(s) as required
Assist in the crating, packing, moving, and storage of collections under the supervision of the Head of Conservation, Registrar(s), and/or Collection Manager(s) as required
Other conservation duties as assigned, such as mount making, environmental monitoring, integrated pest management, collections emergency preparedness, and purchase of laboratory supplies

This position has the following requirements:

Master’s degree in art conservation or equivalent with a specialization in objects conservation; additional education, training, and experience in conservation highly desirable
Minimum one (1) year of experience handling art, artifacts, or specimens, preferably working in a museum environment
Thorough knowledge of the ethics, best-practice standards, techniques, materials, and equipment used in the conservation of objects
Applicable fine art, craft, or fabrication skills and experience, including excellent hand skills
Excellent attention to detail and strong writing skills required for condition reporting and other documentation
Proficiency in digital photography and image processing software (e.g., Adobe Photoshop)
Strong computer skills (Microsoft Office Word and Excel) and demonstrated experience with museum collection databases; experience with KE EMu database highly desirable
Strong organizational skills for managing conservation records
Must have excellent team work, interpersonal, and communication skills to work closely with Museum Professionals (this includes but is not limited to Conservators, Registrars, Exhibits personnel, Technicians, Curators, Collection Managers, and Operations Staff) to ensure that all work is executed in a safe, proper and timely manner
Must be pro-active with strong problem solving skills
Work is at times very physical, requiring extended periods of standing, stooping, walking, lifting, pulling, pushing, reaching, object handling, and tool use
Required to wear a respirator when necessary

Salary is commensurate with experience plus excellent benefits. This is a permanent, full time, non-exempt position.
Review of applications begins immediately. Deadline for receipt of applications: Monday, November 30, 2015.
Interested candidates please visit www.nhm.org/jobs and click the link of the position for which you are interested or go directly to the online application by clicking https://home.eease.adp.com/recruit/?id=7144171. Please be sure to submit a letter of interest, a resume or short CV, and two professional references with your application.
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Please, No Phone Calls, No Fax.