Author: Brittany Dismuke

Office Administrator, The Islamic Manuscript Association
The Islamic Manuscript Association is one of the principal projects of the Thesaurus Islamicus Foundation. The Association is an international non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting Islamic manuscript collections and supporting those who work with them. It was formed in response to the urgent need to address the poor preservation and inaccessibility of many Islamic manuscript collections around the world.
The Association is currently seeking an office administrator. The position is full-time and is based at the Association’s office in Cambridge, UK. The contract is a one-year fixed term contract.
Employment in Cambridge will be through the Foundation’s representative company, Tradigital, which is based in Cairo, Egypt. The salary will be £21,000-£25,000 gross per annum, and all UK statutory benefits and entitlements apply. The employee will receive 30 days’ paid holiday in addition to all UK bank holidays.
The successful candidate will assist with the day-to-day running of the Association, including the organisation of conferences, board meetings, and short courses; the management of the Association’s membership records; and the coordination of the Association’s grant scheme. He or she will be able to work well as part of a small team and also under his or her own direction when necessary. Excellent interpersonal skills and an enthusiasm for the Association’s aims are essential.
Occasional travel to locations within the UK and abroad may be required as part of the role. The administrator will report to the executive director.
Main duties of the job
Assist with the following in cooperation with the executive director and other Association staff:
• Day-to-day administration of the Association.
• Maintenance of up-to-date membership records.
• Organisation of events including conferences, board meetings, and short courses.
• Create English content for the Association’s website in cooperation with the executive director.
• Coordination of the Association’s annual grant scheme.
• Coordination of the Association’s volunteer programme.
• Organisation and stocktaking of office equipment, supplies, and books.
• Maintenance of the office’s physical premises, including utilities, insurance, fire and intruder
alarms, and cleaning.
• Supporting other Foundation projects, if needed.
Essential skills, experience, and qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree.
• Excellent spoken and written English.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and phone manner.
• Proven experience in events coordination and administration.
• Excellent computer literacy: professional-level competency with word processors, spreadsheets,
databases, email clients, and web-based social media.
• Capable of handling multiple demanding priorities in a busy  environment.
• Willing to travel internationally.
Desirable skills, experience, and qualifications:
• Proficiency in minute taking and touch typing.
• First aid qualification.
• Knowledge of a discipline relating to the care and management of manuscript collections (e.g.
cataloguing, conservation, or digitisation), Middle Eastern and Islamic studies, and/or codicology.
• Knowledge of foreign languages, especially Arabic, Persian, and Turkish.
To apply please send a cover letter, CV, and the contact information for two references to the address below. Please include the title of the position for which you are applying in the subject line of your email.
The Islamic Manuscript Association Ltd
c/o 33 Trumpington Street
Cambridge CB2 1QY
United Kingdom
Email: vacancies@islamicmanuscript.org
Please note that the Association will only consider applicants who already possess the right to work in the United Kingdom. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Application Deadline: Open until filled

Bilingual Office Administrator, The Islamic Manuscript Association
The Islamic Manuscript Association is one of the principal projects of the Thesaurus Islamicus Foundation. The Association is an international non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting Islamic manuscript collections and supporting those who work with them. It was formed in
response to the urgent need to address the poor preservation and inaccessibility of many Islamic manuscript collections around the world.
The Association is currently seeking an Arabic and English speaking office administrator. The position is full-time and is based at the Association’s office in Cambridge, UK. The contract is a one-year fixed term contract. Employment in Cambridge will be through the foundation’s representative company, Tradigital, which is based in Cairo, Egypt. The salary will be £23,000-£25,000 gross per annum, and all UK statutory benefits and entitlements apply. The employee will
receive 30 days’ paid holiday in addition to all UK bank holidays.
The successful candidate will assist with the day-to-day running of the Association, including the organisation of conferences, board meetings, and short courses; the management of the Association’s membership records; and the coordination of the Association’s grant scheme. He or
she will be able to work well as part of a small team and also under his or her own direction when necessary. Excellent interpersonal skills and an enthusiasm for the Association’s aims are essential. Occasional travel to locations within the UK and abroad may be required as part of the role. The administrator will report to the executive director.
Main duties of the job
Assist with the following in cooperation with the executive director and other Association staff:
• Day-to-day administration of the Association.
• Preparation of original Arabic correspondence; translation of English correspondence into Arabic
and vice versa; making Arabic phone and Skype calls.
• Creation of Arabic content for the Association’s website.
• Maintenance of up-to-date membership records.
• Organisation of events including conferences, board meetings, and short courses.
• Coordination of the Association’s annual grant scheme.
• Coordination of the Association’s volunteer programme.
• Organisation and stocktaking of office equipment, supplies, and books.
• Maintenance of the office’s physical premises, including utilities, insurance, fire and intruder
alarms, and cleaning.
• Supporting other Foundation projects, if needed.
Essential skills, experience, and qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree.
• Fluency in spoken and written Arabic.
• Excellent spoken and written English.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and phone manner.
• Proven experience in events coordination and administration.
• Excellent computer literacy: professional-level competency with word processors, spreadsheets,
databases, email clients, and web-based social media.
• Capable of handling multiple demanding priorities in a busy environment.
• Willing to travel internationally.
Desirable skills, experience, and qualifications
• Proficiency in minute taking and touch typing.
• First aid qualification.
• Knowledge of a discipline relating to the care and management of manuscript collections (e.g.
cataloguing, conservation, or digitisation), Middle Eastern and Islamic studies, and/or codicology.
• Knowledge of other foreign languages, especially Persian and Turkish.
To apply please send a cover letter, CV, and the contact information for two references to the address below. Please include the title of the position for which you are applying in the subject line of your email.
The Islamic Manuscript Association Ltd
c/o 33 Trumpington Street
Cambridge CB2 1QY
United Kingdom
Email: vacancies@islamicmanuscript.org
Please note that the Association will only consider applicants who already possess the right to work in the United Kingdom. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Application Deadline: Open until filled

ASSISTANT CONSERVATOR (Frames & Furniture)
 
THE WALLACE COLLECTION
The Wallace Collection is a collection of the fine and decorative arts formed in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by four successive Marquesses of Hertford and the 4th Marquess’s son, Sir Richard Wallace.  It was left to the British Nation in 1897 and opened as a national museum in June 1900 in Hertford House, Manchester Square, W1, a grade II listed building in central London. The museum is internationally famous for its collection of French eighteenth-century art, European princely arms and armour and for its Old Master paintings.
 
It is managed by a Director who reports to a board of Trustees appointed by the Prime Minister and is financed by a combination of grant-in-aid from central government and self-generated income.
 
The museum launched a Ten Year Plan in the autumn of 2013 covering the period 2014-2024. During this decade, the museum will aim to develop its position as a major international research centre, to widen its public appeal to different audiences and to modernise its infrastructure. It is intended that the research centre will enable the Wallace Collection to become the leading centre for research on French eighteenth-century art and European arms and armour.
 
THE CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT
The Conservation Department presently consists of a Head of Conservation, one senior Furniture Conservator, one Metals Conservator and a Conservation Craftsman/Technician.  The Department carries out both furniture and metals-related conservation work in-house, monitors environmental conditions within the building, and is responsible for the safe moving of all art-objects in the Collection, including the installation and de-installation of temporary exhibitions. The aims of the Conservation Department are as follows:

1. To safeguard the Collection, making it accessible for the present generation and preserving it for the future
2. To carry out research with the aim of improving the standard and practice of conservation and the display of works of art, whilst adding to our knowledge of their original design and construction
3. To help maintain Hertford House and its services, ensuring a safe environment for the display of all works of art in the Collection

OVERALL OBJECTIVES OF THE POST             
The post-holder will work as a member of a small team, in general support of the Conservation Department, assisting primarily the Senior Furniture Conservator and Conservation Craftsman/Technician in carrying out conservation treatments on our very important collection of gilt-wood picture frames and historic furniture (including metal furniture mounts and some sculpture).   It is therefore vital that the candidate has experience of gilt wood and gilding conservation, together with cabinet-making and furniture conservation in general.  It is additionally of the utmost importance that the candidate be physically capable of helping in the installing and de-installing of exhibitions, as well as general art-object handling throughout the Collection.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

• Undertake the conservation of picture frames, furniture, and other works of art in the Collection as required, under the direction of the Head of Conservation, Conservators, and the Conservation Craftsman/Technician
• Working to a policy of minimum intervention, carry out conservation treatments to stabilize deterioration, and (where appropriate) undertake restoration to the highest possible standards, with continuous record-keeping (both photographic and written)
• Prepare full post-conservation reports, for approval by the Head of Conservation and the Head of Collections
• Assist as required in the specialist tasks of moving furniture, pictures, and other art-objects for gallery display, for photography, and for general study
• Assist in the mounting and de-mounting of special exhibitions
• Work within current Health and Safety regulations
• Assist in performing any miscellaneous duties which may require to be carried out by the staff of the Conservation Department

 
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Applicants should have completed a relevant conservation training course and should be in possession of an appropriate conservation qualification. Previous experience within the field of frames, furniture, and gilded wood conservation is essential.  A key factor in the selection process is the candidate’s commitment to work not only on frames and furniture, but also in all/any general areas of work in the museum, and to develop as broad-based a work experience as possible.  The role will require frequent lifting/moving of heavy objects.  In addition to the required technical skills, the post-holder will also need to have:

• A proactive, can-do attitude
• The ability to work as a member of a small team
• An ability to learn quickly on the job
• The physical ability to lift and move heavy objects
• Confidence and ability whilst working at heights
• Flexibility and a proven ability to ‘multi-task’
• Excellent written and spoken communications skills in English
• Good computer literacy, including Microsoft Office

 
REPORTING To:  Head of Conservation
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
Director
Head of Collections
Head of Conservation
Senior Furniture Conservator and Conservation Craftsman/Technician
Curators
Curatorial Assistant
 
 
REMUNERATION
The salary for this post will be in the region of £20,000 per annum depending on experience.
In addition, the post-holder will receive 25 days paid annual leave, plus 2.5 ‘privilege’ days, membership of an occupational pension scheme, and an interest-free season-ticket loan (after six months’ service).
For all posts in the Conservation Department the normal working week is five days (Monday to Friday), and the normal working day is from 9am to 5pm, with an hour between 1.00 and 2.00pm for lunch.  However, some flexibility will be expected, since the need to carry out occasional evening and (more rarely) weekend duties may be required.
Deadline for applications:           3 Oct 2014
Date of 1^st interviews:                   w/c 13 Oct 2014
If you have not heard from us by the date of the first interview, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. An application form can be found and downloaded from our website www.wallacecollection.org.
Alternatively, you can write to the HR Department for a postal pack:
The Wallace Collection
Hertford House,
Manchester Square
London,
W1U 3BN
The Wallace Collection is an equal opportunities employer

Contract Conservation Work – National Archives
 
The Conservation Lab of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) intends to issue a contract for conservation services for archival materials.  The object of the solicitation is to acquire conservation services to stabilize paper-based records prior to digitization.  A range of stabilization treatments will be performed on original service records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served from Massachusetts, 1861-1865, to ensure safe handling during digitization and full image capture of content.
 
The following treatments will be performed as needed:  separation of documents where unique information is obscured, mending, local humidification, surface cleaning, and removal of prior mends.
 
All conservation work is to be performed at the National Archives Building, 7^th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC, one day per week during normal business hours.  Work will be carried out in a fully equipped conservation lab.  All supplies required for treating and housing records will be provided.
 
Individuals who would like more information or to receive the Statement of Work/Request for Proposal should contact  Amy Lubick, Conservation Digitization Coordinator (amy.lubick@nara,.gov; 301-837-0681) or Mary Lynn Ritzenthaler (marylynn.ritzenthaler@nara.govl 301-837-2906).  Quotes are due October 3, 2014.

The National Archives and Records Administration (Washington DC area) has announced 3 openings for Conservator Technicians.
These are permanent full time positions that will focus on preparing archival records in a variety of formats for digitization.
Applications are due September 29. Please see the link to USAJobs for more information about the positions and the application process.
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/379529200

Art Conservation Services, Inc.
421 Ridout St. N.
London, Ontario
Canada
519-472-4138
artconserv@bellnet.ca
 
Position: Paintings Conservator, 6 month contract with possibility for extension.
 
Art Conservation Services, Inc., a private conservation studio located in London, Ontario, Canada, is seeking a Paintings Conservator to fill an upcoming 6 month contract. The candidate should have demonstrated ability and experience treating paintings in a broad range of age and condition, and be capable of working in a fast-paced private practice environment. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential, as well as basic experience with photographic documentation.  Strong organizational and problem solving skills are necessary.  Required tasks include client interaction, assessing artwork condition, accurately estimating treatment times, preparing reports and proposals, executing a variety of treatments, and possible on-site projects.
 
The candidate should have a Masters in Art conservation from an internationally recognized conservation program, and/or equivalent professional experience, with at least 2 years post-graduate experience, and be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada. The position start date is flexible but early to mid-November 2014 is preferred. The contract will last for 6 months, at which time the candidate will be re-evaluated and the possibility of a longer position can be discussed. Compensation will be commensurate with experience. Please apply by sending cover letter, resume and name and contact information for two references, by email to Keith Bantock at artconserv@bellnet.ca. Closing date September 26, 2014.
 
Art Conservation Services, Inc. is a professional art conservation practice based in London, Ontario, Canada, independently operating out of the conservation laboratory in Museum London. Paintings Conservator and owner Keith Bantock, M.A.C. and Associate Book and Paper Conservator Jennifer Robertson, M.A.C., provide a wide range of conservation services and consultation; our clients include both private collectors and public institutions across Ontario. www.artconservationservices.com for more information.
 
 

PAINTINGS CONSERVATOR (Mid to Senior level)

 
West Lake Conservators has an immediate need for an advanced paintings conservator. The incumbent will report to Susan Blakney and Margie Sutton, paintings conservators and co-owners of West Lake Conservators.
 
Qualifications: Master’s Degree in Art Conservation from a recognized conservation program, or equivalent professional experience. Experience in or the ability to estimate labor and accurately track time is required.  Competent writing, photographic and computer-documentation skills are essential. Demonstrated interest in linings and their challenges, and prior project management experience a plus.
 
Salary is commensurate with experience.
 
West Lake Conservators is a mixed-specialty preservation firm located in the Finger Lakes region of New York and founded in 1975. West Lake’s clientele includes museum and private collections both regional and national. We encourage our employees to engage with the profession through research, presentation at meetings and conferences.
 
 
Please send resumes to sueblakney@aol.com;margie@westlakeconservators.com
 

Qatar National Library has a new opening for a Head of Preservation & Conservation position, if interested please send me your CV to Sandra Montesinos smontesinos@qf.org.qa
 
Job Purpose:
The Head of Preservation & Conservation is responsible for the overall activities of planning, development, management, promotion, delivery and evaluation of services for preservation and conservation for the Qatar National Library.  As part of the Special Collections and Archives Team, the position will assist the Associate Director for Special Collections and Archives to develop strategic objectives for the department.  This position may also act in the absence of the Associate Director for Special Collections & Archives. Regularly scheduled evening and weekend work may be required.
 
Key Result Areas:

• Develop, implement, evaluate and update policies, procedures, plans, budgets, standards and best practices associated with preservation and conservation.
• Manage all activities and workflow for preservation and conservation.
• Plan and oversee the setup and implementation of the new Preservation and Conservation laboratory in all aspects.
• Develop and manage the review, selection, preservation and conservation for digitization of Special Collections and Archives books, maps, and manuscripts, along with other item formats, in collaboration with department heads, staff, and Associate Director.
• Recommend, plan and assist in implementing best practices for movement of Special Collections and Archives items for relocation to new building, to exhibitions, for shipping, etc.
• Responsible for selection, hiring, and professional development of new preservation and conservation staff.
• Coach, mentor, lead, supervise, and evaluate the departmental staff, QNDP Trainees, Graduate Trainees, and Interns throughout the career development plan process.
• Create and contribute content to the Qatar National Library website.
• Keep informed of current practices, trends, and developments in the field and effectively use training and experience to enhance job knowledge, especially with new methods in preservation and conservation.
• Contribute to the profession by publishing, presenting, or actively participating in professional organizations, especially with new finds, amended methods, or other advances in preservation and conservation.
• Familiarize, understand and implement QF health, safety, and environment policy, procedures, legal regulations and objectives applicable to areas of responsibility. Ensures coordination with HSE department in implementing, monitoring and reviewing of HSE performance to ensure work under his/her control is performed in a safe, healthy and environmentally sound manner.
• This position includes, but is not limited to, other duties as required and defined by the scope, purpose, and spirit of the institution and are not always indicative of the title and grade of the position.

 
Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

• Master’s degree in relevant discipline, such as Conservation or Preservation, Library Science or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience, 3 of which must have been in supervisory or leadership role in a library, museum, or research organization in preservation or conservation.
• Strong interpersonal, communication and presentation skills in both oral and written English. Arabic language skills will be an asset.
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively both independently and within a team.

 
For more information about Qatar National Library or Qatar Foundation, please feel free to visit www.qnl.qa or www.qf.org.qa

Winterthur, a public museum, library, and garden supporting the advanced study of American art, culture, and history, announces its Research Fellowship Program for 2015–16. Winterthur offers an extensive program of short- and long-term residential fellowships open to academic, independent, and museum scholars, including advanced graduate students, to support research in material culture, architecture, decorative arts, design, consumer culture, garden and landscape studies, Shaker studies, travel and tourism, the Atlantic World, childhood, literary culture, and many other areas of social and cultural history. Fellowships include 4–9 month NEH fellowships, 1–2 semester dissertation fellowships, and short-term fellowships, which are normally one month.
Fellows have full access to the library collections, including more than 87,000 volumes and one-half million manuscripts and images, searchable online at winterthur.org. Resources for the 17th to the early 20th centuries include period trade catalogues, auction and exhibition catalogues, an extensive reference photograph collection of decorative arts, printed books, and ephemera. Fellows may conduct object-based research in the museum’s collections, which include 90,000 artifacts and works of art made or used in the British American colonies or United States to 1860, with a strong emphasis on domestic life. Winterthur also supports a program of scholarly publications, including Winterthur Portfolio: A Journal of American Material Culture.
Fellows may reside in a furnished stone farmhouse on the Winterthur grounds and participate in the lively scholarly community at Winterthur, the nearby Hagley Museum and Library, the University of Delaware, and other area museums. Fellowship applications are due January 15, 2015. For more details and to apply, visit winterthur.org/fellowship or e-mail Rosemary Krill at rkrill@winterthur.org.

The Getty Conservation Institute (www.getty.edu/conservation) is seeking a conservation practitioner to fill the position of Senior Project Specialist (Built/20th-century Heritage).
 
The Senior Project Specialist (Built/20th-century Heritage) will lead the Conserving Modern Architecture Initiative (CMAI), a comprehensive, long-term, and international program of the GCI. The goal of the CMAI is to advance the practice of conserving twentieth-century heritage, with a focus on modern architecture, through research and investigation, the development of practical conservation solutions, and the creation and distribution of information through training programs and publications. The CMAI works with international and local partners, including professional and organizational networks focused on modern architecture conservation, to expand the existing knowledge base.
 
Responsibilities:  The Senior Project Specialist will explore, develop and manage potential projects that address thematic areas in the context of conservation of twentieth-century heritage and specifically modern architecture. This includes designing, implementing, and monitoring projects that apply and test new research and practical approaches. The Senior Project Specialist will demonstrate a broad knowledge of the issues and best practices associated with the conservation and management of historic buildings and sites, specifically twentieth-century heritage; and will provide advice and guidance about these issues to staff from other departments of the GCI.
 
The Senior Project Specialist will conduct needs assessments, identify strategic issues, develop, interpret, communicate, and execute project plans and budgets to meet international needs. She/He will provides direction to project staff, external partners, and consultants related to built and urban heritage; and will undertake research, teach, write, publish, or present results at professional venues.
 
Qualifications: The Senior Project Specialist must have: 7-10 years combined practical and management experience in the areas of either architecture and historic building technologies, urban planning and preservation. A Master’s degree or equivalent graduate education in architecture or architectural conservation is required, as is knowledge and a demonstrated engagement in conserving twentieth-century heritage. She/He must be adaptable, analytical, a positive problem-solver, and a creative thinker. Skill and experience in designing, initiating and managing conservation projects with multi-disciplinary teams is essential. Experience in working in broad contexts including the international sphere an advantage. Knowledge of the international organizations working in the fields of twentieth-century heritage needed. Excellent oral and written communication skills are also necessary. She/He must be available for frequent international travel. An ability to read, write, and speak a foreign language is preferred.
 
An excellent benefits package and salary commensurate with experience will be provided. International candidates welcome.
 
To apply, please see:  https://jobs-getty.icims.com/jobs/2206/job. All applicants should be prepared to upload a cover letter and curriculum vitae as a single file (either a PDF or a Word document) when prompted to “upload a Resume” online. Candidates who successfully complete the online application process will receive an automated message from “autoreply@icims.com”.  If you have specific questions about the Senior Project Specialist (Built/20th-century Heritage) position, please email gcistaffing@getty.edu.
 
NB: This job search has been extended.  The deadline for applications is now October 10, 2014.