Global Title: Sr. Manuscript Specialist
Global Grade: 9
Job Code: 4448
Last Updated: 01/16
Job Title: Conservator
Basic Function & Responsibilities

• Perform technical treatments in the repair of paper documents, art works on paper, books, photographs, and audio and video tapes.

Essential Functions

• Performs conservation treatments, including but not limited to: cleaning, humidification, removing tape, washing, tissue repair and reinforcement, de-acidification, and encapsulation.
• Coordinate preventive conservation activities such as environmental control, disaster planning and emergency response, and integrated pest management.
• Conduct condition assessments for existing and potential new collections.
• Help to design and manage the conservation laboratory by selecting and maintaining appropriate conservation supplies, tools, and equipment. Evaluate and improve workflows while ensuring treatments meet standards and safe lab protocols.
• Manage outsourcing of conservation treatments that cannot be performed in-house.
• Develop workshops and conduct instructional classes on preservation for staff, patrons, local historical societies, and organizations.
• Performs preparations for exhibits, loans, and permanent storage including customized housings for fragile records.
• Assist with special projects and events as needed.

Supervision Received

• General supervision is received from the Associate Director.

Supervision Exercised

• Supervision may be exercised over student support staff.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Bachelor degree in Art Conservation or a Masters’ degree with a specialty in conservation in Art, History, Library Science, Museum Studies, or an equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and abilities can be acquired.
• Ability to lift and carry 35 to 40-pound boxes is mandatory.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced study in the preservation of art and archival materials and 2-5 years work experience in a preservation program or conservation lab at a research institution or archives.
• Knowledge of preservation standards, guidelines, and trends in the preservation of non-print formats.
• Experience in writing and managing grants.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Work typically involves exposure to chemical solvents.
• Excellent visual, writing, and public speaking skills

Apply for this position on the University of Missouri Human Resource Services page.

Job responsibilities listed herein are a general description of typical job duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and physical demands of the incumbents but should not be considered all-encompassing as actual responsibilities may additionally include other duties as assigned.

Project Conservator (Full-Time/Temporary)
The Missouri Historical Society is seeking a Project Conservator with a specialization in the conservation of objects. The Project Conservator will be responsible for the conservation treatment of objects belonging to MHS’s collections in the Missouri History Museum and the Soldiers Memorial Museum in preparation for the latter’s re-opening in 2018. We are looking for an experienced individual who demonstrates professionalism, flexibility, and is detail-oriented to effectively organize the project’s conservation activities, conduct treatments, and other tasks as directed.
The Conservator will be located at the Missouri Historical Society’s existing conservation lab, located in the Library and Research Center. The Project Conservator will be expected to divide their time between projects for Soldiers Memorial Museum and Missouri History Museum. Project start date is immediate upon hire and will conclude at the end of 2017.
Responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited to:

• Examine objects and prepare conservation assessments, as required under the supervision of the Objects Conservator
• Prepare conservation documentation, including photography, condition reports, treatment proposals, and treatment reports
• Perform conservation treatments on objects, under the supervision of the Objects Conservator
• Maintain conservation records for performed treatments and contracted work
• Enter conservation information into the institution’s collections database system (Mimsy)
• Organize contract conservation work for textiles, paper, paintings, and other objects as needed
• Assist with the planning of exhibitions and exhibit spaces, including advisement on mount making, material selections, environmental parameters, and lighting requirements, etc. as needed
• Assist with the installation of exhibit material under the supervision of the Objects Conservator, Registrar, and/or Collection Manager as needed
• Assist in the packing, moving, and storage of collections under the supervision of the Objects Conservator, Registrar, and/or Collection Manager as needed
• Preventive conservation duties as assigned, including environmental monitoring, integrated pest management, and collections emergency preparedness
• Active participation in public outreach, including public presentations, lab tours, publications, and the ability to explain the importance of conservation to donors and visitors alike
• Other conservation duties as assigned, including purchasing laboratory supplies, performing inventories, and constructing boxes and mounts for storage upgrades

Qualification Requirements

• Master’s degree in Art Conservation or equivalent, with a specialization in objects conservation
• Several years’ experience handling art and artifacts in a museum environment
• A minimum of one (1) year experience in conservation, preferably in an objects conservation laboratory

Additional Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Thorough knowledge of and adherence to the Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works (AIC)
• Knowledge of best-practice standards, techniques, materials, and equipment used in the conservation of objects
• Demonstrated abilities in the examination, analysis, documentation, and treatment of organic and inorganic materials
• Knowledge of the environmental hazards posed by substances such as solvents and mold and appropriate, safe methods of working with such substances
• Excellent attention to detail and time management skills – the ability to work on several projects simultaneously will be essential
• Must be a creative thinker with excellent problem-solving skills, sound judgment, and analytical abilities
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work individually and as part of a team
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office and collections management database software, especially MIMSY

Deadline to Apply: Open until filled.
Please submit employment application, letter of interest and resume to: hradmin@mohistory.org
Candidates may also respond to: Missouri History Museum-HR P.O. Box 11940 St. Louis, MO 63112-0040
An Equal Opportunity Employer

The Balboa Art Conservation Center (BACC), an active regional conservation center located in San Diego, CA, is offering a one-year post graduate Mellon Fellowship in the conservation of paintings. Fellows will work with a wide variety of collection types performing conservation services in examination, treatment, analysis, and on-site surveys.
Applicants should be recent graduates of recognized conservation training programs.  The stipend is based upon a salary of $33,000 plus benefits, four weeks of research leave, and a $1,500 travel allowance in support of approved study projects.  The fellowship is scheduled to begin in September 2016.  Interested applicants should apply in writing with a resume, three letters of recommendation, and three examples of treatment experience.  Please submit applications by March 15th to:
Janet Ruggles
Executive Director
Balboa Art Conservation Center
PO Box 3755
San Diego, CA 92163
Digital applications should be submitted to info@bacc.org with the title “Mellon Fellowship Application” in the subject line.

The Balboa Art Conservation Center (BACC) seeks a collaboratively-minded and conservation treatment-oriented conservator of paintings to become an integral part of the staff of the Center’s painting conservation department.  The department is staffed by conservators of paintings and a conservation technician and is supported by the BACC Registrar.
BACC is an active, nonprofit, regional conservation center located in the heart of the beautiful and historic Balboa Park in San Diego, California. The Park is home to a campus of cultural institutions such as the San Diego Museum of Art, Timken Museum of Art, and San Diego History Center. Since its founding in 1975, BACC has been devoted to the preservation of material culture held in both public and private collections. The Center’s services cover a wide spectrum including the formulation and implementation of treatments for paintings, frames, and paper artifacts, technical examinations using microscopy, infrared reflectography, and x-radiography, preventive conservation assistance, and environmental, general, and collection specific surveys. Types of paintings treated by BACC reflect the broad range of collections served and are of all periods and constructed with a broad array of materials.  As the Center offers internships and fellowships on a regular basis, the working environment emphasizes an atmosphere of learning, collegiality, and cooperation.
The ideal candidate will have a solid background in painting conservation with a minimum of three years of post graduate experience. They will have highly developed practical skills with ability to accurately assess deterioration and damage, formulate appropriate treatment protocols, and undertake treatments both independently and as part of a team. Innovative thinking is required for challenging projects as are good analytical and problem solving capabilities. Strong attention to detail while working to project deadlines and sound project management experience are essential strengths sought.
Position requirements include a Masters Degree from an accredited conservation program or its equivalent in painting conservation, excellent writing ability, and good communication and interpersonal skills. Compensation is commensurate with experience while benefits are excellent and comprehensive.
Interested applicants should apply in writing with a letter of interest, resume, three letters of recommendation, and examples of treatment experience. Please submit applications by March 31, 2016 to:
Janet Ruggles
Executive Director
Balboa Art Conservation Center
PO Box 3755
San Diego, CA 92163
Digital applications should be submitted to info@bacc.org with the title “Conservator of Paintings Application”.

TITLE:  Conservator for Special Projects
INSTITUTION: Newberry Library
DEPARTMENT: Conservation Services
Summary: Reporting to the Director of Conservation Services, the Conservator for Special Projects coordinates digitization and exhibition conservation workflows, performs needed treatments on Newberry Library collection materials for digitization and exhibition, and assists the Director with conservation initiatives and other departmental activities.
Responsibilities:
Exhibitions, Digitization, and Special Projects:

• Work with Library Exhibits staff and curators to plan, schedule, survey, prepare and install library materials for exhibits.
• Coordinate and perform treatments on library materials for exhibition display.
• Work with Digital Initiatives staff to plan, schedule, survey and perform treatments needed prior to digitization.
• Work with Digital Initiatives staff to advise and/or provide assistance for preservation-friendly digital capture.
• Works with the Director to plan, schedule, survey and perform treatments on library materials to be used in conjunction with other projects.
• Monitors statistics for project workflows.

Conservation:

• Specify, perform, and document treatments on Newberry Library collection materials. These non-circulating collections include a broad range of materials, including books, archival documents, maps, manuscripts on paper and parchment, photographs and other materials.

Assistance to the Director in the overall work of the department:

• Participate in departmental tours and other forms of outreach.
• Assist with disaster preparedness and recovery.

Other duties:

• Participate in library committees.
• Keep abreast of current developments in conservation, preservation, and related fields.
• Perform other tasks or activities needed for the achievement of departmental goals.
• May assist in training of volunteers and interns.
• May assist in the education of Newberry Library staff in the care and handling of materials.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and graduate degree in Conservation of Library and Archival Materials or equivalent combination of training and experience required.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in a relevant library or museum setting.
• Knowledge of book history and structure.
• Excellent hand skills and understanding of conservation theory, practice, and treatments for library materials.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, collaboratively and productively in a dynamic environment.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to meet strict deadlines.
• Experience in evaluating and treating materials for digital imaging and/or exhibitions.
• Experience in exhibition preparation, installation, and environmental monitoring.
• Demonstrated record of continued education in the field.
• Demonstrated ability to use spreadsheets, databases and other productivity software effectively.

Schedule: Full time exempt position.  35 hours per week, Monday through Friday, with occasional evening and weekend assignments.
Benefits:  Group life, health, dental, and vision insurance; fifteen days of vacation the first year, twenty days thereafter; two personal days and six paid holidays annually; discount in bookstore and book purchasing service; long term disability, long term care and retirement plan available after one year of service.
Date Posted: February 4, 2016
Available:  April 1, 2016
About the Newberry Library:  The Newberry Library is an independent research library concentrating on the humanities, with an active educational and cultural presence in Chicago and well beyond.  Free and open to the public, it houses an extensive non-circulating collection of rare books, maps, music, other printed materials, and manuscripts.  These materials include more than 1.6 million books, 15,000 cubic feet of manuscript, and 500,000 historic maps; several collections rank among the best in the world.  The Newberry serves more than 100,000 in-person users each year, in its reading rooms and with its public programs and scholarly events.  Residential research fellowships support some 55 scholars each year.  Areas of the collection’s special strengths include maps, travel, and exploration; North and South American Indians; the history of the book; the Renaissance and early modern world; American history and culture; Chicago and the Midwest; genealogy and local history; music and the performing arts; and the history of religion.  Educational activities serving the intellectually curious public involve exhibitions, adult seminars, professional development programs for high school teachers, panel discussions, concerts, book talks, two semester-long undergraduate seminars, and other activities and events.
Email cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references to the Director of Human Resources at hr@newberry.org.
Please visit our Web site at www.newberry.org.
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

TITLE: Collections Conservator
INSTITUTION:  Newberry Library
DEPARTMENT: Conservation Services
Summary: Reporting to the Director of Conservation Services, the Collections Conservator coordinates general and special collections conservation workflows, performs physical care and treatment of Newberry Library collection materials, and assists the Director with conservation initiatives and other departmental activities.
Responsibilities:
Conservation:

• Plan and coordinate treatment workflows for Newberry Library collection materials. These non-circulating collections include a broad range of materials, including books, archival documents, maps, manuscripts on paper and parchment, photographs and other materials.
• Work with the Director of Conservation Services, Conservator for Special Projects, curators, and Reader Services supervisors to identify conservation needs and survey materials for grant proposals and conservation projects.
• Work with Director of Conservation Services to determine institutional conservation and preservation priorities.
• Specify, perform and document treatments.
• Monitor statistics for conservation workflow.

Education and training:

• Assist in training conservation staff in conservation and preservation activities.
• Train and direct the work of volunteers and interns in conservation and preservation activities.
• Educate Newberry staff in the care and handling of materials.

Assistance to the Director in the overall work of the department:

• Assist in managing and implementing environmental monitoring and pest monitoring programs.
• Assist in disaster preparedness training programs.
• Assist in formulating and implementing departmental policy, producing reports and statistics, and database management.
• Participate in tours of the department and other forms of outreach.
• Assist in monitoring conservation equipment and supplies.

Other duties:

• Manage small-scale outside library binding.
• Participate in library committees.
• Keep abreast of current developments in conservation, preservation, and related fields.
• Contribute to conservation funding proposals.
• Supervises Conservation staff in the Director’s absence.
• Perform other tasks or activities needed for the achievement of departmental goals.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and graduate degree in Conservation or equivalent combination of training and experience required.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in a research or rare book library setting.
• Extensive knowledge of book history and structure.
• Excellent hand skills and understanding of current conservation theory, practices, and treatments of library materials.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, collaboratively, and productively in a dynamic environment.
• Demonstrated record of continued education in the field.
• Experience managing workflows and supervising the work of staff, volunteers and/or interns.
• Demonstrated ability to use productivity software including spreadsheets and databases effectively.
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to meet strict deadlines.

Schedule: Full time exempt position.  35 hours per week, Monday through Friday, with occasional evening and weekend assignments.
Benefits:  Group life, health, dental, and vision insurance; fifteen days of vacation the first year, twenty days thereafter; two personal days and six paid holidays annually; discount in bookstore and book purchasing service; long term disability, long term care and retirement plan available after one year of service.
Date Posted: February 4, 2016
Available:  April 1, 2016
About the Newberry Library:  The Newberry Library is an independent research library concentrating on the humanities, with an active educational and cultural presence in Chicago and well beyond.  Free and open to the public, it houses an extensive non-circulating collection of rare books, maps, music, other printed materials, and manuscripts.  These materials include more than 1.6 million books, 15,000 cubic feet of manuscript, and 500,000 historic maps; several collections rank among the best in the world.  The Newberry serves more than 100,000 in-person users each year, in its reading rooms and with its public programs and scholarly events.  Residential research fellowships support some 55 scholars each year.  Areas of the collection’s special strengths include maps, travel, and exploration; North and South American Indians; the history of the book; the Renaissance and early modern world; American history and culture; Chicago and the Midwest; genealogy and local history; music and the performing arts; and the history of religion.  Educational activities serving the intellectually curious public involve exhibitions, adult seminars, professional development programs for high school teachers, panel discussions, concerts, book talks, two semester-long undergraduate seminars, and other activities and events.
Email cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references to the Director of Human Resources at hr@newberry.org.
Please visit our Web site at www.newberry.org.
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Part-Time Paintings Conservator
The Conservation Center
Chicago, IL, USA
The Conservation Center in Chicago is searching for a Part-Time Paintings Conservator to assist the Paintings Department on a project basis as needed. The ideal candidate must have the following: working knowledge of materials, techniques, and ethics of painting conservation; extremely fine manual skills; the ability to carry out treatments of minor to major complexity; sound judgment; the ability to meet scheduled deadlines; and the ability to work effectively with colleagues and clients as a positive and productive team member.
QUALIFICATIONS:

• An advanced degree in art conservation with a specialization in paintings conservation preferred, or an advanced degree with comparable training and a minimum of 3–5 years post graduate experience.
• Examination and treatment related to the comprehensive range of paintings that The Conservation Center treat on a regular basis, ranging from early European to Contemporary.
• Thorough understanding of conservation theory and practice.
• Ability to provide written condition reports, treatment recommendations, and post-treatment reports a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with colleagues
• Strong communication skills.
• Ability to adhere to deadlines.
• Ability to multitask.
• Ability to collaborate with and manage fellow department staff members to execute successful treatments.
• Ability to perform the physical labor as required for specific treatments.
• Ability to work in triage based situations.
• Responsible for seeing projects through from start to completion.
• Previous experience in private practice strongly preferred.
• The position involves occasional travel.
• Art handling, packing, and installation experience a plus.

This is a part-time, contract position. Compensation will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The Conservation Center is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified candidates are encouraged to contact Heather.B@TheConservationCenter.com. Please submit a cover letter, resume, salary history, and three professional references which illustrate qualifications.
www.TheConservationCenter.com