Head of Conservation [National 9/11 Memorial and Museum, New York, NY]

Description

Under the direction of the Vice President of Collections / Chief Curator, the Head of Conservation Services (“HCS”) is responsible for the physical integrity, overall care, and treatment of the diverse material culture holdings of the 9/11 Museum’s collection, which includes artifacts – many, exhibiting damage sustained on 9/11; archeological fragments of the World Trade Center, and other in situ historic building elements as well as textiles, photographs, ephemera, works of art and digital media.

As leader of the conservation team, this senior position provides both strategic guidance and practical expertise about the collection’s long-term preservation. The HCS will also be qualified to perform conservation interventions appropriate to objects retaining character as historical eye-witnesses.  Annually, he/she will prepare and oversee the budget pertinent to the Museum’s anticipated conservation activities and facilities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Advocates for the conservation needs of the collection, and represents those needs and issues to colleagues within the organization and to the larger Museum field.
• Develops and implements long-term strategies for the sustainability of the Museum’s holdings in compliance with the Museum’s Collections Management policy and professional best practices. As the expert voice on collections care and preservation strategies, the HCS plays an active role in defining conditions, durations, and mounts suitable for collection display.
• Determines the appropriate handling, stabilization and treatment options for collections objects in all media, recommending and supervising work by outside conservators when necessary. This includes adherence to procedures for handling items exposed to potentially hazardous materials on and after September 11, 2001, in compliance with the Museum’s internal Operations and Maintenance plan.
• Authors executive reports and informational memoranda pertaining to vulnerable collection items.
• Manages projects involving, or likely to impact the in-situ archeological structures of the World Trade Center.
• Monitors protocols in place for the care of collections materials and proactively recommends changes to those policies, as needed.
• Supervises the work of the Assistant Conservator and consulting conservators retained for specialized object assessments and treatments.
• Works closely with collections management, curatorial, exhibition, and facilities/operations personnel.

Requirements

• A degree from a recognized professional graduate program in conservation or preservation.
• Minimum of 7-10 years of bench conservation and administrative experience working with museum-quality objects and historical media. Conservation experience should be broad and not limited to a single medium.
• Advanced knowledge of conservation ethics, principles, techniques, and procedures, as well as awareness of and commitment to professional museum best practices.
• Familiarity with personal protective equipment and methods for working with hazardous materials.
• Expert knowledge of preventive practices for stabilizing and extending the physical well-being of wide-ranging collections, include mitigating external risks, optimal storage methods and materials, and monitoring environmental conditions that may impact collections.
• Ability to write clearly and concisely, and to perform well under tight time constraints if necessary.
• Substantive experience as a manager of conservation staff, interns, fellows, art handlers, installers and mount-makers.
• The incumbent should be detail oriented, flexible and resourceful; a team player who embraces the collaborative benefits of museum work while excelling as a manger of his/her independent museum projects and assignments.

GENERAL INFORMATION

• This is a full-time position.
• We offer a competitive salary and full benefits package.

HOW TO APPLY

• Include job title “Head of Conservation Services” in the email subject field.
• Please indicate the location where job posting was seen.
• Please submit a resume and cover letter, which must include your salary requirements, to careers@911memorial.org by 4/22/16.
• Please visit our web site at www.911Memorial.org.

The National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center Foundation, Inc. is committed to workforce diversity. EEO