Position at Harry Ransom Center

Associate Photograph Conservator
Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
The University of Texas at Austin

The Conservation Department of the Harry Ransom Humanities Research
Center at The University of Texas at Austin is seeking a qualified
photograph conservator to serve as a full-time Associate Conservator
in its photograph conservation laboratory.

Under the supervision of the Photograph Conservator, the Associate
Photograph Conservator will perform all aspects of preventive
conservation and individual treatment of photographic materials.
Activities include planning and carrying out appropriate procedures
and techniques for examining, documenting, treating, surveying,
exhibiting, and housing photographic materials, as well as
monitoring exhibition installations and storage environments. The
Associate Conservator will participate in developing and
coordinating the activities of the Ransom Center photograph
conservation laboratory and will provide support for institutional
conservation objectives and a wide range of Conservation Department
services to the Center.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: The successful applicant will
demonstrate sound knowledge of the fundamentals and techniques of
photograph conservation and history, as well as exceptional manual
dexterity and strong written and verbal communication skills.

Essential functions of the position include all aspects of the
physical care of the wide range of photographic works in the
Center's collections. The Associate Conservator will take a
collegial and educational role in all activities of the Ransom
Center Conservation Department and will support other areas of the
institutional preservation endeavor. The Associate Conservator will
develop and maintain programs and procedures for the conservation,
preservation, and exhibition of photographic materials, and will
assist in training and managing photograph conservation laboratory
interns, students, and other persons occasionally invited to work in
the department. The performance of conservation treatments of all
levels of complexity on photographic materials and related historic
and artistic works is a key responsibility of this position.

The Associate Conservator will work with other Conservation
Department staff and with Ransom Center curators, collection
managers, and administrative personnel to identify and resolve
preservation concerns throughout the Center and to ensure that
Conservation Department programs are effective.

Education and Experience:

Minimum requirements for this position include a Master's degree
with a well-defined focus on preservation and conservation studies
and two years of post-graduate experience applying preservation and
conservation practices to library, special collection, museum, or
archive collections. An extensive knowledge of materials and
technologies encountered in the creation and conservation of
artistic, documentary, and commercial photographic works is
essential for this position.

Preferred qualifications for this position include a Master's degree
with a focus on preservation and conservation of photographs and
substantially more than two years post-graduate experience.
Post-graduate experience will primarily be in photograph
conservation but may also encompass additional experience with works
of art on paper, documents, manuscripts and other paper-based work.
Treatment experience with bound volumes, including photograph
albums, or other types of objects (including glass or metal) may be
included as part of the experience qualification. Experience
managing basic collections care programs, supervising and training
staff, and working with other conservators in a team environment
will be considered favorably, as will demonstrable interpersonal and
written and verbal communication skills. Other preferred
qualifications include up-to-date knowledge of basic research
methods in photograph and paper conservation, exhibition standards
and techniques, disaster planning and response strategies. Knowledge
of HVAC and environmental monitoring systems, awareness of current
trends in conservation and preservation, and experience with
collection survey techniques is also preferred.

The Ransom Center Conservation Department, established in 1980,
maintains three separate conservation laboratories for the treatment
of paper, bound works, and photographs. Five conservators work in
these labs. The head of the department is also a paper conservator.
Six technical staff, two of which are trained conservators, work in
several other laboratories and are responsible for exhibition
gallery management, preparing and mounting exhibitions, and
construction of collection housings.

The collections of the Ransom Center include 37,000 linear feet of
literary manuscripts and archives primarily from the 19th and 20th
century, one million books, 8 million photographs, and several
hundred thousand works of art including drawings, paintings,
sculpture, ethnographic objects, and decorative arts. The
collections are divided among the Departments of Archives and Visual
Materials, Photography, Art, Performing Arts, Film, and the Library.
See the HRC web site for more information about the collections:

    <URL:http://www.hrc.utexas.edu>

Salary:  Minimum $36,000

Benefits: No state or local income tax. Standard state benefits
package including annual vacation and sick leave, paid holidays, and
health insurance options (comprehensive major medical and HMO plans,
dental, vision, life, and disability). The retirement plan for this
position is with the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.  Deferred
compensation and tax sheltered annuity programs are also options.

This position is funded for five years through August 31, 2015, with
the possibility of continuation.

Application Procedure: Refer to job posting 10-04-16-01-0607 at

    <URL:http://www.utexas.edu/hr/prospective/apply/process.html>

Applicants must create a UT electronic account and complete the
online job application.  Applicants must submit a letter of
interest, a resume, and contact information for three professional
references. Review of applications will begin July 1, 2010.

All invited interviewees will need to present a portfolio of work
and experience at the time of any on-site interview.

All positions at the Ransom Center and The University of Texas are
classed as security sensitive and conviction verification will be
conducted on the applicant selected. The University of Texas is an
Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 23:42
                 Distributed: Wednesday, April 28, 2010
                       Message Id: cdl-23-42-029
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