Position at National Museum of Natural History

Contract for Conservation Technician
The Smithsonian Institution Anthropology Conservation Laboratory
National Museum of Natural History

The Smithsonian Institution Anthropology Conservation Laboratory,
National Museum of Natural History, is seeking to contract for
services of a conservation technician to support a major project in
paper conservation and manuscript digitization. The project is based
in the National Anthropological Archives (NAA), a collecting unit of
the Department of Anthropology. The NAA maintains one of the premier
anthropological archival collections in the world, including major
holdings relating to Native American language and cultural
knowledge. This contract is being offered under a grant from Save
America's Treasures to ensure preservation of and access to core NAA
manuscripts relating to language.

Note: The individual selected will work as an independent contractor
rather than as an employee.

The contractor will be based in the Anthropology Conservation Lab
and will also work closely with other professionals in the
Collections and Archives Program including the Digitization Lab and
the NAA to provide a variety of technical services to assist the
Save America's Treasure's project, including:

    Rehousing manuscript materials

    Design and preparation of permanent housing systems for fragile
    and damaged items

    Recommending, ordering, and inventory maintenance of rehousing
    supplies

    Providing support for conservation treatment

    Maintenance of equipment and conservation supplies

    Documentary photography of condition and treatment procedures

    Entering treatment information provided by conservator(s) into
    database

    Filing reports describing the examination, treatment proposal,
    and actual treatment

    May assist with routine conservation treatment tasks

    Working collaboratively with archivists, digitization lab, and
    conservation lab to maintain inventory control and workflow
    throughout the project

Qualifications and Criteria for Selection: We are looking for an
individual with:

    Experience with conservation laboratory procedures of treatment
    and documentation

    Knowledge of the care of paper-based collections, especially in
    an archival setting

    Experience with databases and electronic file management

    Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail

    Demonstrated ability to work independently

    Previous experience in a paper conservation laboratory is highly
    desirable but not required

(See the Invitation to Submit Proposal for further details.

Please submit all materials requested there to Candace Greene at
greenec<-a t->si< . >edu by August 17, 2011.)

Invitation to Submit Proposal: Contract for Conservation Technician

    Statement of Work:  The Smithsonian Institution is offering a
    12-month term contract for a project archivist in the National
    Anthropological Archives. The NAA collects and preserves
    historical and contemporary anthropological materials that
    document the world's cultures and the history of anthropology.
    This is a fixed price award of $48,000 for services over 12
    months with potential for renewal for an additional year. The
    basis of award shall be determined by best value, as
    demonstrated by training, relevant experience, and professional
    references.

    Scope of Work: The contractor shall provide professional
    services in the form of on-site conservation laboratory support
    at the National Anthropological Archives, a Smithsonian
    collection unit located in Suitland, MD.

    Specific Tasks: The contractor will rehouse materials, making
    recommendations on design and materials; provide support for
    conservation laboratory operations, including photo
    documentation and entry of reports into conservation database;
    and may assist with routine treatments.

    Deliverables: The contractor shall provide a monthly progress
    report that 1) describes collections rehousing and conservation
    support activities to date, 2) lists supplies required for
    upcoming work, 3) summarizes workflow issues that may require
    attention.

    Required Qualifications: Prospective contractors should
    demonstrate familiarity with conservation laboratory procedures,
    typically through work experience.  Preference will be given to
    prospective contractors with knowledge of systems for the care
    of archival collections. Must be capable of lifting at least 30
    lbs.

    The Smithsonian Institution will accept written bids for this
    contract. Bids should include the following information:

        A cover letter (2 page maximum) describing your
        qualifications
        A current CV
        Names and contact information for three references

    Prospective contractors are encouraged to submit supplementary
    materials that provide evidence of experience, such as condition
    reports. Please combine materials into a single PDF or Word
    document and include your name in the file name and submit via
    email to Dr. Candace Greene <greenec<-a t->si< . >edu>

    Review of proposals will begin on August 17, 2011.

Candace Greene
Collections and Archives Program
Department of Anthropology
Smithsonian Institution


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 25:9
                 Distributed: Thursday, August 4, 2011
                        Message Id: cdl-25-9-028
                                  ***