Position at ARTEX Fine Art Services

Director of Conservation Services
ARTEX Fine Art Services
Landover, Maryland

Full-Time, Regular position

Deadline for applications: This position will be advertised as open
until filled.

ARTEX Fine Art Services is seeking a dynamic individual to fill the
position of Director of Conservation Services. This person will be
responsible for managing the activities of the ARTEX Conservation
Laboratory and working with the existing conservation staff with the
goal of maintaining the high standard of conservation care and
treatment.  ARTEX Fine Art Services is the largest and most
reputable fine art services firm in the United States, providing a
broad range of services including professional art conservation, art
handling, crating, shipping, project management, collections
management, and storage, among others.

Offices are located in Landover MD, Long Island City NY, Boston MA,
Fort Lauderdale FL, and Los Angeles CA. The ARTEX Conservation
Laboratory was established in Landover (in the Washington DC area)
as a separate division within the company in 1999 and has earned a
reputation of providing high quality professional art conservation
services for clients that include major museums, art galleries,
federal and state government agencies, artists' estates, as well as
private and corporate collections.

Current ARTEX staff includes four professional conservators of
paintings and murals. The ARTEX Conservation Laboratory has studio
space of approximately 2,400 square feet with ample north-facing
natural light and state-of-the-art conservation equipment.

Responsibilities

    Direction of the operations of the ARTEX Conservation Laboratory
    in Landover MD

    Management of the activities of staff conservators, interns, and
    contractors in providing conservation care, treatment, and
    advice for clients

    Ensuring adherence to accepted professional standards and to the
    AIC Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice in all aspects of
    examination, documentation, treatment, client care, and business
    practice

    Providing guidance and direction with respect to excellent
    client service

    Providing leadership and expertise for all technical aspects
    relating to the conservation work

    Development of standards, policies, and procedures for ARTEX
    conservation examination, documentation, and treatment and
    ensuring quality control

    Ensuring that accepted health and safety procedures are
    communicated, monitored, and evaluated

    Establishment of operational budgets and ensuring accurate
    reporting on all project costs

    Development, planning, and recommendation of strategies that
    take advantage of new client service opportunities

    Participating in the preparation of conservation proposals in
    response to requests for proposal or requests for quote

    Carrying out the physical examination and documentation of
    paintings and executing complete conservation and restoration
    procedures of major complexity

Qualifications

    Master's degree in Art Conservation, or equivalent combination
    of conservation training and experience

    Ongoing professional development through attendance of
    conservation workshops, seminars, or professional conferences

Work Experience:

    Practicing conservation manager, 5+ years preferred

    Directing the activities of technical staff, interns, and
    outside contractors, in a variety of conservation projects, 5+
    years preferred

    Extensive experience in the examination, documentation, and
    treatment of paintings, 10+ years preferred

    Creating and managing conservation service contracts and
    proposals

    Estimating and monitoring costs for the treatment of paintings

    Experience in the preparation and presentation of reports,
    lectures, and seminars relating to painting conservation

Attributes/skills/knowledge:

    Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the materials and
    techniques of historical and modern easel paintings in various
    mediums and on a range of supports

    Thorough understanding of the mechanisms of physical, chemical,
    and biological deterioration of materials making up paintings

    Sound knowledge of the scientific theories, principles,
    processes, and practices (both traditional and more recent
    developments) involved in the documentation, preservation, and
    treatment of paintings

    Advanced skills in examining paintings to establish their
    physical condition, distinguishing between original materials
    and later additions, recommending conservation measures and
    carrying through to completion conservation and restoration
    operations of major complexity

    Knowledge of modern museological practices for the care of
    collections, including environmental control and monitoring,
    safe handling, display, storage, framing, crating, and shipping

Job specific attributes / skills / knowledge:

    Knowledge of business/management principles and practices

    Articulate and effective communication skills and excellent
    interpersonal skills

    Ability to promote an environment of fairness, respect,
    consistency and honesty, within ARTEX and with clients

    Ability to work effectively under pressure of deadlines with
    strong organizational skills

    Ability to interact and work effectively with staff and clients
    as a positive and productive team leader

    Demonstrated working knowledge of materials, techniques, and
    ethics of painting conservation

    Ability to take initiative in exploring new project
    opportunities for ARTEX conservation

    Extremely fine manual skills, coordination, and precision

    High degree of patience, concentration, and attention to detail

    Sound critical judgment in a work situation that has attendant
    risks of damage to works of art

    Ability to ensure high standards in conservation work while
    meeting company objectives relating to efficiency and
    productivity

    Familiarity with Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel,
    Outlook, etc.) and Filemaker

Preferred:

    Master's level conservation degree with at least 10 years of
    subsequent practical conservation and management experience

    Area of expertise in conservation of easel paintings and murals

    Experience in writing proposals and developing estimates in
    response to RFPs and RFQs

    Combination of museum and private conservation experience

Background Check Requirements: This position requires successful
completion of a criminal history background check.

Salary Range:  Salary is commensurate with education and experience.

Application Procedure: If you feel that you possess the experience
and qualifications outlined, please submit your cover letter, resume
and salary history/requirements along with three (3) letters of
reference to our HR department at jobs_dc<-at->artexfas<.>com for immediate
consideration. Consideration will be granted *only* to those who
possess the minimum requirements as stipulated above.

An Equal Opportunity/Access/Affirmative Action Employer

                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 27:19
                Distributed: Wednesday, October 30, 2013
                       Message Id: cdl-27-19-027
                                  ***