Position at Rijksmuseum

Junior Conservator ships model and scale models
Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

36 hours per week

Closing date: 18 April, 2014

As the National Museum of Art and History of the Netherlands, the
Rijksmuseum holds canonical collections of Netherlandish fine and
applied arts and historical artefacts from the Middle Ages onwards,
supplemented by important holdings of other European and Asian arts.
Its principal function is to study, enhance and augment these
collections and to present them for the enjoyment and benefit of a
broad national and international audience.  The Rijksmuseum, which
is staffed by some 600 employees, was reopened on 13 April 2013
after an intensive refurbishment, and is attracting over two million
visitors per year.

The Conservation Department's ship model studio is looking for a
Junior Conservator ships model and scale models.

The Rijksmuseum's model ship and scale-model collection is one of
the most prominent maritime collections in the world.  The heart of
the collection consists of technical scale models constructed during
the 19th century by order of the Ministry of the Navy.  Such models
were tools in the process of designing and constructing new naval
vessels.  These models were initially kept in the
Marinemodellenkamer (Naval Models Room) in The Hague.  This
collection was soon expanded to include unique model ships from the
17th and 18th centuries, technical tools, weapons and captured
standards.  With the reopening of the Rijksmuseum, a significant
part of this collection is once again on show to the general public,
for the first time in almost a century.  Over the past thirty years,
intensive efforts have been made to fully treat and describe the
approximately 1600 objects that make up this collection.  In 2014,
this work will culminate in the publication of a catalogue of the
entire collection.  The next few years will be devoted to research
into the production process used to create these exceptional scale
models.  This project will focus mainly on the model makers
themselves, and on the materials and methods that they used.

Job description: The essence of this position is to efficiently and
effectively maintain model ships in optimal condition.  The key task
of the Junior Conservator ships model and scale models is the
conservation of the model ship and scale-model collection.  This
will involve close collaboration with the Curator of Maritime
Collections.  The Junior Conservator works in the Furniture
conservation department, and reports to the Head of Furniture
Conservation.  The Junior Conservator can also be assigned duties in
the wider context of the work carried out in this department.

The main activities of this position are:

    Helping to monitor the physical condition of the model ship and
    scale-model collection in close consultation with, and subject
    to the instructions of, the Curator of Maritime Collections,
    such that imminent or actual deterioration is identified at a
    sufficiently early stage for corrective action to be taken;

    Performing conservation and restoration treatment, and the
    associated research, as directed and instructed, also in the
    context of any general work that needs to be carried out in the
    Furniture department;

    Contributing to the development of methods of research and
    conservation;

    Participating in development projects (including scientific
    projects) and conducting targeted research in the area of
    conservation;

    Taking part in project-based activities, including participation
    in consultative bodies and the implementation of substantive and
    administrative project-related work.

Requirements

    University degree in Conservation, with a specialization in the
    conservation of model ships, wood or furniture, or a comparable
    qualification from another country that is relevant to this
    specialism

    Knowledge of, or affinity with, the function and construction of
    ships and model ships down through the ages

    Knowledge of, and proficiency in, carrying out conservation
    treatments appropriate to the objects in the collection

    Knowledge of, and proficiency in, preserving the various
    materials from which the objects are made

    Proficiency in reporting the procedures followed and the results
    obtained

    Knowledge of international developments in the field of
    conservation, as well as of new methods and concepts

    Ambition to ultimately make a personal scientific contribution,
    by means of publications in this field

    In addition to a good command of spoken and written Dutch,
    candidates must also have a command of modern languages,
    especially with regard to the specialism in question

    Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office applications and
    Collection Management Systems (Adlib)

    Proficiency in technical drawing (analogue and/or digital)

Profile

    Integrity with regard to the ethical aspects of conservation and
    to aesthetic considerations

    An ability to reflect on personal practices

    Possesses social (including working in groups) and communication
    skills

    Analytical, and focused on problem solving

    Development-oriented approach

    Service-oriented and flexible

Terms and conditions of employment: The appointment is for a period
of one year, after which there is the option of a maximum of two
one-year extensions.  The salary will depend on your education and
experience; gross monthly salary will be at least Euro2.542,- up to
a maximum of Euro3.328,- (scale 9), based on a full working week of
36 hours, excluding holiday allowance and year-end bonus.  The
collective agreement for independent national museums will apply.

For further details about the position, please contact

    Paul van Duin,
    Head of Furniture Conservation
    +31 20-6747105

For any questions regarding the application procedure, please
contact

    Bart Schindeler
    HR department
    +31 20 6747324

Applications Send your application (including cover letter, CV and
list of published works) by e-mail to vacatures<-a t->rijksmuseum< . >nl with
the title of the position in the subject line, no later than April
18, 2014.


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 27:31
                Distributed: Thursday, February 6, 2014
                       Message Id: cdl-27-31-045
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