Position at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Research Scientist - Environmental
The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, one of the world's finest museums,
seeks a Research Scientist to manage all aspects of the museum
environment and preventive conservation research in the Department
of Scientific Research and provide support to other museum
departments as needed.  The position reports to the Scientist in
Charge but works closely with the Deputy Director for Collections
and Administration.  Works in close collaboration with Curatorial,
Conservation, Libraries, Facilities and Construction, Health and
Safety, Security, Photo Studio, and other departments on a
comprehensive and unified museum environment and preventive
conservation procedures and policies for the long-term preservation
of the museum's collections.  The position coordinates museum-wide
environmental surveys, performs monitoring and analytical duties,
provides technical assistance to promote best practice throughout
the museum, and reports back to the director's office and
conservation departments, to harness their specific expertise as
appropriate on air quality, climate, lighting, insect control, and
other issues.  The position acts as the primary liaison between
Facilities and Construction, and Exhibitions on one side, and
Conservation departments on the other for all matters related to
collections care.

Primary Responsibilities and Duties:

    Supervises other staff dedicated to museum environment and
    preventive conservation in the Department of Scientific Research

    Conducts museum wide condition surveys and sets standards for
    preservation management

    Advises and coordinates collections storage planning including
    but not limited to materials management and advisement (for
    instance, cold storage for photographs, plastic objects,
    contemporary prints)

    Sets documentation standards and reporting on mounts and
    installations, and exhibition materials to ensure that
    transport, storage and display environments are not compromised
    by the presence/production of harmful compounds within
    construction materials and/or case materials

    Monitors the museum environment to ensure agreed climatic
    conditions are maintained for the collections, including,
    recommending and managing museum wide climate monitoring system
    accessible to curators and conservators, overseeing annual
    surveys, maintaining records of environmental conditions and
    providing reports.

    Assist with/undertake routine monitoring and testing/measurement
    of other environmental factors including light, vibration, dust,
    and pollutant gas levels.

    Coordinates the integrated pest management (IPM) strategy across
    all parts of the Museum, either directly or through staff
    supervised

    Attend all relevant construction and exhibition meetings and act
    as a liaison between facilities and construction and
    conservation departments

    Other related duties

Requirements and Qualifications
Experience and Skills:

    Minimum of ten years' experience in scientific research and
    research management, in academic, industrial or museum settings,
    with at least five years in conservation science, preferably in
    large art museums, libraries, or archives (required)

    Organizational, communication, and team-work skills demonstrated
    through a history of project leadership, team leadership, and
    preventive conservation policy development (required)

    Grant-writing and fundraising experience (required)

    Development of testing methods and protocols for air quality and
    material degradation (preferred)

    Testing and implementation of preventive conservation solutions
    such as glazing, protective coatings, cleaning methods, etc.
    (preferred)

Knowledge and Education:

    Ph.D. in Chemistry

    Significant experience in air quality testing, museum
    environment monitoring, material testing and analysis, light
    levels monitoring, development of analytical protocols, and
    development of policies for collections preservation.

    Experience in recommending building and construction materials
    for best preservation practice

    Experience in developing solutions for light damage protection,
    corrosion protection, etc.

Application Deadline: November 15, 2014

The Research Scientist is a full-time position and includes full
benefits.  Salary will be commensurate with experience.

Send cover letter, indicating position of interest, resume, and
salary history to: careers<-a t->metmuseum< . >org as a Word attachment only
with "Research Scientist" in the subject line.


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 28:20
                Distributed: Saturday, October 18, 2014
                       Message Id: cdl-28-20-020
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