Position at Field Museum

Chief Conservator
The Field Museum
Chicago, IL

The Chief Conservator will undertake conservation planning,
programming, and implementation.  The individual in this position
will also be responsible for the management of conservation
programs, facilities, and staff, as well as the examination,
documentation, and treatment of objects and specimens in the Museum
collections.  The Chief Conservator will report to and strongly
collaborate with the Head of Anthropology Collections and will
consult with the appropriate Collections Administrative Teams.  The
Chief Conservator will initiate and support awareness and
fundraising efforts for collection preservation and the Museum
mission.

Duties and Responsibilities

    Spearheads production and implementation of long range
    collection conservation planning.  Develops and implements
    collections policies and procedures in collaboration with
    curators, collection managers, and registrars.

    Surveys collections in collaboration with curators and
    collection managers to assess the condition of objects and
    specimens and determine preservation and treatment needs

    Documents, examines, and performs conservation treatments and
    procedures on objects and specimens in the collections.

    Provides conservation guidance to Collections, Exhibits, and
    other Museum staff to establish, monitor, and maintain proper
    environmental conditions in storerooms, exhibits, and work areas
    as well as to prescribe, review, and upgrade methods and
    materials used for the storage and packing of objects and
    specimens

    Coordinates exhibition conservation program.  May perform
    conservation work for incoming, outgoing, and in-house exhibits
    including conditioning and overseeing installation

    Assesses, recommends, and provides treatment of objects and
    specimens for outgoing loans to borrowing institutions for
    exhibitions and research.  Provides guidance on exhibition
    mounts.  May travel as courier to borrowing institutions to
    condition report and oversee installations and de-installations

    Prepares conservation funding proposals

    Performs research leading to improved methods, materials, and
    procedures for conservation, storage, and exhibit of specimens;
    disseminates results in publications and oral presentations

    Participates in professional meetings, workshops, and other
    activities to keep current in the field of conservation and
    enhance professional knowledge and skills

    Conducts tours and public presentations when needed

    Supervises and manages all conservation staff as well as
    volunteers, interns, and visitors as required

    Responsible for managing the daily operation of the conservation
    laboratories including the organization, maintenance and
    ordering of equipment and supplies

    Performs other conservation and collections-related activities
    as assigned

Qualifications

    Degree in conservation from a recognized training program with a
    specialization in objects and ethnographic conservation

    Demonstrated extensive conservation experience with management
    and supervisory responsibilities

    Demonstrated working knowledge and practice of conservation
    ethics, theory, method, and literature

    Working knowledge of lab equipment and chemicals

    Strong manual skills and attention to detail

    Demonstrated superb organizational skills

    Proven verbal and written communication skills

    Conservation grant writing experience

    Leadership and interpersonal skills

    Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a member of a
    team, to enlist the cooperation and involvement of others

    Demonstrated experience in mentoring conservators, students, and
    volunteers

    Demonstrated experience in collection care policy, planning, and
    implementation

    Demonstrated experience in resource and project management

    Skilled in negotiation and resolution of non-routine problems

    Proven experience with standard digital conservation photography
    as well as computer proficiency with museum collections
    databases, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel.  Working
    knowledge of KE EMu highly desirable

    Experience with natural history collections conservation
    desirable

Candidates without the requisite experience for Chief Conservator
may be considered for a conservation position focusing on
ethnographic objects.  To apply, go online to

    <URL:https://www.fieldmuseum.org/about/careers>

and submit your application.

JP Brown
Regenstein Conservator for Pacific Anthropology
The Field Museum
1400 S Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605
312-665-7879
Fax: 312-665-7193


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 30:4
                   Distributed: Sunday, June 12, 2016
                        Message Id: cdl-30-4-018
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