Position Announcement: Textile Conservator closes 6/15/06

["Ballard, Mary" <BallardM@xxxxxx>]

TEXTILE CONSERVATOR
COOPER-HEWITT, NATIONAL DESIGN MUSEUM, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

The Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution is seeking applicants for a full time position of Textile Conservator.  

RESPONSIBILITIES: Reporting to the Senior Textile Conservator, the incumbent will be responsible for the conservation and preservation of the National Design Museum's comprehensive collection of forty thousand textiles, costumes and costume accessories housed in the Museum's Design Resource Center and off-site storage facility.  The conservator will work both independently and under supervision on a full range of textile conservation treatments.  Responsibilities will include examination, preparation, and installation of textiles for exhibitions and loans, maintenance of computerized conservation records, development and fabrication of custom storage containers, monitoring of environmental conditions in storage and on exhibition, responding to public inquiries, and working with the Senior Textile Conservator and the Curator of Textiles on research projects.
QUALIFICATIONS: Graduate degree in the conservation of textiles or the equivalent in experience;  demonstrated knowledge of conservation principles;  knowledge of museum practices and principles;  high level of manual skills;  demonstrated experience in textile conservation techniques, including, wet-cleaning, mounting, preparation of textiles for storage and exhibition, and fiber identification;  ability to use specialized equipment, including microscopes, colorimeter, pH meter, illuminance meter, UV radiometer, hygrothermograph, and photography equipment; computer knowledge (both Mac and PC);  ability to communicate successfully with other museum departments and with the public;  and knowledge of safe laboratory working procedures.
SALARY: Federal salary Grade 9.  The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
To request or review the vacancy (Announcement Number:  SI-DEU-MP-6198), call the automated Job-line on (202) 287-3102 or on-line at www.si.edu/ohr or www.usajobs.opm.gov.  
 
(please note: THE APPLICATION MUST BE RECEIVED IN WASHINGTON JUNE 15 2006.)