Part- Time Objects Conservator - Oakland, United States - Oakland Museum of California

Description

The four-year part-time, grant-funded Objects Conservator is responsible for object-centered conservation planning, surveys, and providing input on related grant proposals and activities; and carrying out skilled conservation treatments on three-dimensional objects in a variety of materials, whether for maintenance or responding to damage/deterioration.

The position will assist in providing oversight of the physical collections (more than 2 million objects) by monitoring environments, pest activity, and advocating for proper handling, packing, shipping, storage, and display.

The following reflects OMCA's definition of essential functions for this position, but does not restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

OMCA may assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons.

• Support the Museum's mission, values, vision, and core commitment to the visitor experience, community engagement, and institutional relevancy for the future
• Contribute to and support the OMCA strategic plan, annual priorities, and institutional initiatives such as diversity advancement
• Contribute to a positive organizational culture based on mutual respect, a spirit of collegiality, cooperation, and openness to many perspectives
• Participate in a culture of ongoing learning, collaboration, innovation, creativity, and community engagement
• All positions will have core functional responsibilities, cross functional team activation and learning and development as a core function of each role.

• Perform conservation treatments including assessment, treatment planning, materials/technique research, scientific analysis, treatment and preventative maintenance, photo documentation, and report writing
• Monitor museum environment, pest management activities, and preventive conservation advocacy
• Condition assessments for loans, exhibits, acquisitions including facility report review for loans and exhibits
• Assist and project manage conservation/collections grants

• Monitor quality of inhouse and outsourced exhibit activities/products

• Consult and advise Museum Staff, professionals, artists, and collectors on proper care of collections including safe handling, exhibit requirements, storing, packing, mount making/framing, and disaster mitigation

• Ability to display and encourage visitor and internal customer service, take and share responsibility and treat others with respect
• M.A. degree in art conservation required
• 6 years minimum experience required in institutional setting; 10 or more years of experience desired
• Supervisory experience desired
• English language proficiency in both spoken and written form
• Knowledge of general conservation methodology, materials, and techniques, with indepth knowledge of objects conservation
• Knowledge of guidelines and best practices relating to proper handling, storage, and exhibition of cultural materials
• Knowledge of American Institute for Conservation's Code of Ethics
• Skills in digital photography and workflow
• Experience with standard computer software programs and collections management systems
• Familiarity with Collections Space collections management database desired
• Knowledge of conservation of natural science materials desired
• Experience with NAGPRA legislation and practices desired
• Proficiency in pXRF operation and interpretation desired

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.

• Museum environment involves both indoor and outdoor working conditions
• Ability to travel between OMCA locations, and other travel as required by position responsibilities