Conservator

About the role

The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. This position is in the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC).

Responsibilities

• Work with curators and exhibition teams on the care and display of textile and costume materials and participate in an active exhibition and rotation schedule.
• Treat, care for, preserve, and research all NMAAHC textile and costume-based materials.
• Independently design, propose, document, and complete appropriate conservation treatments on a wide variety of costume and textile materials within the collection.
• Provide written guidance and input on unit guidelines and procedural guidelines regarding preservation parameters for handling, storage, transport, IPM, disaster prevention and recovery, risk assessment and management, and collections care strategies, plans and goals.
• Engage with the curator, and/or the artist, studio assistant or estate to foster relationships that support the long-term care and display of works in the collection.
• Work with collection managers to assist with the planning of appropriate storage or textile and costume materials.
• Ensure that the collection, whether in view, in storage or on loan, is housed in safe environments to minimize shock and vibration, and that environmental levels are maintained.
• Identify and explain storage and handling improvements to staff and interns, as well as demonstrate and construct improved housing and handling.

Requirements

• Experience related to the operation or management of a museum or similar collection of valuable objects.
• One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal Service, including experience implementing costume and textile conservation and preservation practices; determining the condition of materials and developing treatment plans; conducting mold and pest inspection and remediation; creating specialized housing; creating exhibition mounts and providing specifications for exhibits and advising on display or lighting requirements.

Qualifications

• Basic Qualifications: Experience related to the operation or management of a museum or similar collection of valuable objects.
• Specialized Experience: Demonstrated experience implementing costume and textile conservation and preservation practices; determining the condition of materials and developing treatment plans; conducting mold and pest inspection and remediation; creating specialized housing; creating exhibition mounts and providing specifications for exhibits and advising on display or lighting requirements.