Purpose of the role

As a Conservator, you will have a specialisation in an area of conservation; including, but not limited to: preventive, organics, metals, or industrial heritage. As part of the Collection Hub and reporting to the Head of Conservation, you will work closely with the Conservation Team to carry out the necessary remedial treatments and preventive programs for a wide range of collection objects and materials required to preserve the Museum’s collections.

MOTAT is committed to embracing te ao Māori, and as such, this role will collaborate closely with Māori stakeholders to ensure that opportunities to integrate te ao Māori principles are considered in the care of the collection.

Responsibilities

With experience in conservation and collection care and utilising museum standards and practices, the focus of the Conservator position is to:

• Plan and carry out preventive measures and remedial conservation treatments to support new acquisitions, accessibility to MOTAT’s collection, exhibition and storage requirements.
• Provide input for wider conservation and collection care planning and prioritisation demonstrating time management skills.
• Carry out conservation and collection care programs such as IPM, environmental monitoring, handling, packing, housing of collections.
• Conduct inventories and ordering of conservation supplies.
• Support loans, acquisitions, and exhibitions through completing assessments, testing, condition reporting and providing expert advice to relevant teams.
• Work closely and collaborative with team members and across teams demonstrating interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively communicate conservation interests.
• Embrace a mindset of continuous improvement in understanding and implementing the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
• Model behaviours consistent with MOTAT values and MOTAT competency framework.
• Comply with all museum policies and procedures including but not limited to Safety & Wellbeing and the Museums Aotearoa’s Code of Ethics.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties as may be required from time-to-time to ensure that MOTAT’s business objectives are met.

Key performance indicators

• Meet specific KPIs as set by the Head of Conservation.
• Expert treatments completed for individual objects using effective conservation approach.
• Run the IPM program and liaise with external contractors.
• Positive collaboration with internal departments to achieve collection related objectives.
• Databased documentation of conservation conditions and treatments including photography and following internal documentation procedures.
• Publications and contribute to training of staff.
• Compliance with MOTAT’s Health & Safety policy and procedures. Identify and report hazards.

Key relationships / delegated authority

Responsible for: Nil

Internal Liaison: Conservators, Conservation Cleaning Technician, Registry Team, Library & Archives Team, Curatorial Team, Workshops Team, Exhibitions Team

External Liaison: Contractors (including electricians, cleaners, construction workers, freight forwarding, and pest control services), other suppliers

Budgetary authorities: $2,000

Skills & Experience

Essentials

• A relevant qualification in conservation and a minimum of three years’ experience in a work setting.
• Experience carrying out IPM and environmental monitoring of collections.
• Awareness of museum standards and practices in line with NZCCM, ICOM-CC, and Museums Aotearoa’s Code of Ethics.
• Ability to do precise, detailed work, taking a methodical approach.
• Experience with Vernon Collection Management System and digital asset management are an advantage.
• Experience with all Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Awareness of occupational health and safety practices.
• Current full driver’s license.
• Ability to stand for extended periods of time and to lift heavy items (up to 23kgs).

Desirable

• Demonstrable experience with industrial heritage or working collections.
• Experience using mechanical equipment to access objects (e.g. fork lift, pallet lifter).
• Experience in carrying out testing and research on objects and suitable materials for display including but not limited to; chemical analysis, materials technology or art historical.
• Membership in a professional body for conservation such as NZCCM.