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JOB DESCRIPTION: Associate Conservator or Conservator of Objects

                                        Grade K or M (exempt)

REPORTS TO: Head of Conservation 

SUPERVISES: no one

SPECIFICATIONS: Degree from an accredited conservation program or its equivalent and a minimum of 5 years experience in Objects conservation is required. The applicant should also be familiar with and adhere to the American Institute for Conservation’s (AIC) Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice. Compensation will be commensurate with experience and will have a starting range in the mid-$50,000s (associate conservator) to the low-$70,000s (conservator) yearly with comprehensive benefits.

JOB PURPOSE: The Saint Louis Art Museum seeks a collegial, collaborative, experienced, and energetic objects conservator to join its dynamic conservation team. SLAM’s encyclopedic collection consists of works in a wide-range of media spanning ancient to contemporary artistic practice from a variety of cultures. An ideal candidate will have a minimum of 5 years experience (for Associate Conservator) or 8 years (for Conservator) in objects conservation treatment techniques and be capable of collaborating with other conservation staff to solve unique preservation challenges. A successful candidate will relish the opportunity to work collaboratively with colleagues inside and outside the conservation department to facilitate the conservation and preservation of diverse types of objects. They will possess a high level of attention to detail in the treatment, documentation, and general preservation that such works require. The candidate will also have a good sense of project management, conscientious observation of deadlines, excellent communication skills, and be familiar with working in an institutional setting.

DUTIES, WORK PERFORMED:

• Examine, determine the physical condition of, and treat work in the Museum’s permanent collection and on loan.
• Assess deterioration and damage, and potential complications involved in treatment.
• Design and carry out conservation treatment of three-dimensional objects, mixed-media installations, and time-based media works of art in consultation with specialist Curators.
• Provide written and photographic documentation to record condition of objects, treatments proposed, and treatments performed according to the AIC Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice.
• Carry-out and/or facilitate study and analysis of works in the collection in support of curatorial, treatment, or research projects.
• Identify, solicit, and contract specialized vendors to supplement the museum’s in-house equipment or analytical capabilities.
• Recommend other Conservators outside his or her field of expertise to consult and/or contract on projects, as needed.
• Advise on preventative maintenance in the Museum as a whole in the areas of environment, pest management, display, handling, packing, storage, and installation.
• Work collaboratively with the Curator, Designer, Mountmaker and Preparators on the design of appropriate mounts for display or storage.
• Examine artworks prior to acquisition to aid the Curatorial staff in determining their physical and aesthetic condition, as well as their authenticity.
• Examine works requested for loan to determine suitability for travel and to document their condition and advise on any special packing and shipping considerations.
• Act as a courier for works of art, particularly three-dimensional objects with condition or handling concerns.
• Advise on the installation, storage, and maintenance of works in the collection.
• Recommend and facilitate acquisition of new equipment.
• Monitor stock and order conservation supplies for the Objects lab and specific projects.

SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:  None

The above statements of this job description describe the general duties and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. They do not claim to describe all of the functions of this position. Employees may be assigned other duties and the essential functions may change or be changed from time to time.

Applicants should apply through the Museum’s website – www.slam.org. Additional questions regarding the position or the collection should be directed to the Head of Conservation – hugh.shockey@slam.org. Applications submitted on or before September 25, 2020 will receive priority consideration.

The Museum is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to treating all applicants and employees fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience, without regard to sex, race, age, disability, religion, national origin, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

One Fine Arts Drive, Forest Park St. Louis, Missouri  63110-1380

Telephone 314.721.0072  Facsimile 314.721.6172 slam.org