Carnegie Museum of Natural History https://carnegiemuseums.org/
Carnegie Museum of Natural History, one of the four Carnegie Museums, is among the top natural history museums in the country. It maintains, preserves, and interprets an extraordinary collection of artifacts, objects, and scientific specimens used to broaden understanding of evolution, conservation, and biodiversity. Carnegie Museum of Natural History generates new scientific knowledge, advances science literacy, and inspires visitors of all ages to become passionate about science, nature, and world cultures. Carnegie Museums is interested in candidates who, through their experience and collaborations, will contribute to diversity and excellence of the Carnegie Museums community.
This Temporary Full-Time position is eligible for the Carnegie Museums’ many Benefits.
Please scroll to the bottom of this page to see information on the starting pay rate.
This is a temporary assignment expected to run for two years through mid-2027.
Carnegie Museum of Natural History seeks an experienced, full-time Project Conservator to join our conservation team and work in a fast paced, multi-disciplinary environment. This is a temporary, two-year position—the conservator will join a project team working to deinstall, conserve, and install objects and specimens from multiple concurrent exhibition projects culminating in the opening of a new permanent exhibition about Ancient Egypt. Candidates must have a minimum of 5 years of post-graduate experience working with archaeological materials or natural history specimens and a degree in conservation, or equivalent experience. Experience with conservation project management with large, complicated projects involving interdepartmental teams is mandatory.
Outreach is a key aspect of this position. The Project Conservator’s primary work area is located in one of the conservation labs, known as the Visible Lab, which is located within an exhibition gallery. The Visible Lab is designed to feature active conservation work and be a place for the conservation team to have daily interactions with museum visitors.
QUALIFICATIONS:
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor’s degree is required. Masters in Conservation with a specialty in objects and a minimum of 5 years of post-graduate experience working with archaeological or natural history materials, or equivalent experience is also required.
- Demonstrated experience managing workflows and scheduling for large exhibition projects, including managing schedules and individuals.
- Ideal candidate will have experience with archaeological materials or natural history specimens, both organic and inorganic.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
- The candidate should have demonstrated communication and project management experience with researching the preservation of archaeological and natural history materials is preferred.
- Treatment practice and documentation must be high and in accordance with AIC ethics and standards.
- The position requires a focused individual who can work independently, as well as part of a cohesive team. Familiarity with working with digital condition reports is required.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
This position will require bending and lifting, walking around the museum, sitting and/or standing for extended periods of time during treatments, turning, repetitive motion, climbing, and, at minimum, lifting weights of 25 lbs.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND ACCOUNTABILITIES:
The Projects Conservator will have the following responsibilities:
The conservator will work independently and in support of the Senior Manager of Conservation to assess objects and specimens that have been recently deinstalled or will be installed as part of upcoming exhibition projects. They will take the lead in determining the condition of these objects, develop treatment plans, and will participate in exhibition development activities. This will include setting environmental standards for exhibition cases and the gallery, working with exhibits staff on developing display mounts, advising collection management on storage requirements.
- Project Management: The Project Conservator will be the day-to-day manager of all conservation activities within the Visible Lab related to current exhibition projects. Work includes creating conservation work plans, scheduling activities and tasks, oversight of interns and volunteers, and collaboration with Exhibitions, Collections, and Curatorial staff related to the projects.
- Documentation: The Project Conservator will be responsible for documentation and treatment reports in accordance with CMNH and AIC standards. This will include condition assessment, treatment reports, and photography. The Project Conservator is responsible for ensuring all conservation digital file and image management meet standards and organizational schemes predetermined for each project. They will also review public-facing content related to the museum’s conservation efforts as needed under the direction of the Senior Manager of Conservation.
- Treatment of Objects: The Project Conservator will undertake a range of treatments on objects in our care to the highest level of quality, and to AIC ethical guidelines. All treatment will be done in a visible lab and in view of the public.
- Communication: The Project Conservator will work collaboratively with museum curators, collections managers, and exhibits staff to ensure the long-term preservation of collections while also meeting the requirements of the project. To successfully collaborate, superb communication skills are mandatory. Since most of the conservation treatment will be done in the public view, the conservator must embrace public engagement and communicating the science of conservation.
- Research: If/as opportunities arise, the Project Conservator may work collaboratively with others to conduct and publish research and deliver conference presentations.
- Other duties as assigned.
Expected starting pay range, based on experience, $54,000-$61,000.
The following PA Act 153 clearances, or proof of application of clearances, are required beginning employment and as a condition of continued employment: Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check FBI Fingerprint Criminal Background Check Obtaining the required clearances is completed as part of the new hire process.
Carnegie Museums is an Equal Opportunity Employer
The above job description reflects the essential functions and qualifications for the position identified, and shall not be construed as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the position. The job description does not constitute an employment contract and does not alter the at-will relationship between CMP and the employee.
*GUIDANCE ON ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: The Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) requires employers to consider and accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities. An individual is qualified if he or she can perform the essential functions of a job with or without reasonable accommodation. An essential job function is any task that is a fundamental part of the job. When considering essentiality, one must focus upon whether the function is essential to this particular job and not to the department as a whole. Some additional guidance on essential functions follows below. Please note that the following guidelines are non-exhaustive. If you have any questions or need additional guidance, please contact Human Resources. A. Is the function required to be performed on a regular basis? If the function is rarely performed, it may not be essential. B. Is the function highly specialized? Is the incumbent hired for his/her expertise or ability to perform the function? The need for special expertise is an indication of an essential function. C. Does the position exist, at least in part, to perform the function? If so, the function is more likely to be essential. D. How much time is spent performing the function and how often? Note that even functions performed 10% of the time could be essential if they are required on a regular basis. E. Would elimination of the function fundamentally alter the job? If so, the function is more likely to be essential. F. What are the consequences of not requiring the incumbent to perform the function? If they are significant, the function is more likely to be essential. G. Are there a limited number of employees among whom the performance of the function could be distributed if the incumbent could not perform it? If so, it is more likely to be essential.
Interested individuals should apply for this position using the link: Project Conservator – Temporary – Career Portal’.