Conservation Senior Specialist Major Science Institution

BLR WORLD; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

BLR WORLD is seeking a Conservation Senior Specialist to ensure the preservation and care of the museum's collections, including natural history specimens. The role involves developing preventive conservation strategies and overseeing treatment procedures.

Qualified candidates will have a Bachelor’s degree in Conservation or a related field, alongside 5 years of museum conservation experience. The position emphasizes collaboration with curators and researchers, making strong communication and leadership skills essential.

Qualifications

• 5 years of experience in museum conservation or collections care.
• Expertise in preventive conservation and environmental monitoring.
• Experience in natural history museums preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement preventive conservation plans.
• Conduct condition assessments and develop treatment strategies.
• Supervise packing, shipping, and installation of objects.

Skills

Conservation science techniques

Problem-solving

Team leadership

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Conservation, Conservation Science, Museum Studies or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Analytical tools

Imaging technologies

Job description

The Conservation Senior Specialist is responsible for ensuring the preservation, stabilization, and long‑term care of the museum's collections, including natural history specimen collections and exhibition materials.

This role oversees preventive conservation strategies, treatment procedures, environmental monitoring, and risk assessment, ensuring that collections remain protected and accessible for research, exhibitions, and public engagement. Reporting to the Conservation & Installation Unit head, the Conservation Senior Specialist works closely with curators, collections managers, and scientific researchers, providing expert guidance on conservation standards and best practices while integrating innovative and sustainable conservation technologies.

Collections Conservation & Preservation

• Develop and implement preventive conservation plans to safeguard the museum's collections against physical, chemical, and biological deterioration.
• Conduct condition assessments and develop treatment strategies for at‑risk objects, ensuring ethical and minimally invasive conservation methods.
• Oversee proper storage, handling, and transportation of collections, ensuring adherence to museum conservation guidelines and international standards.
• Advise on appropriate climate control, pest management, and environmental monitoring practices in storage, display, and research areas.

Exhibition & Loan Conservation

• Work closely with curatorial and exhibition teams to ensure that objects displayed in galleries and traveling exhibitions are properly prepared, mounted, and protected.
• Conduct risk assessments for loaned objects and traveling collections, providing conservation recommendations for transport and display.
• Supervise the packing, shipping, and installation of objects, ensuring all procedures meet conservation and security standards.

Scientific Research & Conservation Innovation

• Collaborate with scientists, researchers and external institutions on conservation projects, including the application of new materials science, digital documentation, and analytical techniques.
• Stay up to date on advancements in conservation science, including innovative methods for stabilizing fragile or degraded specimens.
• Conduct conservation research and contribute to scientific publications, conferences, and professional forums.

Policy Development & Training

• Develop and enforce conservation policies, protocols, and emergency response plans for collections management and disaster preparedness.
• Provide training and mentorship to museum staff, students and interns on handling preventive conservation and specialized treatment techniques.
• Ensure compliance with ethical guidelines, regulatory requirements and international conservation standards (ICOM, AIC, etc.).

Collaboration & Cross‑Departmental Support

• Work closely with collections management, curatorial and scientific research teams to align conservation efforts with the museum's mission.
• Support grant applications and funding proposals for conservation initiatives, equipment and research projects.
• Liaise with external conservation experts, academic institutions and funding bodies to enhance the museum's conservation capabilities.

Experience & Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Conservation, Conservation Science, Museum Studies or a related field. A master's degree is preferred.

Experience

• 5 years of experience in museum conservation, collections care or scientific research related to conservation.
• Expertise in preventive conservation, conservation treatments and environmental monitoring for museum collections.
• Experience working in a natural history museum; collections conservation is highly desirable.
• Strong track record of publishing research, securing conservation funding or leading conservation projects.

Skills

• Proficiency in conservation science techniques, analytical tools and imaging technologies.
• Strong problem‑solving and critical‑thinking skills with the ability to assess conservation challenges and implement effective solutions.
• Knowledge of museum documentation systems, condition reporting and conservation databases.
• Excellent team leadership, communication and training abilities.