Conservator

Zayed National Museum | متحف زايد الوطني; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Zayed National Museum | متحف زايد الوطني is seeking an experienced Conservator to lead conservation work across organic and inorganic objects in the collection. The role involves developing preventive strategies, supervising outsourced treatments, and coordinating loans, packing, transport, and installation within a global-standard museum environment.

Applicants should have a Bachelor’s in Conservation (Master’s preferred) and 10–15 years of professional experience, with strong documentation

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Conservation is required.
• Master’s degree in Conservation is preferred, with specialization in organic, inorganic, or archaeological materials.
• Minimum 10–15 years of professional museum conservation experience.
• Experience treating a broad range of materials including organics, inorganics, textiles, metals, glass, ceramics, and mixed-media.

Responsibilities

• Lead preventive and remedial conservation treatments for a wide range of materials.
• Oversee outsourced conservation work and manage loan assessments, packing, transport, and installation.
• Develop preventive conservation strategies and collaborate with facilities and EHS teams.
• Document treatments and condition reports in CMS (EMu) and related platforms.
• Provide staff training on safe handling and preservation of collections.
• Contribute to emergency preparedness, recovery planning, and risk management.

Skills

IPM

Documentation

Staff training

Environmental monitoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Conservation

Master’s degree in Conservation

Tools

EMu

DAMS

CMS

Job description

Job Purpose

• Lead and deliver preventive and remedial conservation treatments for both organic and inorganic objects within the museum’s collection, including but not limited to wood, textiles, leather, natural history specimens, botanical materials, mixed-media artefacts, as well as metals, glass, stone, and ceramics. The Conservator ensures that all conservation interventions, environmental controls, and storage and display solutions meet international best practices and are precisely tailored to the specific vulnerabilities of each material.
• The role also oversees outsourced conservation treatments across both organic and inorganic materials, supports all aspects of loan processes (including condition assessments, reporting, packing, transport, and installation), and contributes to risk management, emergency preparedness, and long-term preservation strategies. This position demonstrates a comprehensive, cross-material conservation approach aligned with museum standards.

Responsibilities

• Assess, treat, and document conservation interventions for organic, inorganic, and composite objects in accordance with international conservation standards (ICOM-CC, AIC, ICON, etc.).
• Develop and implement preventive conservation strategies for a wide range of materials—including relative humidity stability, pest risk mitigation, light sensitivity management, and appropriate storage microclimates—in close coordination with the Preventive Conservator to ensure a cohesive, institution-wide preservation approach.
• Conduct material analysis and condition assessments for loans, acquisitions, exhibitions, and commissions involving both organic and inorganic components.
• Oversee installation, de-installation, and rotation of objects, ensuring environmental and handling requirements are strictly followed across all material types.
• Provide technical specifications for display cases, mounts, storage furniture, and environmental parameters, ensuring suitability for diverse material sensitivities.
• Co-lead Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies with the Preventive Conservator, working in structured coordination with Facilities and EHS teams to ensure effective monitoring, mitigation, compliance, and long-term protection of the collection.
• Supervise and coordinate outsourced conservation treatments for both organic and inorganic objects.
• Contribute to emergency preparedness planning, salvage priority assessments, and recovery protocols for the collection.
• Document all treatments, condition reports, and risk assessments in CMS (EMu) and related platforms.
• Participate in conservation research projects related to material degradation mechanisms and stabilisation methods across different material types.
• Provide training to staff and stakeholders on the safe handling, care, and preservation of both organic and inorganic objects.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Conservation (Organic and/or Inorganic Objects, Archaeological Conservation, or a related discipline).
• Master’s degree in Conservation preferred (with specialisation in organic, inorganic, or archaeological materials).
• Minimum of 10–15 years of professional experience in museum or heritage conservation.
• Demonstrated experience in the treatment of both organic and inorganic materials, including but not limited to wood, textiles, leather, ethnographic objects, natural history specimens, metals, glass, stone, ceramics, and mixed-media artefacts.
• Extensive experience in preventive conservation, including environmental monitoring, integrated pest management (IPM), and collection care strategies.
• Strong familiarity with conservation documentation systems (e.g., EMu, DAMS) and best practices in recording and reporting.
• Proven experience working with loans, exhibitions, installations, and storage planning within a museum environment.