Conservator

Australian National Maritime Museum; Sydney; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Australian National Maritime Museum in Pyrmont NSW is seeking an experienced APS5 Conservator to join the Conservation team in a full-time ongoing role to protect and care for the National Maritime Collection.

You will manage preventive and interventive conservation projects, document investigations, collaborate with senior conservators, and provide practical advice for exhibitions, loans, and museum projects, helping ensure long-term access for visitors.

Qualifications

• Mandatory tertiary qualifications in materials conservation and substantial relevant experience.
• Ability to plan and document preventive and interventive conservation activities.

Responsibilities

• Apply preventive and interventive conservation techniques across the collection.
• Manage conservation work from planning through to completion with documentation.
• Provide evidence-based advice to support exhibitions, loans and museum projects.
• Collaborate with senior conservators and other museum teams.

Skills

Conservation planning

Preventive conservation

Interventive conservation

Documentation

Education

Recognised tertiary qualifications in materials conservation

Substantial relevant professional experience in cultural heritage conservation

Job description

Australian National Maritime Museum – Pyrmont NSW

The Australian National Maritime Museum is seeking an experienced APS5 Conservator to join the Conservation team in a full-time ongoing role and help preserve and protect the National Maritime Collection for future generations.

About the Australian National Maritime Museum

The Australian National Maritime Museum is where Australia’s stories meet the sea.

As one of the nation’s leading cultural institutions and one of Sydney’s most visited museums, we ignite curiosity, inspire discovery, and connect people with the powerful stories that have shaped Australia’s relationship with the ocean, rivers, and waterways.

Through world‑class exhibitions, iconic vessels, education programs, research, events, and digital experiences, we bring maritime history, culture, science, and innovation to life for millions of people across Australia and around the globe.

Located on the spectacular waters of Darling Harbour, the Museum welcomes more than 2.5 million visitors each year and is supported by a passionate community of employees, volunteers, members and supporters who are united by a shared purpose: to create meaningful experiences that inspire a deeper understanding of our maritime heritage and future.

At the Museum, you will have the opportunity to contribute to work that matters, collaborate with talented and dedicated professionals, and help shape the future of one of Australia's most respected cultural organisations.

Find out more at sea.museum.

The key duties of the position include:

About the Role

Help preserve Australia’s maritime stories for generations to come.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a nationally recognised cultural institution and make a meaningful contribution to the care and preservation of the National Maritime Collection.

As a Conservator, you’ll work as part of a multidisciplinary museum team, applying your professional expertise to preventive and interventive conservation, assessments and treatments. You’ll manage conservation work from planning through to completion, assess risks, undertake research and technical analysis, and provide practical, evidence‑based advice to support collection care, exhibitions, loans and Museum projects.

Working alongside Senior Conservators and colleagues across the Museum, you’ll contribute to contemporary conservation practices and help ensure the collection remains protected, accessible and ready to inspire visitors and communities into the future.

Please note: This recruitment process may be used to fill both current and future vacancies. A merit pool of suitable applicants may be established and used to fill similar ongoing and non‑ongoing positions that arise within 18 months from the date the vacancy is advertised.

Selection Criteria

• Demonstrated professional knowledge of contemporary conservation practice, materials, techniques and relevant scientific processes, including recognised expertise in an area of specialisation relevant to the National Maritime Collection.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and undertake preventive and interventive conservation activities, including the assessment and treatment of collection material, application of conservation ethics and management of risks to collection safety and long‑term preservation.
• Demonstrated analytical, research and problem‑solving capability, including the ability to evaluate technical information, exercise sound professional judgement and develop evidence -based treatment proposals, advice and recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage allocated conservation projects and competing priorities under limited direction, establish plans and timeframes, maintain high‑quality documentation and deliver agreed outcomes.
• Well‑developed communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to provide clear professional advice, prepare technical documentation, communicate complex information to different audiences and build productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications and/or relevant experience required

Mandatory:

• Recognised tertiary qualifications in materials conservation and substantial relevant professional experience in cultural heritage conservation, or an equivalent combination of qualifications and professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience independently planning, documenting and undertaking preventive and interventive conservation activities within an area of professional expertise.

Desirable:

• Professional membership of the Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Materials.
• Current driver’s licence.
• Current EWP Yellow Card or capacity to obtain one.

Eligibility

This position is open to all eligible members of the community, and we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with a disability and people from every cultural and linguistic background. To be an eligible member of the community, you must be an Australian citizen.

All employees will be required to satisfactorily complete various background checks including but not limited to an Australian Federal Police National Police Check and obtain and maintain a Working with Children Check registration.

Applications Close: 11:59pm AEDT, Sunday 8 November 2026. No applications will be accepted by mail or email. Please allow up to six weeks from the closing date for the recruitment process to be completed and applicants to be notified of the outcome.

Selection for this position will be made on the basis of relative merit which will be assessed against each item of the selection criteria. Applications that do not address the selection criteria will not be considered for shortlisting by the Selection Panel. As part of the selection process the Selection Panel may invite candidates to undertake online testing, skills‑based assessment and provide samples of written work at interview.