Conservator (Affirmative Measures)

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies; Canberra; On-site; AUD 100,000 - 112,000; Full time

Job summary

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies in Canberra seeks a qualified Conservator to care for the AIATSIS Collection. You will work within a small multidisciplinary team, delivering conservation assessments, treatments and preventive care to diverse materials, including exhibition support, storage, and loans.

You will provide specialist advice, collaborate with internal and external partners, and contribute to training and cross‑functional projects while advancing

Qualifications

• Substantial professional experience in conservation within a cultural institution or community organisation.
• Understanding the role of a major specialist collection in meeting the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Knowledge of Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) and cultural safety considerations.
• Proven ability to apply conservation principles across a broad range of material types.
• Experience with collection care activities including treatment, storage, packing and display.

Responsibilities

• Carry out routine conservation and collection care to the highest professional standards, including condition assessments and treatments.
• Maintain conservation records and documentation on all treatments and advise on acquisitions, exhibition display, inward and outward loans, and scheduling.
• Liaise with Curatorial staff, Registration and other technical staff to support conservation needs of the collection, display, packing and storage.
• Provide expert advice on conservation matters to internal stakeholders, exhibition development, scheduling, and related activities.
• Participate in developing conservation methodologies and materials research relevant to the care of the collections.
• Support conservation and preservation activities including packing and display systems, storage, pest management, environmental control and disaster response.
• Other duties as required.

Skills

Conservation

Stakeholder engagement

Documentation

Preventive conservation

Exhibition support

Education

Professional qualifications in Conservation

Tools

Collection management systems

Job description

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies – Canberra ACT

$99,734 - $111,701 a year

Contract

3d ago , from Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies

APS Level 6 - Salary range: $99,734 - $111,701 pa.

Canberra ACT Ongoing / Non-Ongoing Full-time

About Collection Services Group

The Collections Services Group is responsible for the development, management, preservation and provision of access to the AIATSIS Collection at both Maraga (Canberra) and Mparntwe (Central Australia) sites. The Group manages, describes, preserves digitises and provides access to the AIATSIS Collection.

About Collection Development & Care

The Collection Development and Care Program is responsible for building, documenting and maintaining the AIATSIS Collection to ensure its long term preservation and accessibility. The program acquires new collection materials in line with with AIATSIS' legislative function and strategic priorities and ensures appropriate description, cataloguing and metadata standards are applied. The program includes the Rights and Policy Unit, the Acquisition, Registration and Cultural Gifts Unit and the Curatorial, Exhibition, Conservation and Loans Unit. Key operational activities include developing, conserving and preserving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage material in the AIATSIS collection in a culturally safe way. Engaging with donors and depositors to expand the collection, curating domestic and international display and exhibitions (both online and physical), implementing collection care practices, facilitating loans and managing the rights and policy environment of the AIATSIS collection.

About the Role

This role requires a qualified and experienced Conservation professional, who will be responsible for the care and preservation of the AIATSIS Collection. Working as part of a small multidisciplinary team, the role undertakes conservation and collection care activities across a broad range of material types in response to operational priorities. The Conservator provides specialist conservation expertise to support the preservation, accessibility, and long-term care of the collection. The role undertakes conservation assessments and treatments, contributes to preventive conservation programs, and delivers collection care activities including exhibition support, storage, transport, and rehousing. The position collaborates with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, provides specialist advice, supports capability development through training, and contributes to organisational priorities through cross-functional projects, public engagement activities, and support of exhibitions and collection work.

Key responsibilities of this role include:

• carry out routine operation of all aspects of conservation and collection care to the highest professional standards, including condition assessments, hands-on treatments in preventative and interventive, risk management, preparation for exhibition and loans, transportation and storage.
• maintain conservation records and documentation on all treatments undertaken and prepare condition reports and advice on, new acquisitions, exhibition display, inward and outward loans, work activities and conservation project scheduling.
• liaise with Curatorial staff, Registration and other technical staff and support the Assistant Director in the conservation needs of the collection, including its display, packing and storage.
• provide expert advice on all matters relating to the conservation and care of the collection. This may include internal stakeholders, exhibition development, scheduling, storage, movement and transportation of the collection.
• participate, develop and contribute to conservation methodologies, technique and materials research relevant to the care of the collections as required.
• participate and support all conservation and preservation activities including design and manufacture of packing and display systems, design and maintenance of storage systems, integrated pest management, environmental control activities and disaster response.
• other duties as required.

Our Ideal Candidate

To be successful in this role, you will have substantial professional experience in conservation within a cultural institution, or community organisation. You will have a demonstrated understanding of the role of a major specialist collection in meeting the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people.

You will come with the following skills, experience and attributes:

• sound knowledge and practical experience in the conservation and care of cultural heritage collections, including an understanding of the appropriate care and management of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s cultural materials. This includes knowledge of Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP), relevant cultural protocols, and cultural safety considerations.
• proven ability to apply established conservation and preservation principles, techniques and practices across a broad range of material types and collection preservation activities.
• demonstrated hands on experience and knowledge of collection care activities, including conservation treatment, collection storage, packing and transport, exhibition preparation, installation, and display.
• well-developed written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships and work collaboratively with a diverse range of stakeholders. Experience in providing training to a diverse range of people is highly regarded
• strong organisational, time management and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and deliver quality outcomes within agreed timeframes.
• demonstrated experience contributing to the development and improvement of work practices, policies and procedures. Experience using collection management systems and other collection management tools is highly regarded
• professional qualifications and hands on training in Conservation is essential, including at least five years relevant professional experience. A specialisation in the conservation of paper based and bound material is highly desirable. Equivalent relevant skills and experience may be recognised.

Cultural Capability

Roles at AIATSIS require candidates to have an understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and proven culturally appropriate engagement and communications skills. The nature of this role requires the candidate to consistently demonstrate the following specific cultural capabilities:

• understand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business within the agency and the outcomes the agency is responsible for delivering.
• works in genuine partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to achieve shared outcomes.
• communicates respectfully with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders, clients, and colleagues.
• has an authentic and respectful interest in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, policy, and implementation matters.

• Canberra ACT
• Ongoing / Non-Ongoing
• APS Level 6

APS Level 6 - Salary range: $99,734 - $111,701 pa.

Canberra ACT Ongoing / Non-Ongoing Full-time

About Collection Services Group

The Collections Services Group is responsible for the development, management, preservation and provision of access to the AIATSIS Collection at both Maraga (Canberra) and Mparntwe (Central Australia) sites. The Group manages, describes, preserves digitises and provides access to the AIATSIS Collection.

About Collection Development & Care

The Collection Development and Care Program is responsible for building, documenting and maintaining the AIATSIS Collection to ensure its long term preservation and accessibility. The program acquires new collection materials in line with with AIATSIS' legislative function and strategic priorities and ensures appropriate description, cataloguing and metadata standards are applied. The program includes the Rights and Policy Unit, the Acquisition, Registration and Cultural Gifts Unit and the Curatorial, Exhibition, Conservation and Loans Unit. Key operational activities include developing, conserving and preserving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage material in the AIATSIS collection in a culturally safe way. Engaging with donors and depositors to expand the collection, curating domestic and international display and exhibitions (both online and physical), implementing collection care practices, facilitating loans and managing the rights and policy environment of the AIATSIS collection.

About the Role

This role requires a qualified and experienced Conservation professional, who will be responsible for the care and preservation of the AIATSIS Collection. Working as part of a small multidisciplinary team, the role undertakes conservation and collection care activities across a broad range of material types in response to operational priorities. The Conservator provides specialist conservation expertise to support the preservation, accessibility, and long-term care of the collection. The role undertakes conservation assessments and treatments, contributes to preventive conservation programs, and delivers collection care activities including exhibition support, storage, transport, and rehousing. The position collaborates with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, provides specialist advice, supports capability development through training, and contributes to organisational priorities through cross-functional projects, public engagement activities, and support of exhibitions and collection work.

Key responsibilities of this role include:

• carry out routine operation of all aspects of conservation and collection care to the highest professional standards, including condition assessments, hands-on treatments in preventative and interventive, risk management, preparation for exhibition and loans, transportation and storage.
• maintain conservation records and documentation on all treatments undertaken and prepare condition reports and advice on, new acquisitions, exhibition display, inward and outward loans, work activities and conservation project scheduling.
• liaise with Curatorial staff, Registration and other technical staff and support the Assistant Director in the conservation needs of the collection, including its display, packing and storage.
• provide expert advice on all matters relating to the conservation and care of the collection. This may include internal stakeholders, exhibition development, scheduling, storage, movement and transportation of the collection.
• participate, develop and contribute to conservation methodologies, technique and materials research relevant to the care of the collections as required.
• participate and support all conservation and preservation activities including design and manufacture of packing and display systems, design and maintenance of storage systems, integrated pest management, environmental control activities and disaster response.
• other duties as required.

Our Ideal Candidate

To be successful in this role, you will have substantial professional experience in conservation within a cultural institution, or community organisation. You will have a demonstrated understanding of the role of a major specialist collection in meeting the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people.

You will come with the following skills, experience and attributes:

• sound knowledge and practical experience in the conservation and care of cultural heritage collections, including an understanding of the appropriate care and management of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s cultural materials. This includes knowledge of Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP), relevant cultural protocols, and cultural safety considerations.
• proven ability to apply established conservation and preservation principles, techniques and practices across a broad range of material types and collection preservation activities.
• demonstrated hands on experience and knowledge of collection care activities, including conservation treatment, collection storage, packing and transport, exhibition preparation, installation, and display.
• well-developed written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships and work collaboratively with a diverse range of stakeholders. Experience in providing training to a diverse range of people is highly regarded
• strong organisational, time management and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and deliver quality outcomes within agreed timeframes.
• demonstrated experience contributing to the development and improvement of work practices, policies and procedures. Experience using collection management systems and other collection management tools is highly regarded
• professional qualifications and hands on training in Conservation is essential, including at least five years relevant professional experience. A specialisation in the conservation of paper based and bound material is highly desirable. Equivalent relevant skills and experience may be recognised.

Cultural Capability

Roles at AIATSIS require candidates to have an understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and proven culturally appropriate engagement and communications skills. The nature of this role requires the candidate to consistently demonstrate the following specific cultural capabilities:

• understand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business within the agency and the outcomes the agency is responsible for delivering.
• works in genuine partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to achieve shared outcomes.
• communicates respectfully with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders, clients, and colleagues.
• has an authentic and respectful interest in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, policy, and implementation matters.

AIATSIS embodies Yindyamarra in everything we do.