Assistant Conservator, M+ Museum

West Kowloon Cultural District Authority; Hong Kong; On-site; HKD 420,000 - 640,000; Full time

Job summary

West Kowloon Cultural District Authority's M+ Conservation team seeks a conservation professional for a 2-year fixed-term contract. Reporting to the Head of Conservation & Research, you will contribute to preservation of artworks, survey and assess conditions, document work, and implement treatments for long-term care of modern collections including time-based media.

Applicants should hold a master’s or diploma in conservation, with 2+ years museum experience, strong documentation skills, and

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or diploma in conservation from a recognised programme.
• 2+ years post-graduate experience in a museum setting preferred.
• Experience with conservation documentation, assessment and ethical issues.
• Experience with contemporary artworks and time-based media preferred.
• Interest in museum data management systems.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to conservation and preservation of artworks through surveys, assessments, documentation and treatments.
• Maintain conservation documentation to archival standards.
• Develop guidelines for handling, storing and displaying artworks.
• Collaborate with the conservation team and other museum stakeholders.
• Support exhibitions and conservation outreach activities.
• Work with volunteers or interns as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned by M+.

Skills

Critical thinking

Problem solving

Team player

Strong communication

Education

Master's degree in conservation

Diploma in conservation

Tools

Museum data management systems

Documentation software

Job description

M+ is a museum dedicated to collecting, exhibiting, and interpreting visual art, design and architecture, moving image, and Hong Kong visual culture of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Located in Hong Kong’s WestK, we are one of the leading museums of modern and contemporary visual culture in the world. The museum reflects our unique time and place, building on Hong Kong’s historic balance of the local and the international to define a distinctive and innovative voice for Asia’s twenty-first century.The M+ Conservation and Research Department focuses on the preservation and long-term care of a diverse and unparallel collection of twentieth- and twenty-first-century visual culture, including design, architecture, moving image, and visual art.Housed in a state-of-the-art facility spanning 1,600 sqm, the conservation studios and labs are furnished with equipment tailored to the unique needs of various disciplines. Working collaboratively, the international team has specialisations in objects and sculptures, installations, paintings, Asian and Western paper, photographs, time-based media, preventive conservation, and scientific research, ensuring the care and preservation of the collection. M+ provides a dynamic and evolving work environment and our Conservation team welcomes enthusiastic conservation professionals to meet the challenges of managing conservation needs and collection access. For a glimpse into the work of M+ Conservation team, check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4H1UmaIR7BoReporting to the Head of Conservation & Research you will be a core member of the conservation team which encompasses various disciplines including painting, paper, photography, objects, media, preventive conservation, and science.This is a fixed-term contract position of 2-year with possibility for renewal subject to organisational needs and individual performance.You will be responsible for:Contributing to the conservation and preservation of artworks in the M+ collection by participating in a wide range of conservation related activities such as survey, examination, condition assessments, documentation, conservation treatment and all necessary interventions required for long-term preservation of such collection items;Contributing to activities related to preventative care of objects in the collection in the galleries and in storage.Maintaining all conservation documentation in accordance with the highest archival and digital preservation standards.Collaborating with the conservation team to help develop and communicate guidelines for handling, storing and displaying of artworks;Conducting specialised research into materials, techniques and/or practices of artists represented in the collection and investigating degradation processes, treatment options and efficacy of treatments;Working collaboratively with the conservation team and with any other relevant stakeholders across the museum; and supporting the development of exhibitions, acting as the conservation representative.Participating in professional networks, workshops, and publish findings to advance conservation practices;Representing the museum at events and conferences, promoting best practices in the field;Working alongside conservation volunteers or interns as required and contributing to relevant outreach activities; andPerforming any other duties from time to time as reasonably assigned by M+.You should:Possess a master’s degree or a diploma in conservation from a recognised training programme with preferably two years of post-graduate experience; Conservation experience in a museum setting is strongly preferred;Have proven experience on conservation documentation, assessment to a high standard with full consideration of practical and ethical issues;Have experience working with contemporary works of art. A good understanding and experience on preserving complex installations and time-based media works is preferable;Possess an interest in understanding and working with museum data management systems;Be an innovative and enthusiastic team player with strong critical thinking and problem solving skills;Be able to work in a fast paced and continuously challenging environment;Be knowledgeable/interested in modern and contemporary visual culture, architecture and design, including materials and techniques; andHave strong oral, written and interpersonal communication skills in English and preferably in Chinese (Cantonese or Mandarin).For interested parties, please submit your application with detailed CV on or before following date. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible. The review of applications will continue until post is filled.05-10-2026Data collected will only be used for job application processing. Your data may be accessed by our appointed recruitment consultants who have agreed to keep confidence of all personal data in not less than the standards applicable to us. Applicants not being invited for interview within 4 weeks from the submission date may assume their applications unsuccessful.All related information will be kept up to 24 months and all personal data will be destroyed afterwards.For more information, please visit https://www.westk.hk or contact:Catrina Mok /[phone]