Junior conservator photographic materials

Rijksmuseum; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 43,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary €3,881–€5,044 gross per month (

8% holiday allowance

3.4% end-of-year bonus

Home-office budget for part-time work

Public transport reimbursement (up to

ICOM year card (post-probation)

Participation in events and sports

Job summary

The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam invites applications for a junior conservator specializing in photographic materials. You will join the paper and photo conservation team and contribute to conservation work on the collection, preparation for exhibitions, and advising on loans.

We seek an MA in the conservation of photographic materials, experience with condition checks and writing condition reports, plus familiarity with transport and installation for exhibitions.

Qualifications

• MA in conservation of photographic materials.
• Experience with condition checks and writing condition reports.
• Experience with preparing transport, installing and de-installing for exhibitions.
• Good command of Dutch or English (oral and written).
• Excellent communication skills and interest in historical production processes.

Responsibilities

• Carry out conservation work on recent acquisitions and related research.
• Monitor the physical condition of the photo collection with conservators and curators.
• Assess condition and perform conservation work and document photos for loans, exhibitions and presentations.
• Participate in scientific research and conservation projects.
• Establish collaboration with professionals and others interested in historical photography.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Meticulous and precise work

Education

MA in conservation of photographic materials

Tools

Condition reporting

Transport/installation for exhibitions

Job description

Junior conservator photographic materials

The Rijksmuseum is the largest museum in the Netherlands. Its collection consists of 1.1 million (art) objects from and about the Netherlands, dating from the Middle Ages through the 20th century. The museum welcomes more than two million visitors annually.For a period of two years, we are offering an enthusiastic, recent graduate in photo conservation the opportunity to further develop their practical and theoretical skills in the dynamic and multifaceted Conservation & Science department at the Rijksmuseum. As a junior conservator, you will be part of our paper and photo conservation team.

You will carry out conservation work on the collection, and you will also help prepare objects for exhibitions and presentations. You will also advise conservators when granting loans. You will work closely with other conservators, curators, researchers, the registrar's office and the exhibitions department. A specific task will be to seek collaboration with professionals and others interested in historical photographic processes and techniques to increase the exchange of knowledge regarding production processes. You play a key role in this by establishing contact with the field and working together to find ways to share this knowledge.

In brief, the main activities:

• Carrying out conservation work on recent acquisitions in the collection and related research;
• (Co)monitoring the physical condition of the photo collection, in collaboration with conservators and curators;
• Assessing the condition and performing conservation work and documenting photos for loans, exhibitions and presentations;
• Participating and contributing to (scientific) research and conservation projects;
• Establish and/or strengthen collaboration with professionals and others interested in historical photography, with the goal of exchanging knowledge.

Working for the Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum belongs to and is for everyone. You will be part of the paper and photo conservation team within the Conservation & Science department. This team consists of the head of the conservation studio, three photo conservators, three paper conservators, and three conservation technicians. In addition, conservators and interns work in the studio on a project basis. We keep each other on our toes and help each other. We look forward to seeing you!

What will you contribute?

We are curious to know who you are and what talent you might bring to our team. With your expertise and experience, you will help ensure that a beautiful collection is preserved for future generations and is visible to the public. You work meticulously and well organised and you communicate clearly. Furthermore, you have:

• An academic degree (MA) in the conservation of photographic materials;
• Experience with condition checks and writing condition reports;
• Experience with preparing transport, installing and de-installing for exhibitions:
• A good command of the Dutch or English language, both oral and written;
• Excellent communication skills and a genuine interest in historical production processes and the exchange of knowledge.

What will you get in return?

You will be given the chance to work in – and behind the scenes of – a leading, internationally oriented museum, together with dedicated specialists. In addition, we offer:

• A gross salary of € 3.881,00 tot € 5.044,00 (Schaal 10 of the collective agreement for museums) per month, based on a 36-hour working week;
• 8% holiday allowance and 3.4% end-of-year bonus;
• A 12-month contract of 36 hours per week, with the possibility of an extension of up to 24 months. After this no further extension is possible;
• The option to work from home on a part-time basis (in consultation), with a budget to set up your home office;
• Full public transport reimbursement from 5 km upwards (up to a maximum of €345) for commuting. The costs incurred when you park your bicycle at the station in a guarded bicycle shed are also fully reimbursed;
• After your probationary period, you may reimburse the cost of an ICOM year card with unlimited access to many (inter)national museums. You are always welcome at the Rijksmuseum (during opening hours) with one free guest;
• Participation in various events and sports activities