Assistant Conservator/ Conservator (Inorganic Objects), HCC

National Heritage Board; Singapore; On-site; SGD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A cultural institution in Singapore is seeking an Assistant Conservator/Conservator for its Inorganic Objects section, focusing on conserving and caring for artefacts and artworks. The ideal candidate will possess a relevant degree, strong skills in critical thinking and communication, and a passion for heritage conservation. Successful candidates will receive in-house training and external development opportunities. A contract of 2 years is offered, primarily based at HCC with travel within Singapore required.

Benefits

In-house training opportunities

Professional development support

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6 years relevant work experience for Conservator role.
• Institutional work experience is advantageous but not required.
• Strong understanding of chemistry is advantageous.
• Interest in stone conservation or industrial heritage is advantageous.
• Proficiency in English is required.

Responsibilities

• Liaise with internal teams and external stakeholders on conservation care.
• Conduct conservation assessments and treatments of artefacts.
• Manage administrative aspects of exhibitions and collections.
• Assist in conservation research projects.
• Support outreach efforts to educate the public about conservation.

Skills

Manual dexterity

Critical thinking

Organizational skills

Communication

Team player

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Master’s degree in Conservation (for Conservator)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Lightroom

Job description

What the role is:

The Heritage Conservation Centre (HCC), an institution under the National Heritage Board (NHB), plays a leading role in heritage conservation and collections care in Singapore. Operating from a purpose-built facility with centralised storage and conservation laboratories, HCC’s core mission is to care for and facilitate current and future access to Singapore’s National Collection. HCC oversees the management and preservation of a diverse range of collections, from archaeological materials and socio-historical artefacts to contemporary artworks and time-based media, and supports the collecting, display, and loan activities of twelve institutions under the NHB and Singapore’s Visual Arts Cluster.

The Conservation Services department at HCC comprises a team of 40 staff members across six sections: Inorganic Objects; Organic Objects; Paintings; Paper, Photograph and Digital Media; Textiles; and Conservation Science.

HCC is seeking an Assistant Conservator/ Conservator to join the Inorganic Objects section. The Inorganic Objects section is responsible for the conservation of artefacts and artworks comprising inorganic materials, and archaeological materials of all types. Archaeological materials, functional objects, and industrial heritage objects represent emerging and expanding focus areas for the team.

We seek motivated candidates committed to developing as a conservation professional, and building a career in art and heritage conservation in Singapore. The successful candidate will be provided with in-house training and external training opportunities to support their development in becoming a conservator.

What you will be working on:

• Work closely and liaise effectively with both internal teams and external stakeholders on the conservation and care of collections in storage and on display.
• Carry out conservation assessments, analyses, treatments, and documentation of artefacts and artworks under the care of Inorganic Objects section, in line with internal processes and standards.
• Manage conservation and conservation-related administrative aspects of exhibitions, storage and other collections care projects, including time and resource management, to ensure timely delivery of work within the section’s available resources.
• Provide preventive conservation care and advice on storage, handling, transport, display, and loan of artefacts and artworks.
• Support and participate in various duties and organisational projects, including working groups, committees, or corporate events.
• Keep abreast of developments in relevant conservation disciplines through the use of online resources and in-person training.
• Assist with or lead conservation research projects that contribute to knowledge building within the industry and improvements in the care of the collections, with the possibility of sharing and publishing on both local and international platforms.
• Provide training and supervision to colleagues and external stakeholders, when required, to build capabilities in conservation and collections care within and outside NHB.
• Support NHB’s outreach efforts to engage and educate the public to raise awareness of conservation and collections care.

• Perform general duties necessary for day-to-day operations, such as procurement, time tracking, and lab and administrative housekeeping.

What we are looking for:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a recognised institution. For the Conservator position, a Master’s degree or equivalent in Conservation from a recognised institution, along with relevant work experience, is required.

• A minimum of 6 years of demonstrated relevant work experience, preferably within an institutional context, is required for the Conservator role. Relevant work experience is advantageous but not required for the Assistant Conservator position.

• Candidates without sufficient qualifications or experience should be prepared to develop, with the support of the team, the necessary competencies for the role.

• Institutional work experience, or work experience in the Singapore Public Service, is not required but will be considered an advantage.

• A high degree of manual dexterity, aesthetic sensitivity, and ability to work with materials in three dimensions are essential.

• Strong critical thinking skills with the ability to make informed judgements and formulate effective solutions through the gathering and evaluation of information and empirical data, and application of intangible concepts.

• Knowledge of chemistry at the level of GCE O Level or above will be advantageous.

• Interest or experience in topics related to stone conservation, functional objects, or industrial heritage (e.g. kinetic art, electrical and electronic systems, machinery and other industrial objects) will be advantageous.

• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks, manage time effectively, and handle multiple projects simultaneously.

• Excellent communication skills, with fluency in English required.

• A team player who can adapt to a multi-cultural and multi-lingual work environment.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, is required. Familiarity with photography software such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, or Capture One will be advantageous.

• Singapore Citizens are preferred.

Work location

The Assistant Conservator/ Conservator will be mostly based at HCC at 32 Jurong Port Road, Singapore 619104, and will be required to periodically travel to other locations in Singapore as part of work duties.

Successful candidates will be offered a 2-year contract in the first instance.

About National Heritage Board

The National Heritage Board (NHB) champions the development of a vibrant cultural and heritage sector in Singapore. Our role is to make heritage enriching, relevant, accessible and above all, enjoyable to Singaporeans and visitors alike.If you have the Passion…to build a nation of confident people and sense of rootedness…to deliver great service towards a strong community…to inspire generations of Singaporeans through heritage preservation…to continually innovate and develop yourself as a professional…to have fun while doing all of the aboveWe Want You!http://www.nhb.gov.sg