Director of Conservation

National Museum of Wildlife Art; Williamsburg (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia seeks a Director of Conservation to lead the protection and preservation of its cultural and historic assets. The role provides leadership and oversight of the conservation department, supervises professional conservators, junior staff, and preventive conservation associates, and represents the department across the institution.

You will manage priorities and production, oversee the operating budget, ensure quality of analysis, surveys,

Qualifications

• Graduate-level conservation studies or equivalent technical education and/or professional experience.
• Ten or more years of professional conservation experience, including safety procedures and handling of hazardous materials.
• Liaison with external organizations on conservation matters as needed.

Responsibilities

• Oversee conservation priorities, production, and budget.
• Supervise a team of conservators, junior staff, and preventive conservation associates.
• Represent the department and coordinate with education, fundraising, and donor development.

Education

Graduate-level conservation studies

Job description

The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia seeks a Director of Conservation. Founded in 1926, the Foundation is a private, not-for-profit educational, historic, and cultural institution with a mission of interpreting Virginia’s 18th-century colonial capital. As the largest living history museum in the U.S., Colonial Williamsburg features over 600 historic structures and two Art Museums to include a vast collection of more than 74,000 pieces of fine, decorative, and American folk art.

The Director of Conservation is responsible for enhancing the protection and preservation of Colonial Williamsburg’s cultural and historic assets by providing leadership and oversight of the Foundation’s conservation department. To accomplish this, the Director supervises a team of professional conservators, junior staff, and preventive conservation associates. The Director oversees departmental priorities and production, manages the operating budget, and ensures the quality of analysis, care, surveys, treatment, and documentation. Additionally, the Director represents the department and articulates conservation issues throughout the institution; supports educational and interpretive efforts in the Historic Area and Art Museum; participates in activities associated with donor development, grant writing, and other fundraising events; and acts as a liaison with outside individuals and organizations on conservation matters as needed.

Graduate-level conservation studies or equivalent technical education and/or professional experience.

Ten (10) or more years of professional conservation experience, including working knowledge and demonstrated practice of standard safety procedures and handling/storage of hazardous materials.

If you have questions, please contact [e-mail].