Preventive Conservation Technician

Colonial Williamsburg; Williamsburg, Northern (VA, KY); Hybrid; USD 21,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is seeking a Preventive Conservation Technician to safeguard museum collections at the DeWitt Wallace Museum in Williamsburg, VA. The role focuses on daily care, cleaning, environmental monitoring, and data recording to preserve historical assets.

The position requires a high school diploma or GED, 3+ years’ collection care experience, and a Virginia driver’s license. You’ll work a 40-hour week with overtime may apply during peak periods.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED required.
• Three or more years of experience in handling, cleaning and/or caring for museum collections.
• Must possess a valid Commonwealth of Virginia driver’s license and have an acceptable driving record.

Responsibilities

• Perform regular, routine cleaning of collections and surrounding areas according to conservation standards.
• Maintain records of work performed via checklists.
• Inspect conditions of the collections and buildings; monitor environmental conditions.
• Set up and maintain sensors and recording instruments and compile data records.
• Document conditions and perform conservation projects and tasks.
• Assist with administrative tasks and inventory management.
• Follow safety, conservation, and SDS guidelines.
• Assist with exhibition installation and preventive maintenance tasks.

Skills

Communication

Safety awareness

Team collaboration

Attention to detail

Ability to work evenings/weekends

Education

High School diploma or GED

Tools

hand tools and power equipment

driving license

Job description

DEWITT WALLACE MUSEUM
Williamsburg, VA 23185, USA

Who We Are

Founded in 1926, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a private, not-for-profit educational, historic, and cultural institution that owns and operates one of the largest and best-known museum complexes in the world. Our mission is “that the future may learn from the past” through preserving and restoring 18 th -century Williamsburg, Virginia’s colonial capital. We engage, inform, and inspire people to learn about this historic capital, the events that occurred here, and the diverse peoples who helped shape a new nation.

Today, Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the U.S. The Historic Area is the 301-acre restored colonial capital with 89 original buildings and 525 buildings reconstructed to how they appeared in the 18th century through extensive archaeological, architectural, and documentary research. The Historic Area is staffed by highly trained, historically dressed interpreters and expert tradespeople who bring the 18th century to life. The Foundation also owns and operates two world-class museums, the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, The Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute, and a renowned research library, the John D Rockefeller Jr Library.

Additionally, Colonial Williamsburg is home to five world class accommodations at the Williamsburg Inn, Williamsburg Lodge Autograph Collection, the Griffin Hotel, the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotels and Suites and the unique Colonial Houses in the Historical Area. Visitors may also indulge in food and drink at our many on site restaurants and taverns that blend a historically inspired dining experience with today’s evolved tastes. Each year over 5 million people visit Williamsburg and another 20 million engage with us digitally.

About the Position

Carries out the day-to-day efforts ensuring the protection and preservation of Colonial Williamsburg’s culturalassets by implementing preventative conservation procedures. Toaccomplishthis, the Preventive ConservationTechnicianis responsible forthe overallcollectionscare, cleanliness, andmonitoringas assigned.

MainDuties:

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Perform regular, routine cleaning of collections and surrounding areas according to CWF conservation standards.
• Maintain records of work performed via checklists at each site.
• Inspect the conditions of the collections and buildings in assigned areas. Monitor environmental conditions (relative humidity, temperature, light levels) in storage and display areas.
• Set up and maintain sensors and recording instruments and compile permanent data records.
• Document conditions according to conservation department protocols.
• Carry out collections care and preventive conservation projects, meetingdeadlinesand quality standards asestablishedby MPHR.
• Assistin administrative tasks such as ordering supplies andmaintainingsupply inventory.
• Use tools, chemicals, and equipment according to safety, conservation, and manufacturer guidelines.
• Maintainorderly shared work and storage areas.
• Maintainequipmentbackpacks and carts.
• Follow all safety and security procedures. Maintain familiarity of current SDS and other records as required .
• Participate in annual training asrequired.
• In the absence of the Supervisor, Preventive Conservation, provide guidance to other team members as needed .
• Assist with exhibition installation and preventive maintenance closings. Attend training for collection handling and moving.
• Assist with conservation treatment and documentation, object numbering, lab maintenance, and repair of reproductions.
• Fabricate storage systems, exhibition supports, and pack/move objects as needed.
• Ensure preventive conservation is addressed while monitoring contractors, special programs, events, receptions , filming, and other activities that involve Colonial Williamsburg’s assets.
• Maintain open, two-way communication between the Conservation Department and other departments whose activities mayimpactthe collection.
• Participatein emergency preparation and recovery activities.
• Maintainsawareness ofstate-of-the-arttechniques in the preventive conservation field.
• Perform other duties asrequired

This is a non-exempt position, eligible to receive overtimein accordance withthe Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This position may be subject to overtime during high peak times, etc. as directed and approved by the supervisor.

This job description reflects the general responsibilities of the position and is not intended to be an exhaustive list. Duties and responsibilities may evolve over time based on operational needs.

RequiredEducation and Experience:

High School diploma or GED. Three or more years of experience in handling, cleaning and/or caring for museum collections. Must possess a valid Commonwealth of Virginia driver’s license and have an acceptable driving record based on The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s criteria.

Must be able to provide a 5-year Motor Vehicle Record prior to employment

• Must be at least 21 years of age
• May not have more than 1 moving violation or at fault accident within 12 months
• May not have more than 2 moving violations orat fault accidentswithin36 months
• May not have any serious motor vehicle violations including but not limited to excessive speeding, reckless driving, DUI/DWI, suspended or revoked license, etc.

Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelorsdegreeoran equivalentcombination of education, training,and orexperience.

Valid driver’s license and have anacceptable driving record as measured against Colonial Williamsburg’s criteria.

• Ability to use hand tools and power equipment necessary forcollectionscare in a museum setting.
• Ability to communicate effectively, including offering and following instructions.
• Ability to use a computer and to learn essential software use for email, report writing, data and imagecollection,schedulingand other communication.
• Ability to work independently and member and/or leader of a team.
• Ability to makebestuse of time and limited resources, using facilities, materials, equipment, andsupplies efficiently, effectively and with reasonable andappropriate care.
• Ability and willingness to work evenings, weekends, andholidays asassigned, up to aneight hourshift.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

Stand: Constantly Walk: Constantly Sit: Frequently Use hands/fingers: Frequently Climb or balance: Frequently Stoop/kneel/crouch/crawl: Frequently Reach with hands/arms: Constantly Talk or hear: Constantly Lifting up to 10lbs: Constantly Lifting up to 25lbs: Constantly Lifting up to 50lbs(with assistance): Occasionally Lifting up to 100lbs(with assistance): Rarely More than 100lbs(with assistance): Rarely Wet/humid conditions: Rarely Work near moving mechanical parts: Occasionally Fumes/airborne particles: Frequently Extreme cold: Rarely Extreme heat: Rarely

Typical Work Schedule:

40 hoursa week, full time. 7-330 Monday-Friday, working one weekend a month. Some late events throughout the year.

Compensation Disclaimer:

The compensation listed below for this position represents the anticipated hiring range and is provided in accordance with Virginia pay transparency requirements. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors such as the selected candidate’s skills, qualifications, experience, education, certifications, internal equity, and the specific requirements of the role.

Range: $15.53 to $23.22

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.