Supervisory Conservator.

Smithsonian Institution; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Leave

Life Insurance

Long Term Care Insurance

Retirement Program

Flexible Spending Accounts

Job summary

The Smithsonian Institution seeks a Supervisory Conservator to lead a professional team across areas such as paper, objects, costumes, and textiles, overseeing laboratory operations and program design.

Responsibilities include assessing objects, planning treatments, budgeting, and enforcing standards for collections care and display, with emphasis on policy development and staff development.

Qualifications

• One year of specialized experience coordinating multiple conservation projects in a museum or cultural institution.
• Experience supervising staff, setting priorities, schedules, and reviewing work.
• Ability to perform conservation analysis and treatment on a wide range of historic objects.

Responsibilities

• Perform a full range of technical examinations of objects to identify structure and components and determine suitable conservation treatment procedures.
• Develop performance plans, identify growth opportunities, and cultivate skills for care and display of museum objects.
• Design and implement the conservation program and advise on collection care policies.
• Develop and propose annual budgets for conservation laboratories and oversee procurement and contracts.

Skills

Conservation coordination

Team leadership

Project management

Museum standards

Tools

Microscope

PPE

Job description

Duties

The Supervisory Conservator supervises and manages a professional team of conservators who hold expertise in areas such as paper, objects, costumes, and textiles. The Supervisory Conservator is responsible for the comprehensive administration of the conservation laboratories.

In This Position, You Will

• Perform a full range of technical examinations of objects to identify their structure and components; determine their condition as well as the appropriate conservation treatment procedures to be performed; and recommend appropriate preventative conservation measures.


• Perform management and supervisory responsibilities by developing performance plans, identifying opportunities for employee growth and development, and cultivating skills that support the stabilization, care, and display of museum objects.


• Design and implement the conservation program, recommending policies for collections care based on accepted museum and collection management standards.


• Develop and propose annual budgets for the conservation laboratories and oversee procurement activities and contract administration in support of laboratory operations.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Investigation


• May need to complete a Probationary Period


• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer


• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.


• Position duties require physical exertion, including prolonged standing, repetitive movement, manual dexterity, and precise, tremor free work under a microscope.


• Work involves hazardous laboratory materials and requires the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and compliance with safety training and protocols.

Qualification requirements

Qualification requirements, including one year time-in-grade at the next lower grade level for promotion candidates, must be met within 30 days of the job announcement closing date. See the 'Required Documents' section for additional information. For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions viewable on

Qualifications

Experience

You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal Service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as the coordination and organization of multiple conservation projects in a museum or cultural institution; performing conservation analysis and treatment on a wide variety of historic objects; and overseeing the work of others including setting priorities, setting schedules, and assigning and reviewing work.

Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages and should clearly demonstrate how your experience aligns with the responsibilities and specialized experience required for this position. Do not copy language directly from the vacancy announcement, as you will be deemed ineligible for consideration. Instead, provide detailed, descriptive information about your actual experience.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Part-time and/or unpaid experience related to this position will be considered to determine the total number of years and months of experience. Be sure to note the number of paid or unpaid hours worked each week.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

• This position is not included in the bargaining unit.

Recruitment Incentive

Recruitment incentive(s) may be authorized for this position. However, approval for incentives are contingent upon various availability. If authorized, certain incentives will require the incumbent to sign a service agreement to remain in the Federal government for a certain time period.

Note

This statement does not imply nor guarantee an incentive will be offered and paid.

Selections may be made for vacancies across the Smithsonian Institution (SI)

By applying to this position, you agree to allow your application and other personal information to be shared with one or more SI hiring officials for employment consideration for same/similar positions within the location(s) identified in this announcement.

Candidates

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

The Federal Government offers a comprehensive benefits package.

• Flexible Spending Accounts


• Health Insurance


• Leave


• Life Insurance


• Long Term Care Insurance


• Retirement Program