Conservation Technician

The Strong owns and cares for the world’s most comprehensive collection of toys, dolls, board games, video games, books, documents, and other historical materials related to play. The conservation technician is responsible for contributing to the preventive care and treatment of cultural property.

This position requires experience handling artifacts and a desire to work with a variety of object materials. The conservation technician is required to expend such personal efforts as may be needed to keep up with advances in subject matter information related to this position. 

This is a regular full-time position with a work schedule of 37.5 hours per week Monday through Friday.

Essential Duties:

• Under the direct supervision and guidance of the conservator, complete minor preventive projects and/or treatments for collections items.
• Follow museum-issued storage and conservation policies and procedures. Perform work in accordance with best practices and standards, particularly the American Institute for Conservation’s Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice and American Association of Museum’s Code of Ethics for Museums.
• Maintain thorough and accurate records of conservation examinations, treatments, photo documentation, loans, etc., including using the museum’s collections management system.
• Assist in museum and collections storage maintenance, such as dusting, vacuuming, replacing lights, etc.
• Assist with digitizing conservation records and making hardcopy data accessible in the collections management system. 
• Maintain a clean, safe, and professional workspace and contribute to general studio/lab maintenance.
• Assist the conservator and other team members during exhibition installations and deinstallations.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in art history, fine art, history, archeology, museum studies, chemistry, or a closely related field.
• Manual dexterity/hand skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form using the English language.
• Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to work within established priorities and timelines to complete deadline-driven work.
• Capable of quickly learning and adapting to new work processes and tasks.
• Capable of using ladders and elevated platforms to perform work tasks.
• Ability to undertake moderate to heavy lifting.
• Ability to work well independently and as part of a team.
• Object-handling and professional museum experience is preferable.
• Some working knowledge of and experience with the use of hand tools and power tools is preferable.

Pre-Employment Requirements: Must consent to and pass a drug screen and criminal background check as conditions of employment.

Please compile the following into one document in Word or PDF format for submission with your application:

• Resume/CV
• A letter of interest outlining experience 
• Three (3) examples of handmade object completed by candidate (can include paintings, sculpture, drawings, book making, furniture, etc.).  Does not have to be from a formal studio class.  Please include photos and brief description of each work.        
• Contact information for three (3) professional references