Conservator – Paintings – Job

Job Title: Conservator – Paintings

Terms: Full time, 3 year contract

Package: $90,000 salary per annum plus 10.5% superannuation

Location: Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin

Responsible to: Registrar

Closing date: Friday, 2 September 2022

How to apply: 

Provide a statement addressing the Selection Criteria (no more than two A4 pages);

Provide your CV including three referee contacts (referees will not be contacted without prior consent); and

Submit applications via email to [email protected] by the closing date.

The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) is the Northern Territory’s premier cultural and scientific institution. It offers a dynamic and diverse arts, science and cultural program to more than 300,000 visitors each year.  

We are the museum and gallery known for our collections and expertise in Aboriginal cultures, natural sciences, histories and arts across Northern and Central Australia and our neighbours to the north.

We connect people to the stories of the Northern Territory. Our collection drives curiosity, exploration and partnerships. Our physical spaces are destinations loved by locals and a must-see for Territory visitors. Our digital connectivity expands the reach of our collection. Our guests tell their friends about their distinctive Territorian experience.

MAGNT has seven venues: MAGNT Darwin (Bullocky Point), the Defence of Darwin Experience, Fannie Bay Gaol, Lyons Cottage, the Museum of Central Australia (incorporating the Strehlow Research Centre), Megafauna Central and the Alcoota fossil site. A new Art Gallery opening in Darwin’s CBD in 2024/25 will add an eighth MAGNT site.

Primary Objective

The Paintings Conservator will be responsible for delivering on a conservation program for the MAGNT History, Culture and Art Collection. This includes undertaking conservation care, documentation, treatments, mounting and display of works. The conservation program is carried out in accordance with legislative obligations, institutional objectives and in line with National Museum Standards and the Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Materials Code of Ethics and Code of Practice. 

This role will provide specialist advice and expertise in all issues of materials conservation outlining high-level principles and deliver the day-to-day preventative conservation tasks to optimise care and protection of the Collection on display and in storage. 

Key Responsibilities

Assess conservation and preservation needs, participate in optimal preventive conservation activities and undertake conservation procedures and specialised conservation treatment. 

Provide specialist input into the development and implementation of conservation procedures and programs in accordance with the aims, objectives and functions of MAGNT. 

Contribute to operational planning processes, policy development and risk management procedures for the safe storage, logistics and display of collection material working within approved plans, budget and quality standards. 

Deliver specialist advice and services to MAGNT staff, stakeholders and the public on issues relating to conservation including museum environmental conditions and monitoring, disaster planning and recovery, collection management, integrated pest management, collection handling, storage and display. 

Participate as a member of multi-disciplinary project teams for in-house and touring exhibitions by providing specialist conservation advice and expertise. Prepare and pack paintings for travel to storage areas, exhibition locations and external institutions. Recommend suitable support for artworks in transit and long-term storage ensuring the safety, security, location control and maintenance of objects on display and in storage. 

Undertake data entry using MAGNT’s collections management system (EMu). Document all conservation and preservation activities on the Collection Management System. Create and maintain accurate records of object conservation in line with conservation program requirements and for reporting purposes.

Participate in the implementation of integrated pest management of storage and gallery areas and monitor environmental conditions. Undertake regular inspections and maintenance in collections stores, galleries and exhibition spaces and liaise with the Collections Management and Facilities teams concerning issues and/or cleaning and pest spraying. 

Support the acquisitions and inward and outward loans programme ensuring that collection objects and artworks are assessed and documented while adhering to established policies. Assess and prepare artworks for acquisition, internal and external loans and exhibitions.

Other duties as required with respect to the scope of the position.

Selection Criteria

Essential

Tertiary qualifications in Materials Conservation or professional membership of AICCM and an extensive knowledge and understanding of the physical and chemical construction of objects/artworks: chemistry, art history, artists’ methods and materials and techniques used.

Competence gained in the conservation of cultural materials from multi-disciplinary heritage collections working a minimum of 3 years in a museum or art gallery environment in the application of conservation practices and professional museum standards.

High level knowledge of both national and international current conservation principles, ethics and practices as identified in the Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Materials Code of Ethics and its international counterparts, relevant to museum and art gallery collections and displays. 

Ability to provide advice and expertise in regards to all issues of conservation including museum climatology, disaster planning and recovery, collection management, environmental monitoring, integrated pest management, collection handling, storage and display.

Demonstrated and extensive experience in assessing conservation and preservation needs of multidisciplinary heritage collections.

Proven ability in the use of Collections Management Systems to document processes. 

Proven ability to work efficiently and harmoniously in a multi-disciplinary team with a range of professional, technical and administrative staff to achieve agreed objectives and performance criteria and provide support and collaborate with team members and key stakeholders on complex projects.

Strong organisational skills to self-manage workload across concurrent projects, prioritising and completing tasks within scheduled timeframes.

Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills at institutional, government and community levels, including a demonstrated ability to prepare high quality documentation and reports, and respond to internal and external enquiries.  

Understanding and knowledge of WHS standards and their implementation in relation to safe practices for the movement, location and storage of collections, lifting and carrying objects, climbing ladders and use of tools. 

Desirable

Experience with EMu collection management software 

Membership of the Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Materials (AICCM) 

Experience working with culturally sensitive material  

Other relevant information

• This role statement is intended to provide an overall view of the role but in addition to this document, the specifics of the role will be described in business work plans.
• MAGNT is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in the workplace.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island applicants are encouraged to apply.
• MAGNT promotes flexible ways of working and applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.
• Applicants must have full Australian work rights.
• A valid Australian Drivers licence is required.
• A current Australian National Police check is required prior to commencing the position.

Further information

For further information please visit our website at magnt.net.au or contact Assistant Director, Louise Partos (08) 8999 8216 or [email protected]