Lead Conservation Technician - AR60083397

State of North Carolina

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Conservation Technician works under the general supervision of the Archives Conservator. The Lead Conservation Technician is responsible for performing a variety of basic, intermediate, and advanced treatments on archival material and participates in a wide range of preservation activities to optimize the long-term care of the State Archives of North Carolina collections. Treatments may include surface cleaning, remediation, humidification, flattening, de-acidification, mending, and stabilizing materials to be digitized. The Lead Conservation Technician also assists in creating custom housings for archival materials and in preparing and stabilizing materials for exhibitions and loans. The Lead Conservation Technician, under the supervision of the Archives Conservator, designs and constructs protective enclosures, exhibit mounts, supports, and labeling, and manages the storage and inventory of exhibit furniture and supplies. Additionally, the Lead Conservation Technician assists with installation/de-installation of exhibits. The Lead Conservation Technician, in partnership with the Archives Conservator, liaises with borrowing institutions and internal staff to realize exhibition needs. The Lead Conservation Technician assists the Conservator with managing lab spaces, equipment and supervising conservation interns as needed. The Lead Conservation Technician works with the Conservation Technician to maintain integrated pest management and environmental monitoring practices, and works with the Collections Management Branch Head and Conservator to uphold and improve integrated pest management, environmental monitoring, and disaster planning policy and systems. The Lead Conservation Technician participates in preservation projects, inventories, and collection surveys to determine conservation or preservation needs for collections.

Requirements

• Prior experience working with rare or valuable book and paper items or museum objects and demonstrated manual dexterity and experience handling fragile or deteriorating library or archival materials.
• Familiarity with general conservation laboratory procedures and ability to safely use standard conservation laboratory equipment, materials, and supplies.
• Familiarity with integrated pest management, environmental monitoring, and disaster recovery.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current conservation and preservation standards, practices, and ethics.
• Ability to review the work of others, in partnership with the Archives Conservator, as well as work independently and maintain effective working relationships with other agency staff, government officials, and the public.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing and distill technical advice.
• Thorough knowledge of exhibit design, production, and current exhibit techniques in an archive or a museum setting and skills in creative design.
• Must be able to lift at least 40 lbs. and can unpack, shelve, and shift large quantities of archival materials with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Must have the ability to stand for long periods of time when performing conservation treatments.
• Must be able to work in an environment in which exposure to chemicals, dust, and mold is possible.
• Must have manual dexterity.
• Bachelor’s degree in art, art history, design or related field from an appropriately accredited institution with course work in three-dimensional design AND two years of experience in museum exhibit design; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Nice To Haves

• Prior demonstrated experience in exhibit preparation, including preparing book and paper objects for exhibit and designing exhibit components, such as supports and displays.
• Prior experience with integrated pest management and environmental monitoring.
• Prior demonstrated experience working with book and paper objects, in terms of handling, condition reporting, stabilizing through treatment, and housing.

Responsibilities

• Performing a variety of basic, intermediate, and advanced treatments on archival material
• Participating in a wide range of preservation activities to optimize the long-term care of the State Archives of North Carolina collections
• Creating custom housings for archival materials
• Preparing and stabilizing materials for exhibitions and loans
• Designing and constructing protective enclosures, exhibit mounts, supports, and labeling
• Managing the storage and inventory of exhibit furniture and supplies
• Assisting with installation/de-installation of exhibits
• Liaising with borrowing institutions and internal staff to realize exhibition needs
• Assisting the Conservator with managing lab spaces, equipment and supervising conservation interns as needed
• Maintaining integrated pest management and environmental monitoring practices
• Participating in preservation projects, inventories, and collection surveys to determine conservation or preservation needs for collections

Benefits

• Eligible state employees are entitled to comprehensive benefits, including a variety of leave options, professional development opportunities, insurance, and more.
• If you have student loans, becoming a state employee includes eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level