Key Accountabilities:
Role Purpose: To coordinate and manage conservation and care of collections within the Orientalist Museum and to provide support to the Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs.
Duties & Responsibilities:
- Manages the daily operations of the conservation department, including the management and coordination of work to achieve annual work targets
- Responsible for the care and preservation of the collection in the museum
- Responsible for management and recruitment of conservation staff
- Encourages the sharing of technical knowledge, skills and personal development
- Liaises with other departments within the museum on matters of conservation
- Develops and implements policies and procedures for physical care of collections
- Provides outreach and training, and encourages continuing professional development of the conservation staff
- Develops and implements the section’s objectives and goals
- Ensures that materials and equipment for the conservation laboratory are ordered and delivered
- Works within Conservation Section in close association with other Collection Section staff to educate and provide relevant expertise at the highest level
- Develops and coordinates professional education and training
- Manages the conservation section in order to achieve departmental business objectives
- Works with external groups including visiting academics and scholars to share skills, knowledge and the latest techniques
- Negotiates sectional staffing and work plans; complete annual staff appraisals and ensure regular follow-up on allocated tasks within the Section; make all staff aware of their roles and responsibilities and ensure effective communications and training
- Supervises junior staff development and training in line with agreed goals of the Museum
- Recruits new staff for Conservation as appropriate
- Ensures regular communication with Museum Management about activities within conservation section
- Supports the work of all staff and encourage an atmosphere of cooperation and mutual trust within the team
- Represent the section/department in all aspects of conservation (i.e., meetings, exhibition planning, research, proposals)
- Other tasks as requested by Museum Management
Qualifications/Requirements:
- BA in Conservation, Art History, Museum Studies or similar.
- M.A, MPhil or Ph.D. in Conservation is highly preferred.
- Recognised qualifications and be an expert in a field relevant to the Museum with substantial, relevant practical research with a minimum of 3 years. Managerial experience is desirable.
- Experience of leading, motivating and managing a team of professionals is essential
- Demonstrable planning and project management skills and experience of implementing and managing change in a complex environment
- Excellent management skills, including organizational, administrative, interpersonal and communication skills
- Advance use of MS Office products i.e. Word, Excel, Outlook as well as the internet
- Personable and pragmatic with a proven competence in managing staff and managing change in a large organisation
- Positive and communicative attitude in order to establish effective working relations
- Demonstrated knowledge of at least one specialised field of conservation, with participation in conferences and peer-reviewed publications in the area
Desirable skills:
- Communication in Arabic and/or other languages
- Knowledge of Art History
- Have a good network of specialised contacts