Conservator; Assistant Rank

Address Tucson, AZ USA

Position Highlights

The Conservator is a full‑time faculty position (Continuing‑Eligible Academic Professional at the Assistant rank) functioning in the Research Division of the Arizona State Museum (ASM) at the University of Arizona (U of

A). The incumbent serves as Head of the Conservation Laboratory and is responsible for the preservation of cultural property and heritage by creating and disseminating conservation knowledge and providing expertise in the physical care and conservation of the collections housed at ASM through professional conservation activities supported by research and education (including examination, documentation, analysis, treatment and preventive care). The incumbent maintains a research program, pursuing external funding and publishing in scholarly outlets, and may prepare or contribute to exhibits.

The incumbent also consults with members of other ASM divisions regarding care for and the display of objects, as well as the assessment and preparation of collections eligible for repatriation, including identifying the presence of pesticides on objects. Other duties include service on ASM and U of A committees, as well as service to the incumbent’s profession through museum and/or conservation organizations;

pursuing grants and other forms of external funding to support collections conservation; the supervision of staff, students, and/or volunteers; and participation in ASM's educational outreach initiatives, including community presentations, tours, and workshops designed for a variety of learners. The incumbent may engage in formal, university (classroom) teaching, however, this is optional. The incumbent may also supervise student internships and independent studies and serve on student committees for honors theses, master’s theses, doctoral comprehensive examinations, and Ph.D. dissertations.

Arizona State Museum (ASM) is the oldest and largest anthropological research facility in the U.S. Southwest, with expansive collections that are exceptional resources for the teaching, study, and understanding of the region’s 13,000‑year human history.

Note:

University faculty ranks (Assistant, Associate, Full) do not directly translate to position titles used within the field of conservation. Although this position is at the Assistant faculty rank, ASM is seeking a conservator with, at minimum, the experience and the skill set of someone referred to as an Associate Conservator within the field of conservation.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services, please .

• Manages the long‑term and daily activities of the Conservation Laboratory, including evaluating laboratory facilities, inventory, equipment, and procedures, and monitoring and maintaining safe working conditions and security.
• Plans, schedules, manages, budgets for, and evaluates preservation and conservation programs and projects.
• Supervises staff, students, and/or volunteers within the lab.
• Prepares budget and capital equipment requests for laboratory operations.
• Develops, maintains and implements policies, procedures and standards for activities that involve preservation (the activities that protect collections by minimizing chemical and physical deterioration and damage and that prevent loss of informational content), and conservation (preventive care and interventive treatment of objects guided by the professional Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice of the American Institute for Conservation).
• Maintains records and documentation, including condition surveys, condition reports for loans, conservation treatment reports, and technical study reports related to repatriation.

• Determines priorities for…