Supervisory Chief Conservator
What you'd do
The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. This position is located in conservation laboratory of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (HMSG), Smithsonian Institution (SI). The conservation laboratory is an integral part of the Collections Care and Management Department, charged with the stewardship of the collections of the Museum.
Major duties
The Supervisory Chief Conservator supervises and manages a professional team of conservators who hold experience in areas such as paper, photographs, paintings, variable media, sculpture, and installations. In addition, the Chief Conservator plans, directs, and coordinates conservation activities of the Laboratory and leads professional staff in carrying out the objectives of the conservation laboratory and the HMSG. In this position, you will: Manage and supervise the activities of the professional, para-professional, and technical staff in the lab, delegating work, tracking progress, and establishing priorities as necessary in line with museum programs. Perform a full range of technical examinations of works of art to identify their structure and components, their condition, and/or conduct appropriate treatment according to your conservation specialty. Establish procedures and direct work related to the examination, documentation handling and movement of objects in preparation for acquisition, loan, exhibition within the lab and during installation periods. Manage the conservation laboratory and its programs: safety, equipment maintenance, and education. Develop and monitor annual budgets for the lab, oversee procurement for all conservation equipment, including identifying needs for contract and fellow/interns to support work of the lab.
What you need to qualify
Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal Service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience examining and treating fine art objects; documenting object conditions and conservation treatments; monitoring environmental conditions and identifying potential risks to collections; managing project budgets; and supervising and/or mentoring conservation staff. Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages and should clearly demonstrate how your experience aligns with the responsibilities and specialized experience required for this position. Do not copy language directly from the vacancy announcement, as you will be deemed ineligible for consideration. Instead, provide detailed, descriptive information about your actual experience. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Part-time and/or unpaid experience related to this position will be considered to determine the total number of years and months of experience. Be sure to note the number of paid or unpaid hours worked each week.
Before you apply
Federal applications are different: your resume should be 3–5 pages and mirror the language of this announcement. Read our federal resume guide first — it's the #1 reason qualified people get screened out.
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