The Missouri State Archives and the Local Records Preservation Program are
seeking another conservator to join the conservation team at the Secretary of
State's Office in Jefferson City, MO. Please see the description and how to
apply below. The deadline for applications is December 14, 2018.
Applicants can apply through the Missouri Secretary of State's Office website:
https://sosmo.applicantpro.com/jobs/938129.html
Definition:
Conservators work as a team in Missouri's only publicly funded conservation lab
for treatment of historically significant paper records, primarily from the
19th and early 20th century. Staff provide physical/chemical treatment to
stabilize and repair the most significant documents in the State Archives
collection and from local government offices primarily of rare and historical
paper records (documents, maps, and books), with occasional stabilization of
photographs. The primary work is in conservation treatment; occasional work in
outreach (training and consultation) may be required.
Job Functions and/or General Responsibilities:
* Perform ethical and safe conservation treatments abiding by the American
Institute for Conservation's Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice and
directions of supervisors.
* Evaluate paper-based documents and carry out conservation treatments
at varying degrees of complexity.
* Perform necessary chemical and physical testing to determine treatment
needs.
* Develop condition reports and treatment proposals, and create photo
documentation for work proposed and performed. Maintain tracking records in
established computer files.
* Perform treatments including:
* dry surface cleaning,
* humidification and flattening,
* removal of tapes, adhesives, backings, fasteners, and old mends,
including solvent use when warranted,
* aqueous treatment to wash and/or deacidify,
* mending and backing/lining,
* encapsulation,
* construction of customized protective enclosures, and
* mold remediation.
* Repair non-rare books from the Archives reference collection.
* Perform high-volume/minimal-treatment to stabilize paper records for
microfilming or digitization.
* Perform conservation support functions such as:
* preparing pastes and chemical solutions,
* maintaining equipment,
* cleaning tools and lab space,
* storing supplies and monitoring inventories,
* generating project reports and filing conservation documentation.
* Training: Occasionally provide training for in-house staff,
volunteers, and interns regarding: safe handling procedures, holdings
maintenance procedures (fastener removal, surface cleaning, humidification and
flattening, housing), etc.
* Outreach: On occasion, provide information and education to outside
groups, such as the following:
* answer technical questions for state/local agencies, cultural
organizations, and the public on preservation topics,
* provide onsite consultation to local officials and civic organizations
on discrete topics such as storage and housing, care and handling,
environmental control, pest management, disaster preparedness, etc.,
* formal, hands-on workshops in basic care and repair procedures to
local government officials, professional organizations, civic groups, or
interns,
* educational programs and tours of the conservation lab, and
* write technical leaflets for the agency website, such as those at
http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/localrecs/conservation.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
* Knowledge of conservation principles and established conservation
practices.
* Demonstrated effectiveness performing paper conservation treatments in a
production setting.
* Excellent manual dexterity and sustained concentration with delicate and
occasionally repetitive tasks.
* Familiarity with Microsoft Office applications and photo-editing software.
* Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
* Ability to work with documents that contain dust and mold spores.
* Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with
associates, public officials, private groups, and the public.
* Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely orally and in writing.
* Ability to stand, bend, kneel, reach shelves above eye level; lift and
carry a forty-pound box; and climb a ladder to retrieve materials.
* Ability to travel, including occasional overnight trips.
* Must possess a valid Missouri driver's license, or be able to secure one
within 30 days of employment.
Qualifications:
* Minimum Education/Experience: Bachelor's degree required. At least 2
years advanced training in conservation acquired through formal studies or a
combination of apprenticeship, advanced courses, and internships. Knowledge of
the chemical and physical properties of books/paper and an understanding of the
causes of deterioration.
* Preferred Education/Experience: Advanced degree/certificate in paper
conservation through an accredited graduate or equivalent certificate program,
formal apprenticeship, or equivalent experience OR Master's degree in library
science or archival administration, art, art history, history, historical
preservation, or related field, with one year experience in paper conservation.
Sound knowledge of organic and physical chemistry.
* Applicants chosen for an interview should present a portfolio or examples
of their paper conservation work, and may undergo a manual dexterity indicator
as part of the interview process.
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