Collections Technician, Conservation

Collections Technician, Conservation
School of Humanities and Sciences, Stanford, California, United States
Museum
Post Date Jun 18, 2021
Requisition # 90053
Job Title: Collections Technician, Conservation
Job Code: 1851 (Museum Registrar 1)
Grade: E
Exemption: Non-exempt
Schedule: Full-time
Employee Status: Fixed-term, 1 year
Note: Not all unique aspects of the job are covered by this job description.
Job Purpose
Under general direction, organize, manage and perform a wide variety of professional registration duties in support of the museum's collections and exhibitions. The Collections Technician's primary role is to assist in a Detailed Condition Assessment of SUAC's archaeology and ethnography artifact collections using museum-approved methods.
About Us
SUAC's collections span 700,000 years and include more than 100,000 archaeological, ethnographic, and artistic items from California and around the globe. SUAC advances Stanford's role as a purposeful university by promoting collections-based scholarship as a core disciplinary competency and mode of interdisciplinary intellectual inquiry. We support the mission of the Stanford Archaeology Center by modelling best practices in the ethical stewardship of cultural heritage collections on campus and beyond. SUAC exhibits collections at the Stanford Archaeology Center and in its classroom/study space, undertakes loans for research and exhibit, accessions collections, and supports education and outreach.
Details
- Position is under general direction of the Conservator and the management of the Collection Manager.
- Work systematically to assist in assessment of collections including handling, photography, reporting, and note taking.
- Move, unpack, and repack objects using established handling and documentation methods.
- Supporting activities related to collections care and preventive conservation, including identifying items in need of and undertaking care as advised by supervising staff, assisting in tracking and upkeep of environmental conditions.
- Share responsibility in tracking and documenting project metrics.
- Perform other duties as required.
Core Duties
- Create, update and maintain physical files, databases and object cards for objects in the permanent collection.
- Register and assign accession and catalog numbers to all objects in collection, prepare acquisition reports for review of curatorial and administrative staff.
- Compose concise description of objects, and record descriptions on physical and electronic medium and in collection catalogs.
- Maintain record of storage, exhibit, and loan locations of all objects in collection; work closely with preparators to locate objects.
- Oversee handling, packing, movement, shipping and inspection of all objects entering or leaving establishment, including traveling exhibits, objects acquired by museum through gift, purchase, or loan.
- Coordinate assigned incoming traveling exhibitions and term loans. Monitor travel, process loan documents and arrange for crating, packing, shipping and insurance; monitor objects during exhibition.
- Provide maintenance support of registration.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Education & Experience: Bachelor's degree and two years of related experience or a combination of education and relevant experience.
Preferred Education & Experience:
- BA in a related field.
- 2 years of related practical experience in museum collections or a combination of education and relevant experience.
- Preference given to a degree in museum studies, conservation, archaeology, anthropology, or a related field, as well as to collections-based training (example, participation in an MA and/or certificate program in museums) or the equivalent experience with material culture collections.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Demonstrated knowledge of professional museum practices including registration methods, safe object handling and art preservation, packing and shipping, insurance, storage of art, security measures, and object numbering techniques.
- Knowledge of and demonstrated skill using collection management databases, FileMaker security measures, Microsoft Word and Excel; experience working with Museum electronic databases is strongly desired.
- Must have excellent interpersonal, organizational and communication skills.
- Ability and willingness to maintain high level of accuracy and attention to detail is essential, as is the ability to work well under pressure with a wide variety of museum professionals, vendors, students, docents, and other.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- A proven interest in conservation, collections management, museum studies, or related professions.
- Ability to adopt best practice standards for assessing, handling, and moving collections objects.
- Scrupulous attention to detail and ability to maintain data standards.
- Ability to approach tasks systematically.
- Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication and collaboration skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel.
- Ability to work standing up for long periods of time, bend, stretch, lift 30 pounds, climb up and down ladders, and work with historic cultural items using standard protective equipment.
- Prior experience in museum collections preferred, such as working with established collections management principles and techniques, conservation, registration documentation, accession records, object numbering, rehousing, and/or cataloging standards.
- Knowledge of preservation issues in cultural institutions preferred.
- Knowledge of cultural heritage collections (archaeology/ethnography) and issues preferred, including indigenous cultural collections.
- Knowledge of PastPerfect or other collections management system preferred.
Certifications and Licenses
- None
Physical Requirements
- Frequently perform desk-based computer tasks, seated work, and use light/fine grasping.
- Frequently perform work under bright lights, work under magnification.
- Stand, walk, and write by hand, lift, carry, push/pull objects that weigh up to 30 pounds. May be required to lift/carry/push/pull heavier objects up to 50 pounds.
- *Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.
Working Conditions
- May work extended or non-standard hours, weekends and holidays based on business needs.
- May work in areas with exposure to dust, paint, chemicals, and other toxins.
Work Standards
- Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
- Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
- Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide,http://adminguide.stanford.edu.
Final offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of national criminal background check, national sex offender registry search and, where applicable, driving record.
Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Stanford University Archaeology Collections is committed to developing a diverse candidate pool.
Additional Information
- Schedule: Full-time
- Job Code: 1851
- Employee Status: Fixed-Term
- Grade: E
- Requisition ID: 90053