Role Purpose
Under supervision and guidance, the Assistant Conservators care for the Museum’s National Historical Collection and other holdings in the Museum’s care. They support many of the Museum’s activities involving the collection and manage risks to preservation of the collection in the many diverse ways the collection is accessed, utilised and stored.
Key Accountabilities
Assistant Conservators are part of a diverse team, reporting to a Senior Conservator or Manager in a busy and dynamic environment. These roles will involve developing skills and working across all types of materials and a wide range of activities associated with exhibitions, collections care, and maintenance of the lab and equipment.
The roles facilitate varied conservation activities including condition reporting, pest and hazard assessments, interventive conservation treatments, preventive conservation and hazard management programs, preparation of objects for display, gallery maintenance, exhibition installs and de-installs, mount assessments and preparation, storage and collection rehousing activities. There will also be opportunities to participate in public programs, respond to occasional public and sector enquiries, and work on collaborative projects within the sector. Assistant conservators also represent their team at meetings where appropriate and may occasionally travel domestically and internationally to support touring exhibitions and remote collection work.
The positions entail working closely with conservation, registration and curatorial colleagues and a broad range of internal stakeholders across the organisation, as well as external stakeholders, volunteers and contractors on a variety of collection matters.
Skills, Experience and Qualifications
The successful candidates will have proven skills and experience in cultural materials conservation with a focus on paper, textiles, objects, paintings or preventative conservation areas, as well as general experience working across a broad range of material types and collection preservation activities.
They embrace a flexible working approach and are willing to support the team by working across all conservation areas when directed and required. They understand complex conservation treatment practices, including risk management, preventative and interventive. They can apply their skills to interventive treatments using established and new techniques, while being willing to experiment and take measured risks in developing treatment alternatives and improvements. They can demonstrate their capacity to work collaboratively with peers to implement initiatives that drive long-term preservation outcomes.
They have good analytical skills with the capacity to research efficiently, then analyse and present complex data to support decision-making processes. The successful candidates will have proven experience in preparing tratment proposals and the ability to implement, organise, monitor, report and deliver quality conservation outcomes.
They are good communicators who can effectively negotiate, influence, reflect and persuade to achieve results and positive outcomes. They are flexible, adaptable and outward-looking and able to navigate changing and competing demands with professionalism. They work collegiately with a broad range of museum colleagues to deliver the Museum's priorities.
They show commitment to supporting corporate goals and priorities and can plan and organise their own work, as well as actively engaging with planning the work of their team to ensure effective delivery of program objectives.
They have a proactive, pragmatic, solutions-focused mindset with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
They have good IT skills and prior experience of collection management systems and have proven capacityto utilise a range of information systems and tools to improve efficiency and productivity.
They have a demonstrated awareness and personal commitment to the APS Values and Code of Conduct.
They demonstrate a strong commitment to Work Health and Safety (WH&S) by actively supporting a positive safety culture, following the Museum's WHS policies and procedures, and complying with reasonable instructions to ensure alignment with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.
Essential:
- Technical knowledge and practical experience in cultural materials conservation, supported by tertiary qualifications or equivalent professional experience.
- Well-organised and demonstrated sound judgement, use of initiative and effective problem-solving skills.
- Good analytical and research skills and proven capacity to apply these to the work of materials conservation.
- Good communication, interpersonal, written, verbal and presentation skills.
- Technical knwoeldge of risks and hazards associated with collections and proven experience in applying these to effective risk assessment and management practice.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for this vacancy, applicants must:
- undergo a number of pre-employment checks, including a police record check
- hold or be eligible to hold a security clearance at the level specified in the position description.
The National Museum of Australia is an equal employment opportunity workplace. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and those from culturally diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply for roles at the Museum.
RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under RecruitAbility you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under RecruitAbility; declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the position.
The National Museum of Australia is committed to ensuring a child-safe and child-friendly environment. All employees are expected to demonstrate a commitment to, and support for, these principles, in theory and practice.
To Apply
Applicants must include a two-page pitch addressing their suitability for the role against the essential skills, experience and qualifications defined in the position description with their application. Applicants must also provide a current CV and contact details for two referees.
Applications close 11:59pm, Sunday 02 August 2026.
Visit https://www.nma.gov.au/about/employment and apply online.
Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process. If you require, or would like to discuss reasonable adjustments, please contact the Contact Officer for this position.
