Please find the USAJobs.gov posting for a Conservator (Costumes and Textiles) at the links below. Application window opens October 6 and closes October 20, 2023 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time.

Job open to the public at the following listing: [24R-YH-309774-DEU-NMAAHC]

This full-time, permanent, federal position has a salary range of $78,592 – $102,166 per year at the GS-11 to GS-12 level. 

Duty Station:

Landover, MD

Summary:

The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo.  This position is in the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a national museum for the study and exhibition of African American history and culture. 

Duties:

The Conservator (Costumes and Textiles) serves as a part of a team of conservators in the conservation and preservation of textile and costume collections within the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC).

In this position, you will:

• Work with curators and exhibition teams on the care and display of textile and costume materials and participate in an active exhibition and rotation schedule.
• Treat, care for, preserve, and research all NMAAHC textile and costume-based materials.  Responsible for independently designing, proposing, documenting and completing appropriate conservation treatments on a wide variety of costume and textile materials within the collection. 
• Provide written guidance and input on unit guidelines and procedural guidelines regarding preservation parameters for handling, storage, transport, IPM, disaster prevention and recovery, risk assessment and management, and collections care strategies, plans and goals.
• Engage with the curator, and/or the artist, studio assistant or estate to foster relationships that support the long-term care and display of works in the collection.  
• Work with collection managers to assist with the planning of appropriate storage or textile and costume materials.  Ensure that the collection, whether in view, in storage or on loan, is housed in safe environments to minimize shock and vibration, and that environmental levels are maintained.  Identify and explain storage and handling improvements to staff and interns, as well as demonstrate and construct improved housing and handling.