This job will remain open until filled. Applications will be reviewed as they are received.
About Colonial Williamsburg
The Foundation brings history to life for new generations through careful research, conservation and preservation and by providing immersive programming and authentic resources for learners, educators and researchers throughout the world. Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, it is the largest living history museum in the US. Its textile collection is intensively studied and displayed to inform CWF’s educational mission. Numbering over 10,000 items, the Foundation collects decorative art textiles and garments up to 1840 and folk art items up to today.
About the Position
The Assistant Conservator of Textiles shares responsibility with the senior conservator for enhancing the protection and preservation of Colonial Williamsburg’s cultural assets. This work is performed in a strong team environment that includes curators, registrars, and exhibits colleagues. The conservation department has over 40 conservation staff across 9 specialty labs. We have access to excellent digital resources, a well outfitted multimodal imaging suite, tethered image capture for documentation, portable x-ray fluorescence, FT-IR spectroscopy, polarized light microscopy, SEM, microfade testing, digital x-radiography, and other examination, analytical, and chemical testing equipment.
The textile conservation lab maintains a dynamic exhibitions schedule for the collection at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg and for outgoing loans. In support of CWF’s educational mission, the lab is very active in a wide range of outreach activities and is an active mentoring site that offers opportunities for individuals at pre-program to postgraduate levels.
The assistant conservator is active in examining textiles from the Foundation’s collection, designing and proposing treatment protocols, and carrying out conservation treatments in compliance with the Code of Ethics of the American Institute for Conservation and in support of the Foundation’s exhibition objectives. Display mounting for the textile collection is largely created and implemented in the conservation lab by its conservators.
We are seeking an individual with a master’s degree in art conservation, or equivalent with a focus on textile conservation. Preference will be given to those candidates that have at least three to four years of post-graduate experience in textile conservation.
For those with the preferred 3-4 years of experience, compensation is $23 – $25/hour, a potential annual salary of $47,840 – $52,000, assuming a 40-hour work week. The above hourly rate is commensurate with experience. This is a permanent full-time position eligible for our full range of benefits. CWF supports an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible workplace.
Successful candidates must be able to work legally in the United States and submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
How to Apply
The posting is being finalized. The link to our job board is here.
To apply please review the position description when it is posted to the job board, submit a letter of interest and CV/resume, and complete the online application.
