Job Description

Senior Conservator (Inorganic Objects), Heritage Conservation Centre

The Heritage Conservation Centre (HCC) is excited to share the recent decision taken by the National Heritage Board (NHB) to broaden the scope of the National Collection of Singapore. The National Collection currently includes socio-historical, cultural, ethnographic, modern, and contemporary artworks and artefacts, spanning a wide range of material types. From 2023, design and archaeological collections will be added, with a major expansion of the maritime archaeological collection already planned. Consequently, HCC is now recruiting to address the associated collection needs and build its adequate professional capability.

HCC is an institution of NHB and supports the collecting and display activities of 12 institutions under NHB and the Visual Arts Cluster. HCC\xe2\x80\x99s main mission is to care for the National Collection of Singapore, facilitate its current and future access and promote its use while enhancing its cultural significance. HCC is located in a purpose-built facility that serves as the centralised storage and conservation labs for the National Collection of Singapore.

Currently, the Conservation Services Department at HCC is made up of a team of 35 conservators and comprises 5 conservation specializations organised in sections: Objects, Paintings, Paper, Textiles, and Conservation Science. The Objects Section constitutes the largest team and is set to grow further. To maintain organisational agility and to address collection needs, the Objects Section will be re-organised into two sections in the near future: Organic Objects and Inorganic Objects. The conservation of maritime archaeological material will come under the purview of the Inorganic Objects Section.

To address the associated collection needs and build its adequate professional capability, HCC is now recruiting a Senior Conservator to lead the newly-reorganised Inorganic Objects Section with the already existing specialists in the conservation of inorganic artefacts. We seek candidates with a specialisation in the conservation of inorganic materials or in archaeological conservation, with a preference for specialisations in ceramic, stone, or maritime archaeological conservation. The expected respective roles and duties alongside the requirements for each position are described below. The description is made with a focus on, but not limited to, inorganic materials.

Key Responsibilities

Management and supervisory functions

As the Head of the Section leading the Inorganic Objects section, the successful candidate will report to the Chief Conservator and is expected to:

• Co-facilitate the smooth transition of the Objects Section into the Inorganic Objects Section.This involves adapting existing work processes and developing new procedures and leading the upgrading and maintenance of the conservation lab with regards to treatment of inorganic materials. It requires working in close collaboration with the team members from the Conservation Services. Set the directions for the section, in alignment with the priorities defined at department and institution levels while overseeing the day-to-day operations of the section.
• Manage section staffing, including the selection, oversight and evaluation of conservators and interns.
• Supervise the section, mentoring and training of staff to reinforce constructive work behaviour and performance. This requires nurturing staff development while working in close collaboration with relevant divisions of the NHB to identify individual and sectional training needs, develop training roadmaps, initiate, plan and execute internal and external training opportunities to enable continuous improvement in skills and knowledge of conservators from the section.
• Develop HCC\xe2\x80\x99s capabilities in the conservation of maritime archaeological objects.This requires leading the team in developing competencies in maritime archaeological conservation, providing conservation support in documentation and storage of newly-acquired maritime archaeological material, and establishing a new lab space equipped for the conservation of maritime archaeological collections.
• Establish and monitor yearly work plans and administer the budget allocated to the section, according to HCC and NHB procedures and in concertation with the other heads of section and the Chief Conservator.
• Support Chief Conservator and contribute to manage HCC Conservation Services Department and facilitate cross-departmental/museum/institution/divisional work while closely working with the other heads of sections and/or leaders of the relevant working groups.
• Assist HCC Director and its senior managers to manage HCC, as and when required.
• Represent HCC when collaborating and/or negotiating with other institutions while advancing its reputation as a leader on conservation matters, locally, regionally and internationally.

Conservation related functions

• Oversee the collection care support and the conservation treatments undertaken by the section, provide advice on artefact/artwork treatment options, and oversee sampling, examination, and materials analyses undertaken by conservators in the team and other stakeholders.
• Oversee that the establishment of conservation guidelines and standards of practice are adequately based on current ethics and principles and that their implementation are timely and adequately implemented to reach holistic approach to collections care and access within allocated resources.
• Supervise the research activity of the section.While working with the other Conservation Services Managers and relevant stakeholders, the successful candidate is expected to set the sectional research priorities and to contribute to formulate an active, influential, and coherent program of research for the conservation department in accordance with the collection needs, its expected use, the overall institutional, geographical, and climatic context of HCC and Singapore alongside the urgency to reduce energy consumption considering the global climate crisis.
• Promote and supervise the outreach activity of the section while working in close collaboration with the other Conservation Services Managers and relevant stakeholders to consolidate the professional capability in conservation and collection care - inside and outside of HCC and a local, regional and international levels.
• As required,

- provide expert opinion about the condition of proposed acquisitions.

- manage exhibition projects, liaising between stakeholders to cover conservation

related and administrative aspects of exhibition preparations, including preventive

conservation as necessary;

- provide advice on collection display methods and maintenance of collections

storage facilities to staff at museums/institutions, the HCC Collections Management

department, and other stakeholders;

- identify, formulate, and execute complex interventive conservation projects and

treatments on artworks and artefacts from the National Collection while working

with all relevant stakeholders and according to HCC and NHB procedures.

- implement and execute documentation and knowledge management processes to

ensure that all conservation-related documentation is comprehensive and includes

all relevant sources; well-captured and recorded; adequately accessible and

properly preserved.

- contribute to and/or conduct conservation research projects to enhance collection

knowledge and artefact significance, and/or support its current and future access

& use. Whenever relevant and possible, initiatecollaborations and build

partnerships locally, regionally and/ or internationally, with main stakeholders

including source-community and local community of users.

- present conservation findings and research results at local or international venues

and publish articles on conservation techniques and practices.

- develop and conduct outreach activities for the public and special interest groups

in collaboration with relevant stakeholders to generate greater awareness, interest

and knowledge in preservation and conservation.

Requirements

• Bachelor and/or Masters in Conservation from a recognised training institution or equivalent proven experience will be considered.
• A relevant practical experience of preferably minimum 10 years in inorganic objects conservation or archaeological conservation and at least 5 years of proven leadership experience.
• Expertise in ceramic, stone, or maritime archaeological conservation will be an advantage. Institutional/ public sector experience is preferred. Candidate with less experience may be considered for the role of Conservator.
• Proven experience in providing advice on complex conservation treatments, supervising staff members with lesser experience, and managing projects (e.g. exhibitions).
• Experience in conducting research work in the areas of conservation of inorganic materials or archaeological conservation, with proven dissemination of results. Solid record demonstrating scholarship and publications will be advantageous.
• Ability to carry out comprehensive and complex treatments with a high degree of cultural &/or aesthetic sensitivity and manual dexterity and while working under limited supervision.
• Ability to develop and execute heritage science and conservation research in line with HCC\xe2\x80\x99s research strategies around sustainability.
• Keep up to date with current conservation development through self-directed learning and training. Evidence of continual professional development.
• Experience in handling multi-cultural materials with sensitivity and sound contextual judgements in applying conservation principles and practices, while working collaboratively with relevant stakeholders. Familiarity and experience with cultural materials from South-east Asia and Asia preferred.
• Possess initiative with the ability to multi-task, organise, and prioritise work within a given timeline.
• Ability to lead, coach and impart conservation skills and knowledge effectively.
• A strong team player with good interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively across departments and institutions. An effective communicator and enthusiastic networker who thrives in the highly collaborative, dynamic environment of a complex organization.
• Ability to adapt in a multi-lingual and multi-racial environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Fluency in English is required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.

*All applicants will be notified whether they are shortlisted within 6 weeks of the closing date of this job posting.

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