The museum actively welcomes job share applicants or those considering a
secondment for the duration of the fixed term contract.
Title:
Conservator – Egyptian polychrome organic objects
(Egyptian Re-Development Project)
Location:
Conservation Department, Ashmolean Museum
Grade:
6
Salary:
£25,854 - £30,870 p.a
Hours:
Full time, 37.5 hours per week
Reports to:
Head of Conservation
Contract Duration: Fixed Term Contract until end November 2011
Background Information:
The Ashmolean Museum is a department of the University of Oxford. It was founded in
1683 and is the oldest public museum in the country, housing the University's
internationally important and ‘Designated’ collections of antiquities, Western and
Eastern fine and decorative arts, numismatics, and casts.
The Ashmolean Museum is undertaking the redevelopment of its Egypt galleries, a
project that is expected to complete in November 2011. The Egyptian collections of the
Ashmolean are considered to be the most significant in the United Kingdom after those
of the British Museum; they embrace all cultural phases of Egypt from prehistory to the
Coptic Christian Period, and are particularly strong in objects from controlled
excavations. The Ashmolean holds some of the world’s premier Egyptian artefacts of
Predynastic and Protodynastic date, and a representative collection of objects from Tell
el-Amarna. The Nubian artefacts from sites in southern Egypt and northern Sudan,
largely derived from Oxford University excavations, are only second to those in Boston
in significance among museum collections outside Egypt and Sudan. In total these
collections comprise some 31,000 items.
The Egyptian collection contains a range of polychrome organic objects that will be
required for display. This includes rectangular and anthropoid coffin lids and boards,
the triple nested coffins of Djeddjehutyiuefankh, painted wooden models, boxes and
funerary statuettes. Some of these have not recently been displayed.
The postholder will report to the Head of Conservation who, in liaison with project and
curatorial staff, is responsible for the scheduling of work in accordance with the
strategic conservation needs and curatorial priorities of the collections held in the
Museum's five departments - Antiquities, Cast Gallery, Eastern Art, Heberden Coin
Room, and Western Art.
The Conservation Department is committed to accreditation under the Professional
Accreditation of Conservator- Restorers (PACR) scheme and supports continuing
professional development, under an agreed personal development plan, within the
University’s staff development procedures.
Job Description
Main Purpose of Job:
To work as a member of the conservation department team with Project Managers,
curators and gallery designers, preparing Egyptian polychrome organic objects for
display.
Work with and alongside others to be part of the installation team with specific
responsibility for conservation.
To contribute towards the provision of conservation expertise for the Egypt redisplay
project to required standards and within agreed policies and guidelines.
To plan, manage and implement preventive and interventive conservation and
collections-care operations that involve the location, protection, remedial conservation
or preservation of museum collections within an agreed conservation strategy.
Main tasks:
1 Plan, manage and implement complex examination, remedial and preventive
conservation projects in preparation for display of Egyptian polychrome organic objects
using methods and materials recognised as contemporary conservation practice and to
the highest standard within agreed procedures and schedules.
2. Record accurately and comprehensively any scientific examination undertaken, all
remedial work done and liaise with curatorial and research colleagues over the findings
and implications.
3. Plan and manage the protection of collections and items through monitoring of
environmental conditions, environmental improvement projects, and housekeeping
programmes and liaise with the Head of Conservation regarding the implementation of
any remedial action required.
4. Plan and manage the undertaking of conservation surveys and assessments of the
Museum's collections and other data gathering for collections and sites, in liaison with
museum staff involved in or affected by the Egyptian redevelopment project. Develop
the implementation of appropriate preventive and remedial conservation strategies to
agreed programmes and schedules set by the Head of Conservation in conjunction with
the Project Manager.
5. Review museum objects and related material for exhibition, providing conservation
assessment and, designing mounts, condition reporting and liaising with many different
sections of the museum.
6. Occasional supervision of volunteers, student placements, or contract workers who
may be appointed to undertake work in the Museum. Contribute to training and
induction for student placements and new members of staff at all levels.
7. Contribute to the development and implementation of proper standards of care for
the Museum's collections in accordance with accepted guidelines (e.g. MGC Collections
Care Standards) Provide planned and ad hoc guidance and support for museum staff,
identifying and scheduling interventive and preventive conservation and collections
care options including object and collections treatment projects, new storage,
housekeeping, transport and packing.
8. Contribute to the strategic development and operational improvement of
conservation and collections management policies within the conservation department
appropriate to the Museum's needs
9. Maintain safe working practice in accordance with the University's Health and Safety
Policy and current legislation
10. Maintain and improve personal standards of competence and awareness of
contemporary and historical conservation techniques through study and attendance at
training courses etc. as agreed with the Head of Conservation, and generally keeping
abreast of current professional knowledge and developments. Demonstrate commitment
to professional accreditation and continuing professional development
11. Provide support and assistance in the event of emergencies that threaten collections
and service continuity.
12. Undertake any other duties that can be reasonably required within the nature of the
duties in this job description, and are commensurate with the grade attached to it.
From time to time the Conservator may be asked to work on other areas of the
Museum’s collection whilst colleagues from the Conservation Team work on the
Egyptian Re-Development Project.
Conservator - Egyptian polychrome organic objects
Egyptian Re-Development Project– Person Specification
Qualifications:
Expected to be actively working towards or having achieved Accreditation under the
Professional Accreditation of Conservator-Restorers (PACR) scheme. Post-graduate or
graduate level professional conservation qualification, with significant experience of
implementing conservation or preservation work in a museum, historic collection or
similar setting, including planning and supervising the work of others. Experience of
the conservation for display of Egyptian polychrome organic objects is required.
Essential

Specialist knowledge and work-based experience of remedial/preventive
conservation of Egyptian polychrome organic objects.

Deep understanding, knowledge and experience of collections care and
conservation activities including appropriate preventive and remedial treatments

High degree of manual skill with a fully acceptable standard of practical
conservation work achieved routinely

Ability to gather, analyse, structure and present information for recording,
assessment and management purposes

Ability to plan the work of self and others (eg. volunteers) and to train and
supervise others where applicable (eg. Student placements) and to take full
responsibility for own work and that of others where applicable

Ability to plan and implement training and guidance for museum staff not
familiar with conservation procedures.

Ability to communicate effectively and ethically with others at all levels and able
to manage conflict in a professional and systematic fashion; able to deal with
complex situations holistically with confident decision making.

Ability to manage projects and workflow, assessing and prioritising resources as
necessary.

Willingness to work effectively and constructively as part of a team and to alter
patterns of working to meet organisational needs; able to see overall picture and
how individual actions fit within it. Able to work effectively to tight deadlines
and under pressure.
Further particulars:
This post is offered as a fixed term contract until end November 2011, and is subject to
the provision of original documentation which indicates the successful applicant’s right
to work in the UK. Successful applicants may be required to undergo a Police security
check.
Given the length of the contract the museum welcomes applicants wishing to
make secondment arrangements with their current employer.
Job share applicants will also be considered.
Pay and benefits:
Hours: 37.5 hours per week.
Salary: Scale 6, £25,854 p.a. rising to £30,870 p.a. Payment is made by credit transfer
to a bank or building society, monthly in arrears.
Annual Leave: The annual holiday entitlement is 38 days a year (including public
holidays and any Museum closed days).
Pension: The post is pensionable and the post holder eligible for membership of the
Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) which is a contributory scheme.
The University has a generous maternity leave scheme and also offers paternity leave to
expectant fathers, and adoption leave. It offers subsidised nursery places, a childminding
network, a holiday playscheme, and tax and National Insurance savings schemes. For
further information see http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/eop/child.
Equal Opportunities Statement:
The policy and practice of the University of Oxford require that all staff are afforded
equal opportunities within employment and that entry into employment with the
University and progression within employment will be determined only by personal
merit and the application of criteria which are related to the duties of each particular
post and the relevant salary structure.
In all cases, ability to perform the job will be the primary consideration. Subject to
statutory provisions, no applicant or member of staff will be treated less favourably
than another because of his or her sex, marital status, sexual orientation, racial group or
disability.
Data Protection
All data supplied by applicants will be used only for the purposes of determining their
suitability for the post, and will be held in accordance with the principles of the Data
Protection Act 1998 and the University’s Data Protection Policy.
How to Apply
All applications must be made on an application form and sent by email to
human.resources@ashmus.ox.ac.uk (It is possible, but not preferred, to send
applications by post to The Human Resources Department, Ashmolean Museum,
Oxford OX1 2PH.)
The closing date is midday Thursday June 16th.
As there are several staff members involved in the selection process it will not be
possible to alter the interview date, once agreed. In the interests of economy we will
only contact those candidates who have been shortlisted for interview and they will be
informed by telephone or email. If you do not hear from us within two weeks of the
closing date please assume that you have not been successful on this occasion.
Please note we are unable to pay travel expenses to interview from outside the UK.
Useful weblinks
The Ashmolean - http://www.ashmolean.org/
The Ashmolean Vacancies Page - http://www.ashmolean.org/about/vacancies/
The Ashmolean Staff / Contact List - http://www.ashmolean.org/contact/
Oxford University - http://www.ox.ac.uk/
Oxford University Personnel Services - http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/ps/
Staff Benefits - http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/ps/staff/benefits/
Oxford Maps & Directions http://www.ox.ac.uk/visitors_friends/maps_and_directions/index.html