Senior Conservator and Head of Section (Inorganic Objects), Heritage Conservation Centre

[What the role is]

The Heritage Conservation Centre (HCC) is an institution of the National Heritage Board (NHB) and supports the collecting and display activities of 12 institutions under NHB and the Visual Arts Cluster. HCC’s main mission is to care for the National Collection, 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. The National Collection encompasses a wide range of art and heritage objects, including but not limited to decorative objects, social history objects, contemporary art installations, industrial and technical heritage objects, musical instruments, and re-functionalised objects.
Currently, the Conservation Services department at HCC comprises 6 conservation specialisations organised in sections: Inorganic Objects; Organic Objects; Paintings; Paper, Photographs & Digital Media; Textiles; and Conservation Science. HCC is now recruiting a Senior Conservator/ Head of Section (Inorganic Objects) to lead the Inorganic Objects conservation section.

[What you will be working on]

As Head of Section of the Inorganic Objects team, you will be expected to fulfil dual roles as a team manager and as a senior conservator: carrying out leadership and management functions, and delivering conservation work at an individual-contributor level.

Leadership and management functions

• Set the team direction in alignment with priorities defined at departmental and institutional levels while overseeing the day-to-day operations of the section.

• Manage team resources to prioritise, scope, and successfully deliver conservation support for collections-related projects, including exhibitions and storage, within NHB.

• Supervise staff in the section to reinforce constructive work behaviour and performance.  This includes mentoring and coaching staff, identifying training needs, and facilitating general staff development.

• Manage section staffing, including the hiring and selection of conservators and interns.

• Contribute to the management of the Conservation Services department and facilitate work across departments and divisions in NHB, while closely working with the other Heads of Sections and leaders of relevant working groups. This includes establishing and monitoring yearly work plans and administering budgets allocated to the section, according to HCC and NHB procedures.

• Represent HCC in collaborations with other institutions as and when required, to advance its reputation as a leader on conservation matters, locally, regionally and internationally.

• Oversee and provide advice on conservation work undertaken by conservators in the Inorganic Objects section, including collections care, conservation treatments, scientific analyses, and project management.

• Ensure that conservation guidelines and standards of practice for a holistic approach to collections care and access are based on current ethics and principles, and that they are timely and adequately implemented by the section within allocated resources.

• Set research directions for the section that are aligned with the overall research priorities of the Conservation Services department, and supervise and drive the resulting research activities in the section.

• Oversee and drive outreach activities of the section relating to collections care and conservation, which may include areas of professional collaboration, education, and capability development, involving both professional and non-professional target audiences that are internal or external to HCC and NHB.

Operational functions

As required, as in the capacity of an Inorganic Objects conservator:

• Manage exhibition projects, liaising between stakeholders to cover both 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 NHB institutions, the HCC Collections Management department, and other stakeholders.

• Identify, design, and execute complex interventive conservation projects and treatments on artworks and artefacts from the National Collection, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and according to HCC and NHB procedures.

• Carry out documentation and knowledge management processes to ensure that all conservation-related documentation is of good quality, appropriately comprehensive, and accessible in the long-term.

• Provide expert assessments of the condition and care requirements of proposed acquisitions.

• Contribute to and/or conduct conservation research projects to enhance collection knowledge and support access and use of the National Collection. When relevant and possible, initiate collaborations and build partnerships locally, regionally and/ or internationally, with main stakeholders including source communities and local communities 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 relating to collections care and conservation, for both professional and non-professional audiences that are internal or external to HCC and NHB. These may include working with relevant stakeholders to generate greater awareness, interest, and knowledge in preservation and conservation.

[What we are looking for]

• A relevant Masters degree in Conservation from a recognised training institution. Equivalent proven experience will be considered.

• Relevant practical experience of preferably 10 years in inorganic objects conservation and at least 5 years of proven leadership and management experience. Experience in an institutional/ public sector setting is preferred.

• Expertise in stone conservation will be an advantage.

• Proven experience in providing advice on complex conservation treatments, supervising less-experienced staff members, and managing projects (e.g. exhibitions, storage).

• Ability to carry out comprehensive and complex treatments with a high degree of cultural and aesthetic sensitivity and manual dexterity, while working under limited supervision.

• Experience in conducting research work in the conservation of inorganic materials, with proven dissemination of results. Solid record demonstrating scholarship and publications will be an advantage.

• Ability to develop and execute heritage science and conservation research in line with HCC’s research strategies around sustainability and vision as a centre of excellence.

• Broad understanding of modern conservation practice and its integration with the historical study of objects, proficiency in laboratory methods, and familiarity with analytical instrumentation.

• Keep up to date with developments in conservation through self-directed learning and training, with evidence of continual professional development.

• Possess exposure to 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 tropical climates and cultural materials from South-east Asia and Asia preferred.

• Possess initiative with the ability to effectively multi-task, organise, and prioritise work within a given timeline, within the dynamic environment of a complex organisation.

• 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 with stakeholders across departments and institutions.

• Ability to adapt to a multi-lingual and multi-racial environment.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Fluency in English is required.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel.

Work Location
The Senior Conservator will mostly be based at HCC (32 Jurong Port Road, Singapore 619104), and will be required to occasionally travel to other work locations in Singapore.

Successful candidates will be offered a 2-year contract in the first instance.