Supervisory Conservator (Textiles)

Supervisory Conservator (Textiles)

Department: Other Agencies and Independent Organizations

Location(s): New York, New York

Salary Range: $105481 - $137128 Per Year

Job Summary: The Smithsonian Institution (SI) is the world's largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. This position is located within Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum (CHSDM). Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum is responsible for historical and contemporary design and is the steward of one of the most diverse and comprehensive design collections in existence with more than 215,000 design objects spanning 30 centuries.

Major Duties:

• The Supervisory Conservator (Textiles) is responsible for coordinating and supervising the conservation treatment of the entire collection of over 210,000 objects, both by specialists on the museum's staff and outside contract conservators. In this position, you will: · Provide exhibition conservation services, guidance, and assistance to the Exhibitions Department and relevant departmental contacts. Advise on the use and application of various exhibition techniques and materials and their effect on the condition and preservation of collections items. Reviews exhibition plans and participates throughout the exhibition development process to ensure that CHSDM's collections and borrowed collections are at minimal risk while exhibited. · Provide general conservation advice, assistance, and training. Advises and assists the museum staff on the handling, storage, loan, exhibition, analysis and preservation of museum collections and related material. Develops and assists in the application of approved methods of preventive conservation and storage techniques. · Assess collections and tests materials. Examine collections to identify the nature and extent of actions required for stabilization, preservation and/or repair or treatment. Observes the actual nature and condition of collections items and uses standard assessment techniques, methods, and equipment. Records the examination, illustrated by sketches and photographs as needed, including scientist's reports and supportive data such as radiographs or other analyses, and explains their relationship to recommended treatment. · Supervise the work of at least three full-time conservation staff plus intermittent conservators and mount makers as needed and provides day-to-day team leadership oversight. Assign and evaluates work to subordinates. Give advice, counsel, or instruction to employees on both work and administrative matters.

Qualifications: GS-12 Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal Service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as applying professional conservation principles to the treatment, preservation, and exhibition of museum collections, such as works on paper, textiles, and/or three‐dimensional objects; providing exhibition conservation support by reviewing plans, advising on materials and installation methods, preparing or overseeing condition reports, and monitoring objects on display; and providing preventive conservation guidance and training related to handling, storage, loan, and exhibition of collections. Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages and should clearly demonstrate how your experience aligns with the responsibilities and specialized experience required for this position. Do not copy language directly from the vacancy announcement, as you will be deemed ineligible for consideration. Instead, provide detailed, descriptive information about your actual experience. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Part-time and/or unpaid experience related to this position will be considered to determine the total number of years and months of experience. Be sure to note the number of paid or unpaid hours worked each week. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are qualifying by education and/or you have education completed in a foreign college/university described above, it is your responsibility to provide transcripts and proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study. For instructions on where to fax these documents, see the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. In an effort to streamline our hiring process, SI employees whose current position of record is in the same job series 1001 and who are in a Federal competitive service appointment as this advertised position, are not required to submit a transcript with your application package. However, if selected, you will be required to provide a copy of your transcript before your start date in the position. Time-in-Grade Requirements: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under a non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying).

How to Apply: Click on the "Apply Online" button on the upper right side of the page. Please Note: You must apply for this position online through the 'Apply Online' button and submit required supplemental documents (if they are relevant to you). Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages. You may submit required documents by uploading them online during the application process. The complete application package, including any required documents, is due in the Smithsonian Office of Human Resources on the closing date of the announcement by 11:59 PM Eastern Time. If you are unable to apply online, paper applications may be accepted with prior approval of the Contact Person listed below.

Application Deadline: 2026-05-07