Job Description

About the job Paper/Photograph Conservator // World-Class Art Destination
About the Client
Our client is a landmark cultural institution located in Abu Dhabi, dedicated to showcasing modern and contemporary art from across the world, with a special focus on narratives from West Asia, North Africa, and South Asia. Designed to be a global platform for artistic dialogue, it brings together visionary architecture, ambitious curatorial programming, and community engagement to inspire new ways of thinking. This institution is part of Abu Dhabi's broader mission to cultivate a dynamic cultural landscape and strengthen the emirates role as a leading hub for arts and creativity.
Job Purpose
Lead the research, development, and delivery of preventive and ongoing conservation for the paper and photograph-based collections, ensuring appropriate documentation of all activities. Manage the day-to-day operations of the Museums conservation facilities, oversee and assure the quality of outsourced conservation work, and contribute to the advancement of professional standards in collection care.
Key Responsibilities:
Conservation Operations

• Research, conserve, and document works from the Museums collection, ensuring their long-term preservation and accessibility.
• Undertake examinations and conservation treatments, including preventive care, interventive measures, and where appropriate, reversible restoration.
• Carry out technical studies into the materials, methods of manufacture, and causes of deterioration, drawing on specialist scientific analysis as required.
• Assess works under consideration for acquisition, commission, preparing condition reports, conducting due diligence, and contributing to curatorial decision-making.
• Provide cost estimates and requirements for treatments, storage, and projects under development, including new acquisitions and commissions.
• Advise on the development and maintenance of storage and display environments, ensuring appropriate materials, configurations, and environmental standards.
• Provide expert advice on handling, packing, transport, installation, framing/mounting, and display of works within the Museum and for loans.
• Evaluate collections requested for loan and advise on requirements for safe exhibition, transport, and display.
• Maintain high-quality conservation documentation, including written reports, imaging, and other analytical records of examinations, treatments, and technical studies.
• Document all treatments and technical information, ensuring records are accessible across curatorial, registration, and collections teams.
• Contribute to research and documentation projects relating to acquisitions, commissions, and the permanent collection.
• Collaborate with colleagues across the museum to ensure the safe and effective care of collections.
• Commission, supervise, and review the work of external conservation specialists when required.
• Mentor and train future conservators through placements, exchanges, and professional development opportunities.
• Represent the Museum in national and international conservation forums, contributing to the advancement of professional practice and standards.

Shared Activity

• Ensure effective cascading of the functional strategy into unit business plans to ensure vertical alignment and horizontal integration with other interfacing sectional strategies.
• Manage the effective achievement of assigned objectives through the leadership of the unit by setting individual objectives, managing performance, developing and motivating staff to maximize performance.
• Act as a role model and drive adherence to organizational values and ethics by employees of the assigned unit to foster a value driven culture within the organization.
• Manage and ensure effective implementation of functional policies, procedures and controls covering all areas of assigned unit activity so that all relevant procedural/legislative requirements are fulfilled while delivering a quality, cost-effective service.
• Lead the identification of opportunities for continuous improvement and sustainability of systems, processes and practices considering global standards, productivity improvement and cost reduction.
• Ensure that all unit reports are prepared timely and accurately and meet requirements, policies and quality standards.
• Comply with all relevant EHS guidelines, policies and procedures, by reporting incidents and hazards in a timely manner, and reduce consumption of natural resources to support protecting the environment and ensure a healthy and safe work environment.

Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree (Masters or equivalent postgraduate qualification preferred) in Conservation, Conservation Science, or a closely related preservation and technical fields.

Experience

• 5-7 years of professional experience as a conservator in a museum, or equivalent cultural heritage institution.
• Proven expertise in conservation principles, materials, media, techniques, and best practices for storage and preventive care.
• Demonstrated track record of conservation research, with evidence of contributions to professional publications, conferences, and/or symposia.
• Recognized specialist in the field of conservation with national and international professional standing.

Skills

• Proficiency in English language. Arabic language proficiency would be a plus.
• Strategic thinking and business acumen.

• Excellent documentation skills, including clear and accurate reporting, and digital record- keeping.

• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and stakeholders.
• High level of attention to detail and commitment to professional and ethical conservation standards.

Skills Required