Project Conservator

Project Conservator

Join us at the Australian Museum and help us achieve our Mission to ignite wonder, inspire debate and drive change

About the Project

The Australian Museum is seeking an Exhibitions Project Conservator to join the Collection Care and Conservation team on a temporary contract during 2026.

The Project Conservator will coordinate the preventive and interventive conservation treatments required for selected Ornithology collection items for display in the redevelopment of the Australian Museum's historic Bird Gallery. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a significant exhibition project due for delivery in December 2026.

About the Role

The Project Conservator is responsible for coordinating the de-installation of the current bird collection on display and scheduling appropriate pest control treatments and carrying out or coordinating the conservation treatment program as required on newly selected collection items.

The successful candidate will work closely with Design and Exhibition teams, maintaining comprehensive conservation documentation, facilitating cross-departmental communications, managing project milestones, and working as part of a collaborative team.

Employment Status:

• Conservator 1
• Fixed term
• Full time 35 hours per week
• Period of engagement: January 2026 to December 2026

Click on the following links to begin the journey to find your new career at the AM

• Role Description
• AM Candidate Pack

You will be paid a competitive annual salary $88,035 - $95,384, plus employer's contribution to superannuation (currently 12%) and annual leave loading.

About you

We are seeking a passionate Conservator with demonstrated organisational and communication skills, a solid understanding of preventive conservation principles, and the ability to work effectively both independently and within a team environment.

Knowledge & Experience

• Demonstrated experience working with organic materials and understanding deterioration mechanisms
• Experience with collection management systems (EMu or similar databases)
• Previous involvement in museum or gallery exhibition development projects
• Experience coordinating conservation projects with multiple stakeholders

Essential requirements

• Tertiary qualifications in materials conservationor demonstrable equivalent professional experience, in a relevant discipline.

About The Australian Museum

The Australian Museum is truly a great place to work. We aim to be a leading voice for the richness of life, the Earth and culture in Australia and the Pacific. We commit to transform the conversation around climate change, the environment and wildlife conservation; be a strong advocate for First Nations' culture; and continue to develop world-leading science, collections, exhibitions and education programs.

Recent staff survey results confirm that our staff feel valued, accepted and supported and that they believe the AM is an inclusive workplace. AM staff also report a high level of job satisfaction.

The AM is located on the homelands of the Gadigal people and acknowledges and pays respect to the Gadigal people as the custodians of the land, sky and waterways, paying respect to Elders past and present.

Check out our current exhibitions and events here.

Benefits

Besides working together with other like-minded people, you will have access to professional development and dedicated Wellbeing programs.

How to apply

Applicants must submit (if submitted as attachment, please upload as PDF):

• A one to two page covering letter which addresses the role description's essential requirements, key knowledge and experience.
• Resume

As part of the online application process, you will be prompted to answer two targeted questions.

Give an example when you had to coordinate conservation work that involved multiple stakeholders with different priorities. How did you balance conservation requirements with project timelines and stakeholder expectations? What was the outcome?(300 words maximum)

• Describe a situation where you encountered an unexpected conservation challenge during a project with a firm deadline. How did you examine the problem, develop a solution, and ensure the work met ethical conservation standards while still meeting the project timeline?(300 words maximum)

For more details, Frequently Asked Questions and how to apply for the role go to I Work for NSW.

The successful applicant will be subject to national criminal records check. As recommended by Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), the Australian Museum encourages all applicants who can be safely vaccinated for COVID-19, to be so.

Contact person:Heather Bleechmore, Manager Collection Care & Conservation, Heather..Museum

Inclusive and welcoming

The Australian Museum is an NSW Public Service organisation and aims to attract and retain the right people for the right jobs. The AM is a diverse and inclusive workplace where genuine participation and contribution is enabled, and everyone, regardless of their background, identity or circumstances is valued, accepted and supported to thrive at work.

This means that we are embedding diversity and inclusion in everything we do on a daily basis, whether it be our recruitment processes, workplace culture, career development programs, customer service or policies and procedures. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment process to better enable you to shine, please reach out to the contact person or note this in your application.