Archives Paper Conservator

**Job Title: Paper Conservator**

**Reports To: Archives Director**

**Supervises: Titles of employees supervised**

**FLSA Status: Exempt**

**Date Revised: March 7, 2025**

**Grade: 10**

**I. Purpose of Job**

The conservation manager will oversee the operations of the Maury County Archives conservation lab, which include conservation treatments, the creation of custom enclosures, housings, and supports, and monitoring of the environment and other preventive conservation duties to preserve the collections. The position supervises volunteers, plans training and outreach programs, and manages a calendar of production in concert with the Archives Director.

**II. Essential Job Duties**

**A. Conservation Lab**

• Manages and supervises the conservation lab.
• Performs conservation treatments on archival and library collections, maintaining written and photographic documentation of all work.
• Designs and creates preservation storage housings and exhibit mounts/supports for collections.
  
  

**B. Staff Development and Training**

• Provides training and education for archives staff, volunteers, and interns on environmental control, disaster preparedness, housing, and care and handling of historical collections.
• Trains and supervises the work of assigned staff, including volunteers and interns.
  
  

**C. Planning and Administration**

• Recommends standards and procedures for the preservation, treatment, handling, storage, and environmental protection of the collection.
• Maintains preventive conservation plan, including the integrated pest management system.
• Recommends laboratory operating budget to the Archives Director.
• Requisitions supplies and equipment for the laboratory.
• Works with Archives Director to maintain and/or update emergency/disaster response planning and training.
  
  

**D. Collaboration and Continuing Education**

• Keeps conservation techniques up-to-date by establishing and maintaining working relationships with other conservation departments and/or conservators.
• Maintains memberships and/or relationships with appropriate professional organizations.
• Attends continuing education classes and reviews journals and publications to keep informed of current research and advancements in conservation techniques
  
  

**III. Other Job Duties**

Performs Other Job Duties As Assigned.

**IV. Primary Job Challenges**

Incumbent may be presented with old documents or photographs that are badly damaged by water, mold, pests or other agents. The documents may be of poor quality and deteriorating in such a way that preservation will be challenging.

**V. Equipment Operated**

General office equipment, computer, copier, etc. General laboratory equipment which may include a mold vacuum, book press, etc.

**VI. Key Competencies Required**

• Job Content Knowledge:**
  
  

Demonstrated knowledge of conservation and preservation practices and the materials, technology, and techniques associated with them. Knowledge of the materials, characteristics, and historic and current methods of manufacture of paper, photographs, and books. Familiarity and experience with appropriate exhibition and environmental standards for collections, emergency/disaster planning and response, and completing collection surveys.

• Language Skills:**
• Level 3:** Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of ma agers, customers, and the general public.
• Mathematical Skills:**
• Level 2:** Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
• Reasoning Ability:**
• Level 4:** Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. In decision making, some choices are known while others may need to be identified. Some reliance on precedent. Ability to interpret a variety of complex instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Teamwork:**
  
  

Develops constructive and cooperative working relationships with others. Encourages others to express their ideas and opinions. Provides input into identifying and solving problems. Anticipates need of others for information about job tasks and work environment and provides it to them in a timely manner. Willingly assists others with job tasks when appropriate.

**VII. Physical Demands and Work Environment**

• Physical Demands:** Performance of the essential duties of this job requires the incumbent to:
• Frequently stand or walk.
• Frequently sit.
• Regularly use hands to finger, handle, or feel.
• Frequently reach with hands and arm.
• Frequently stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
• May be required to climb or balance.
• Regularly talk or hear.
• Occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.
• Work Environment:** Work is typically performed in an office environment with minimal exposure to the outside elements.
  
  

**VIII. Qualifications**

• Education and Experience:** The required knowledge, skill, and abilities to satisfactorily perform job duties are normally acquired through attainment of
  
  

A masters degree from a recognized graduate program in art conservation, specializing in paper, photographs, and/or library and archives, and

A minimum of two years of postgraduate experience performing conservation treatments and other preservation practices in a library, archives, special collection, or museum environment, or

A bachelors degrees from an accredited college or university with a degree in history/archives management/museum studies and a minimum of five years in an apprenticeship performing conservation treatments and other preservation practices under the supervision of a paper/photograph conservator credentialed with the American Institute for Conservation, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.