POSITION DESCRIPTION: SENIOR OBJECTS CONSERVATOR (DUBAI)

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1 POSITION DESCRIPTION: SENIOR OBJECTS CONSERVATOR (DUBAI) 53 Victoria Avenue Chatswood NSW 2067 Australia t f w Title Division/Department Reports to Location Senior Objects Conservator (Dubai) Conservation Division Operations Manager, Sydney Office Dubai, UAE PURPOSE The Senior Objects Conservator (Dubai) heads a team of conservators working on the Saruq al Hadid Archaeological Project based in Dubai, reports to the ICS Operations Manager on management and personnel matters, and is supervised by the ICS Lead Senior Objects Conservator (Sydney-based). The incumbent is responsible for advising and working to a high standard on all technical aspects of the project, guiding the conservation team, writing reports and project updates, and liaising with a range of project managers and archaeological staff in Dubai and Australia. ENVIRONMENT International Conservation Services provides a diverse range of services for the conservation of heritage and cultural material. Our clients range from government through institutions and corporations to private individuals. ICS employs approximately 25 staff in conservation, administration and management roles, mostly based in Sydney, Australia. ICS has been appointed as conservators for the Saruq al-hadid Archaeological Research Project (SHARP), an international collaboration between academics, professionals, and students investigating the prehistoric site of Saruq al-hadid, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, led by the University of New England, Armidale, NSW (UNE). The ICS Dubai Conservation team will work with UNE and Dubai Municipality staff and be based in a Dubai Municipality facility in the United Arab Emirates. The three-year project will commence in January ICS will cover a range of living costs for staff based in Dubai, including medical insurance, an annual return flight home, and shared accommodation (or staff may identify and pay for separate accommodation). Staff must be eligible to obtain a UAE working visa, which ICS will both facilitate and cover costs. The United Arab Emirates is a moderate and progressive Muslim state, and many non-muslim beliefs and ways of life are tolerated and accepted. However, there are some rules of which every resident and visitor should be aware. ICS staff must be prepared to abide by those rules, which cover a range of activities including consumption of alcohol, possession of drugs, dress code, and public displays of affection. The incumbent will also need to be sensitive to local customs and religious festivals. A brief summary can be found at: 1

2 There are two main work environments where staff will work: the conservation laboratory in central Dubai, and the Saruq al Hadid site, an isolated location approximately 75km from Dubai. Fieldwork is anticipated to occur during the UAE winter months. KEY RELATIONSHIPS Supervision The Senior Objects Conservator (Dubai) reports to the ICS Operations Manager on management and personnel matters, and is supervised by the ICS Lead Senior Objects Conservator (Sydney-based). The Senior Objects Conservator (Dubai) supervises the ICS Objects Conservator (Dubai), and leads the conservation team which will comprise of locally appointed conservators and conservation technicians. Collaboration and Communication Internal: ICS Conservator (Dubai) ICS Lead Senior Objects Conservator ICS Operations Manager External: Project Director (UNE) Field Director (UNE) Archaeology Project Team (UNE and DM) Head of Archaeology (Dubai Municipality) Conservators (Dubai Municipality) Conservation Trainees/Technicians (Dubai Municipality) Archaeology Section Staff (Dubai Municipality) Sub-contractors Suppliers MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES Management of treatments Undertake conservation treatments to a high technical standard in accordance with the AICCM Codes of Ethics and Practice, and equivalent international codes. Advise on, guide and implement appropriate treatment methodologies for a wide range of materials found at the Saruq al Hadid Archaeological site. Conduct research to achieve outcomes on more difficult work. Manage treatments to achieve timely and effective outcomes within the constraints of time and budget. Maintain relevant treatment documentation and records. 2

3 Training and professional development Provide training for local staff on treatment methodologies and broader conservation approaches to build local capacity for archaeological conservation in Dubai. Contribute to the skills development of peers and direct reports in technical, professional, management and interpersonal areas. Actively engage in personal professional development, e.g. through on-the-job acquisition of expertise, formal training, and through professional activities, organisations and events. Teamwork and leadership Manage the smooth functioning of team workflow and productivity, including improvements in work practices, scheduling, resourcing, timely delivery of work, and administration. Ensure relevant information is disseminated regularly to ICS and local staff. Develop and implement a regular lab maintenance schedule. Ensure there are adequate resources, materials and equipment available to support the team to operate at maximum efficiency. Work effectively and efficiently with ICS administration staff to support the smooth operation of business processes. Client Relations Obtain a clear understanding of client expectations in relation to treatment outcomes, and consult with the Lead Conservator or client as required. Develop and maintain excellent relations with the client, and work with ICS Management to manage this activity as required. Effectively manage client expectations in relation to treatment outcomes and capacity building of local staff. Provide regular advice to ICS Management on client feedback or concerns about the project, and support ICS management to effectively deal with problems. Contribute to building the reputation of ICS by providing a high quality service. ACCOUNTABILITIES AND CHALLENGES Working with a multinational team in the UAE, including field work in an isolated desert environment. Planning, directing and managing a variety of treatments in an environment where schedules may be changed to accommodate other unexpected, urgent work. Planning, directing and managing the conservation of an existing collection of approximately 7,000 artefacts, and accommodating the expansion of the collection as new finds are excavated during the project. Managing the expectations of both external and internal stakeholders through effective communication, consultation and negotiation. Fostering harmonious relations within the team and with other ICS staff. Being responsive to the needs and expectations of the client, whilst working within the guidance of internationally recognised standards and professional codes of ethics for the conservation of cultural and heritage material. Providing practical and timely solutions to sometimes complex conservation challenges. All conservators employed by ICS are required to abide by the AICCM Codes of Ethics and Practice, and commit to achieving and/or retaining professional membership of the AICCM. 3

4 AUTHORITY TO ACT As a senior staff member, the incumbent has a significant degree of autonomy in the management and direction of their own work, as agreed with the Lead Senior Conservator. They are required to prioritise work requests, allocate resources in the team, ensure all decisions are made in compliance with company procedures and policy, and represent ICS in all aspects of their work. Financial delegations are in accordance with specific ICS procedures that will be established for this project. PERFORMANCE All staff are involved in performance assessment and career review with a focus on the key outcomes and results identified for their position. Performance will be assessed in relation to achievement of the Major Responsibilities outlined above. SAFETY AND WELLBEING RESPONSIBILITIES All staff must: Take reasonable care of, and cooperate with actions taken to protect, the health and safety of both themselves and others. Report all accidents, incidents and hazards to their supervisor as soon as is practicable, both verbally and in writing using the appropriate form. Be familiar with, and work in accordance with, the requirements of the 2011 Work, Health and Safety (WHS) Act and Regulations, the ICS WHS Manual, and any further requirements that are specific to the UAE environment. Supervisors and managers must: Do whatever is reasonably practical to ensure that both the workplace and the work itself are safe, in consultation with staff affected. Actively seek to identify improvements to current WHS practices. 4

5 KEY SELECTION CRITERIA Skills and knowledge 1. Thorough and up to date knowledge of the physical and chemical construction of metal, ceramics, stone, glass, plastics and organic materials, and their characteristic deterioration mechanisms. 2. Strong technical expertise in objects conservation and ability to analyse and develop appropriate treatment methodologies for different object types. 3. Ongoing engagement with changes in current conservation practice, and willingness to consult on the development of appropriate treatments. 4. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including technical report writing and negotiation skills. 5. Proficient use of business technology including Microsoft Office software and digital photography. Personal attributes 6. Strong interpersonal skills that foster good management and excellent teamwork, including the mentoring and training of peers and direct reports. 7. Strong commitment to client service and building effective working relationships with both clients and ICS staff. 8. A calm and inclusive approach to managing communication issues that may emerge in a cross-cultural environment. 9. Pragmatic approach to problem solving. 10. Outcome-focused, with a helpful attitude and excellent work ethics. 11. Enthusiasm for contributing to and furthering the work and aims of ICS. 12. Strong, demonstrated commitment to the AICCM Codes of Ethics and Practice and the Burra Charter or equivalent. Experience 13. Minimum 5 years experience as a conservator, including performance of technically challenging conservation projects. 14. Experience working on an archaeological site, with archaeological collections and with metal artefacts, will be highly regarded. 15. Experience in the technical training of staff in the approach and methodologies of conservation. 16. Demonstrated experience in working with staff from diverse backgrounds and building an effective and collaborative team. 17. Demonstrated project management to meet deadlines. 18. Demonstrated ability to manage time and materials budgets effectively. 19. Previous experience of working on an archaeological site will be valued. 5

6 Qualifications 20. Tertiary qualifications in conservation, with specialisation in objects conservation. 21. International Drivers Licence would be useful. APPROVALS AND REVISION Written by Ruth Thompson, Operations Manager Approved by Julian Bickersteth, Managing Director and David West, Executive Director Approval date 26 November 2014 Revision dates 6