Paper Conservator for the Campus Conservation Initiative, The Harry Ransom Center

Job Posting Title:

Paper Conservator for the Campus Conservation Initiative, The Harry Ransom Center

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Hiring Department:

Harry Ransom Center

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue Until Nov 07, 2025

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Location:

UT MAIN CAMPUS

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Job Details:

General Notes

The Ransom Center Preservation & Conservation Division seeks an energetic and knowledgeable paper conservator to join our team as Paper Conservator for the Campus Conservation Initiative. The Preservation & Conservation Division at the Ransom Center includes an expert team of five conservators plus preservation technicians who house, treat, and preserve book, paper, and photographic collection materials. The Campus Conservation Initiative (CCI) was established within the Preservation & Conservation Division in 2021 to provide conservation services for special collections and archives across the campus community, including the Briscoe Center for American History, the Alexander Architecture Archive, the Benson Latin American Collection, and the Art Galleries at Black Studies. Now in its fifth year, the CCI continues to treat and preserve a wide range of collection formats to support instructional and scholarly use, exhibition, and loan of collection materials from campus partners. 

Purpose

As a conservator in the Harry Ransom Center’s Preservation and Conservation Division, provide conservation treatments for paper-based collection materials for the following University of Texas at Austin special collections: the UT Libraries (including the Benson Latin American Collection and the Alexander Architectural Archives), the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, and Art Galleries at Black Studies (AGBS).

Responsibilities

• Perform conservation treatments at all levels of complexity for a range of works on paper, including documents and manuscripts, architectural drawings and reproductions, maps, posters and prints, works of art on paper, and other paper-based materials. Provide full written and photographic documentation of treatment activities. Treatment may be carried out for other materials as appropriate to the conservator’s expertise and experience.
• Liaise and consult with curators and collection managers in campus collecting institutions on the care and treatment of collections. Work with campus partners to assess treatment needs, develop annual treatment plans, and coordinate the day-to-day operations of the Campus Conservation Initiative.
• As an integral member of the Harry Ransom Center’s Preservation and Conservation team, participate in division-wide activities, including planning, meetings, tours, and the cooperative maintenance of conservation equipment and labs. Assist in supervision and training of interns and volunteers.
• Pursue research and professional opportunities as appropriate. Communicate to university audiences through a range of methods about conservation and CCI activities.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree from a recognized graduate art conservation education program with a specialization in paper conservation or library and archives conservation.
• Experience carrying out conservation treatment of works on paper (including documents and manuscripts, works of art on paper, and other paper-based works) in libraries, special collections, archives, or museums.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Experience collaborating with curators, special collections managers, and conservators in a team environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of materials and technologies encountered in the creation and conservation of the full range of works on paper. Demonstrated knowledge of the nature of paper and inks, colorants, adhesives, and material technologies as applied to the creation of artistic, literary, and documentary works.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Secondary area of specialization and experience in photo conservation or book conservation.
• Prior conservation experience in a research library or archives setting.
• Demonstrated knowledge of basic research methods, exhibition standards, building environment systems, disaster planning and response, conservation trends, and collection surveys.

Salary Range

$61,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

• Ability to work in a standard office environment.

• Ability to work with conservation variables including chemicals and mold.

• Ability to work with conservation equipment including sharp instruments.

Work Shift

• M-F, 40 hours between 7AM-7PM

Required Materials

• Resume/CV

• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded.  Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

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Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.