Part-Time Conservation Technician - Fair Lane

Posted on 1/25/2023

POSITION TITLE:         Conservation Technician
CLASSIFICATION:        Hourly Non-Exempt, Half-Time (up to 24 hours/week), Permanent	COMPENSATION: $18 - $19/hour
DEPARTMENT:             Historic Preservation	REPORTS TO:  Conservator
POSTING DATE:          January 2023	START DATE: Immediate

POSITION SUMMARY:
As a member of the Fair Lane Historic Preservation team, the Conservation Technician will play an important role in the Preservation, Conservation, and Restoration of Fair Lane: Home of Clara and Henry Ford, a National Historic Landmark. This position will assist the Conservator and the Head of Conservation and Collections with various projects, including, but not limited to, the regular cleaning and preventative care of all historic surfaces, the conservation and cleaning of hardware and light fixtures, cleaning and repair of architectural elements, replication of missing elements, and preparation of spaces for the needs of contractors and artisans.

This interdisciplinary, hands-on position will expose the chosen candidate to a wide variety of restoration and conservation activities, with an emphasis on education and skills development. The candidate should be motivated to gain experience within the Preservation and Conservation fields and be dedicated to furthering their education and training while working on a significant historical restoration project.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Regular cleaning of all historic surfaces. This includes dusting, washing, wiping of wood, glass, textiles, etc. based on established historic cleaning practices.
• The conservation and restoration treatment of architectural elements belonging to Fair Lane under the supervision of the Head of Conservation and Collections and Conservator
• Written and photo documentation of conservation assessments and treatments
• Collaboration on projects with both staff and contractors
• Maintaining organization and cleanliness of Studio, Workshop, and current project spaces
• Taking part in discussions with the Fair Lane team regarding treatment options, priorities, and goals
• Preparing for contractors – removing light fixtures, doors, covering floors, etc.
• Organizing historic materials in a professional and logical way
• Maintaining an active logbook of hours spent on each project
• Occasional evening and weekend event support as needed
• Other duties as assigned
• Opportunities and Additional Activities
• • Research related to object handling and conservation treatment
  • Replication and/or creation of object elements and patinas
  • On-site information gathering for off-site contractors and artisans, such as dimensions, scale, material, color, etc.
  • Blog posts with photos for our website and social media

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Strong interest in furthering their career in the fields of Conservation, Preservation, or similar field
• Excellent fine motor skills – experience with high-detail dexterity work and use of hand tools preferred
• Ability to problem solve and come up with creative solutions
• Flexibility and willingness to get out of one’s comfort zone
• The ability to work well in a collaborative team environment
• Must embrace a diverse and inclusive work environment where individual contribution is encouraged and valued
• Solid communication skills, both verbal and written
• Strong analytical and research skills are preferred
• Computer skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and file sharing formats such as Google Drive or DropBox are preferred
• Knowledge of the Collections Database software Past Perfect is preferred
• Familiarity with power tools and machine shop equipment is preferred

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds occasionally, and 15 pounds on a regular basis.
• Able to climb a 10-foot ladder

WORKING LOCATION & SCHEDULE:

• This role will be in-person with limited opportunities to work remotely

BACKGROUND & REFERENCE CHECKS:

• All offers of employment at Henry Ford Estate are contingent upon clear results of a thorough background check. Background checks will be conducted on all final candidates. Background checks include Prior Employment Verification, Personal and Professional Reference Checks, Educational Verifications, and Criminal Conviction Reviews.
• A criminal conviction will not result in an instant withdrawal of an employment offer. Henry Ford Estate considers the nature of crimes and their relationship to positions, the time since conviction, and the number of convictions when deciding if a candidate has clear results.

COMPENSATION:

This is a half-time (up to 24 hours per week), hourly, non-exempt, year-round permanent position with prorated benefits. Hourly rate is expected to be between $18 and $19 per hour, dependent upon experience; this position is eligible for overtime pay.

Half-time benefits include the following.

• 403(b) plan with a 3% employer contribution and 3% employer match.
• 7 days (56 hours) of Paid Time Off (PTO) earned annually; PTO is accrued on a biweekly basis at a rate of 2.15 hours.
• 8 hours of paid Volunteer Time Off (VTO)
• University of Michigan Dearborn Wellness Center membership opportunity.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply at Henry Ford Estate’s careers portal: https://bit.ly/HFECareers

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Henry Ford Estate is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.