Conservator / Assistant Conservator (Organic Objects)

About the Role

The National Heritage Board (NHB) of Singapore is seeking a dedicated Conservator or Assistant Conservator specialised in organic objects, particularly wood and plastics, to join the organic objects conservation team at the Heritage Conservation Centre (HCC). HCC, located at 32 Jurong Port Road, is an NHB facility responsible for the storage and conservation of artworks and artefacts in the National Collection.

Collections Overview

The National Collection under NHB custody comprises diverse socio-historical, cultural, ethnographic, and modern artworks and artefacts. The HCC Conservation Services team includes over 35 conservators across six specialisations, including organic objects conservation, offering a collaborative environment.

Role Purpose

The appointed conservator will provide comprehensive conservation care focusing on organic materials, especially wood and plastics. This includes the application, development, and research of conservation techniques related to the collections. The role also supports smooth exhibition, loan, and event operations within NHB and the Visual Arts Cluster. This is a two-year contract position.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Perform conservation assessments, documentation, and treatments on National Collection artworks according to HCC/NHB protocols to support exhibitions, loans, and institutional events.
• Serve as liaison officer for exhibition projects, managing conservation and administrative elements including preventive conservation measures.
• Conduct conservation testing and analysis to enhance the knowledge base for NHB collections preservation.
• Potentially participate in conservation research projects and related publications.
• Assist in maintaining and upgrading conservation laboratories.
• May provide supervision and on-the-job training to junior staff or others.
• Participate in specialized work groups focusing on conservation topics or institutional excellence.
• Engage in outreach activities aimed at raising conservation awareness among diverse audiences and the public.

Qualifications and Experience

• Master's degree in Conservation from a recognised institution or equivalent training and experience.
• Preferably a minimum of 6 years of practical experience in organic objects conservation, ideally within institutional or public settings; candidates with less experience may be appointed Assistant Conservator.
• Proficient in complex and detailed conservation treatments requiring manual precision and aesthetic sensitivity.
• Capable of conducting and implementing heritage science and conservation research aligned with HCC's sustainability strategy.
• Committed to continuous professional development through self-directed learning and training.
• Knowledge and experience with Southeast Asian and Asian cultural materials are advantageous.
• Sensitive handling of diverse multicultural materials and ability to exercise sound contextual judgment collaboratively.
• Excellent communication skills enabling teamwork across departments and institutions.
• Strong initiative with the ability to manage multiple tasks, organise, and prioritise effectively within deadlines.
• Capable of independent work and an effective team member; able to coach and share conservation expertise.
• Adaptable to a multilingual and multicultural work environment.

Additional Information

The selected candidate will receive an initial contract of two years at NHB's Heritage Conservation Centre.