Conservator, Public Art & Monuments

Job Classification Title: Conservator Public Art & Monuments
Job ID: 350
Division: Economic Development & Culture
Section: Arts & Culture Services
Work Location: CITY HALL, 100 QUEEN ST W
Job Stream: Communications & Protocol
Job Type: Temporary, Full-Time – 6 months
Salary/Rate: $38.74 – $42.43 / Hour
Hours of Work (bi-weekly): 70.00
Shift Information: Monday to Friday, 35 hours per Week
Wage Grade: 12
Affiliation: L79 Full-time
Job Code (PSG): TF0468
Number of Positions Open: 1
Posting Date: 07-10-2019
Expiry date: 20-10-2019

Job Description

Reporting to the Manager, Cultural Partnerships, the Conservator, Public Art & Monuments, plans, executes and documents conservation treatments and maintenance for the 300+ objects in the City’s Public Art and Monuments Collection.

Major Responsibilities:

• Performs conservation treatments on the collection to prevent damage, and deterioration, and/or improve structural stability or appearance, using scientific knowledge, technical procedures, artistic/historical sensibility, manual skills and professional judgement.
• Participates in the coordination, planning and monitoring of conservation initiatives, ensuring a cooperative approach to meeting objectives, adherence to schedules and budgets, and any contractual obligations.
• Contributes to the annual work plan for public art conservation and maintenance.
• Identifies objects in a collection requiring maintenance and preventive treatment, and reports findings to the Manager.
• Recommends effective and efficient conservation and treatment services based on conservation needs assessments, feasibility studies, cost/benefit analyses and determination of appropriate staffing requirements and training.
• Liaises with a variety of staff, including architects and engineers, to complete feasibility studies on complex projects.
• Prepares scopes of work, requests for quotes/proposals, and budgets for conservation treatments and maintenance projects, and monitors expenses against approved budgets in order to remain on budget.
• Monitors the performance of contracted vendors performing conservation treatments and maintenance.
• Undertakes routine conservation tasks not requiring specialized materials, such as cleaning, graffiti removal that can be done by cloth, etc.
• Provides professional advice on public art conservation and maintenance services to managers, staff, and other individuals and organizations to ensure that the best and most appropriate practices are followed.
• Responds to urgent requests, from City staff and Councillors, for repairs and graffiti removal from the public art collection.
• Generates and maintains permanent conservation records, including condition reports, treatment reports, photographic images, and technical data on materials used in conservation of the collection.
• Ensures that collection records and other relevant data are secured, maintained, and developed to meet legal, administrative and intellectual requirements.
• Promotes and facilitates ease of access to the public art collections, records, and related resources to City staff, cultural institutions, academics and researchers.
• Assists with the technical review of proposals donated or submitted to public art competitions.
• Reviews and provides comments on maintenance manuals for completed public art acquisitions, both by commission and by donations.
• Contributes to the development of policies and procedures concerning the conservation and maintenance of public art.
• Undertakes other special projects related to the Public Art and Monuments Collection.

Key Qualifications:

1. Post-secondary degree or diploma in a relevant area of conservation of cultural property or the relevant combination of education and experience.
2. Considerable experience with the treatments of public art works and monuments made up of a variety of materials.
3. Considerable experience with coordinating projects, including overseeing project budgets.
4. Considerable experience with conducting research, writing reports, and analyzing artwork.

You Must Also Have:

• Highly developed verbal and written communication skills, with an ability to communicate and simplify complex information with a broad range of stakeholders.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to perform under pressure, respond to multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong research and analytical skills.
• Commitment to continuous learning about new techniques, materials, technologies, and applications for conservation and maintenance.
• Knowledge of the Professional Code of Ethics as set by the Canadian Association for Conservation of Cultural Property.
• Ability to work outdoors in all seasons, attend construction job sites, and climb on scaffolding and be prepared to work from height in an aerial lift.
• Knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act as it relates to the duties of this position.

Work for the City you love

Toronto is Canada’s largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. Consistently ranked one of the world’s most livable cities, we are a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture. Join the award-winning Toronto Public Service as a Conservator, Public Art & Monuments within our Economic Development and Culture Division.

How to Apply:

For more information on this and other opportunities with the City of Toronto, visit us online at https://bit.ly/2VdU9t0. To apply online, submit your resume, quoting Job ID 350, by October 20, 2019.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve. Learn more about the City’s commitment to employment equity.

Accommodation

The City of Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

Should you require Code-protected accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs. Disability-related accommodation during the application process is available upon request. Learn more about the City’s Hiring Policies and Accommodation Process.