Senior Conservator

WHO WE ARE

Opened in 1914 and welcoming over 1.3 million visitors annually, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is Canada's most-visited museum. At ROM, we are dedicated to building and sharing global collections, sharing knowledge, inspiring learning, and fostering community engagement. As a globally recognized field research institute, ROM houses an impressive collection of over 18 million artworks, cultural objects, and natural history specimens, showcased in over 40 galleries and exhibition spaces. We are committed to creating a space where art, culture, and nature intersect, connecting people and communities to the past, present and shared future.

As we continue to work toward our goals to transform and evolve as one of the world’s foremost museums, we seek passionate and dynamic team members who embody our mission and values.

WHO WE NEED

We are seeking a Senior Conservator of Organic Objects to provide advanced conservation expertise and leadership in the preservation, examination, treatment, and preventive care of objects in ROM’s collections and temporary custody.

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Conservation, you will independently assess complex conservation needs, develop and execute treatments, establish preservation standards, conduct and interpret technical research, and provide expert guidance across the Museum. You will play an integral role in exhibitions, galleries, acquisitions, loans, collections care, emergency response, and major institutional projects while balancing preservation requirements with access, interpretation, and operational needs.

As a senior member of the Conservation team, you will also oversee the effective operation of a conservation laboratory, establish priorities and workflows, and provide guidance and supervision to conservators, interns, volunteers, and project staff as required. This is an opportunity for an accomplished conservation professional to contribute deep technical expertise, sound judgment, and leadership to the stewardship of internationally significant collections.

HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT

• Examine collection objects, assess their condition and conservation needs, and develop and perform appropriate treatments supported by thorough written and photographic documentation
• Establish and apply preventive conservation standards for environmental conditions, handling, storage, mounting, display, packing, transportation, exhibitions, and loans
• Conduct technical examination and conservation research into object materials, manufacture, deterioration, treatment methods, and conservation materials, including coordinating and interpreting scientific analysis
• Provide conservation expertise for exhibitions, galleries, acquisitions, loans, collections moves, storage improvements, and other major museum initiatives
• Collaborate with curators, designers, collections professionals, and project teams to balance preservation requirements with access, interpretation, and operational needs
• Survey collections, assess risks, establish conservation priorities, and contribute to preventive conservation, emergency preparedness and emergency response
• Lead the effective operation of the conservation laboratory, managing workflows, priorities, equipment, supplies, budgets, and resource requirements
• Supervise, mentor, and provide technical guidance to junior conservators, interns, volunteers, and project staff as required
• Advance conservation knowledge and practice through research, professional development, publications, presentations, consultations, and public or educational programming

WHAT YOU BRING

• Master's Degree in Conservation with a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience, specializing in the conservation of organic objects; at least 3 years in a museum setting preferred. Alternatively, a combination of education and experience deemed acceptable.
• Advanced expertise in Organic Object conservation specialization, including object materials and fabrication techniques, deterioration processes, examination, preservation, and treatment
• Excellent knowledge of conservation treatment theory and practice, preventive conservation, and professional standards and ethics, including the CAC/CAPC Code of Ethics and Guidance for Practice
• Demonstrated ability to assess complex conservation problems, exercise sound professional judgment, and independently plan and execute treatments
• Experience with scientific examination and analysis, including coordinating analytical work and interpreting findings to inform conservation decisions
• Strong conservation documentation skills, including written and photographic documentation and the use of relevant digital, image management, and collections database tools
• Proven ability to manage complex projects, priorities