The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA) is Australia’s audiovisual archive, telling the national story by collecting, preserving and sharing audiovisual media, the cultural experience platforms of our time. The collection itself dates back to 1935, making it one of the world’s oldest audiovisual collections. It is also one of the country’s most used cultural collections, with around 125 million views of collection content each year. The NFSA is in a period of significant change. Following increased Government investment, the institution is in a process of digital transformation, establishing the NFSA as Australia’s most dynamic and valued cultural organisation. We are rebuilding our curatorial workforce and developing the NFSA’s capacity to digitise our collection at scale – to preserve it for the future, to make sure it can be discovered, and to share it with all Australians.
We continue to work on developing a stable, secure and future-proof workforce across our four physical sites based in Canberra and Mitchell in the ACT as well as in Sydney and Melbourne.
We are also undergoing a program of business improvement for many of our corporate systems to improve efficiency and reduce manual handling.
We are an ambitious organisation, and we aim to be an employer of choice within the Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums (GLAM) sector, providing exciting and challenging work, as well as favourable employment conditions and unique development opportunities for our staff.
About the Team
The Conservation Services team is part of the Conservation and Collection Management Section, Collection Preservation Branch. The team conducts an extensive work program providing a range of activities for the preservation and ongoing care of the audiovisual, documents and artefacts collection. The team has two streams: AV Conservation who prepare and preserve audiovisual material for digitisation, curatorial and access programs, conduct research and analysis of audiovisual materials; and the Collection Conservation team who look after the documents and artefacts collection, exhibition preparation and condition reporting. Both teams coordinate to undertake a range of collection care programs such as Integrated Pest Management (IPM), chemical management, collection assessments and procedures for hazards in collections.
The team provides technical advice regarding access and digitisation requests, undertakes straightforward and complex conservation works and ensures the national audiovisual collection is preserved by maintaining current policies and procedures.
The Opportunity
The Manager, Conservation will lead the conservation and preservation of the NFSA’s diverse collection, which spans audiovisual formats, objects, costumes, documents and technology.
The Manager, Conservation supports a team of 20 staff undertaking a wide range of tasks including preparing film materials for digitisation, undertaking conservation treatments, managing collection hazards, responding to external client requests for screening loans and external digitisation and AV format identification and assessment. The role is responsible for considering sustainable collection approaches ensuring resources are most effectively deployed and collection preservation outcomes benefit existing and future stakeholders.
The Manager, Conservation will have an interest in emerging preservation issues and maturing trends and will be motivated to deliver outreach and training activities.
The occupant will be an effective leader and problem solver to join the NFSA’s high performing team. The role will also support research and innovation and contribute to NFSA’s workforce planning and the operational program.
Job Description
Under broad direction, this position is responsible for delivering the following functions:
Provide strategic and practical leadership to the program and performance of the Conservation team relating to audiovisual, documents and artefacts, paper and photographic collections.
Create developmental opportunities and engagement to foster a professional working environment and knowledge sharing culture.
Proactively contribute to and support the Senior Manager Conservation and Collection Management in providing expert advice, analysis, reports, statistics, and forward planning relating to the conservation of the collection and work of the team.
Cultivate productive working relationships across the NFSA and actively engage with national and international audiovisual networks and industry practitioners keeping abreast of new developments, changing practice and disseminate NFSA knowledge in the field.
Develop, review and implement projects, policies and procedures relevant to conservation and collection care activities.
Develop a Conservation annual work program to sit alongside the Collection Digitisation targets and program, to meet digitisation, screening and projects milestones.
Selection Criteria
The successful candidate will demonstrate their capacity against the following:
Experience and knowledge of conservation and collection care practices and procedures as they relate to a national collecting institution and an audiovisual collection on analogue and digital formats, document and artefact, and paper and photographic material.
Demonstrated ability to lead a team to meet agreed strategic objectives and performance targets, manage resources and motivate staff to achieve section goals.
Proven ability to maintain productive working relationships, liaise effectively and negotiate with stakeholders through strongly developed and clear verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.
Highly developed project management, administrative and leadership skills, with particular emphasis on the ability to effectively implement and support change.
Knowledge or experience interpreting standards and delivering international best practice in collection management, conservation and preservation practices.
Desired Skills and Experience
Significant experience in audiovisual, document and artefact collection conservation practices preferably within the galleries, libraries, archives or museum sector.
How to Apply
When applying via our online e-recruitment system, please address the details in the ‘Key Responsibilities’ and ‘Selection Criteria’ by outlining in 1,000 words or less, how your skills and relevant experience demonstrate that you would be our ideal candidate. Your current resume is also to be included in your application.
In addition to an application and your resume, the assessment process for this position may also include an interview and referee reports.
We welcome and encourage applications from people with disability, the LGBTIQ+ communities, from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this position you must:
Be an Australian Citizen.
Satisfactorily complete an Australian Federal Police National Police Check.
What we offer you
We provide a diverse, inclusive, and supportive work environment with access to:
Great training and development opportunities.
Generous leave and flexible working arrangements.
Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP – a free counselling service for you and your family).
A competitive salary, plus 15.4% superannuation.
Rewards and recognition initiatives.
Cultural Values
We are an equal opportunity employer, embracing a diverse range of applicants such as veterans, and people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, LGBTQIA community members, individuals with disabilities and/or health conditions, as well as those from varied faith and cultural backgrounds. At the NFSA we prioritise the development of a safe, inclusive, and high-performance culture through shared actions and behaviours that align with our strategy and direction. This empowers our employees to effectively contribute to our goals.
The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia is committed to ensuring a child-safe and child-friendly environment. All employees are expected to demonstrate a commitment to, and support for these principles in theory and practice.
RecuitAbility
RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme; declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the job. For more information see: RecruitAbility | Australian Public Service Commission (apsc.gov.au)
