Object Support Preparator

Exciting opportunity to join Te Papa as an Object Support Preparator

Are you a technically skilled person with a passion for cultural heritage collections, problem-solving, and enjoy working in a team of like -minded people?

We're looking for an Object Support Preparator to join our Exhibition Services team at Te Papa Tongarewa, New Zealand's National Museum. Reporting to the Manager Exhibition Services, this position sits within the Collections, Knowledge and Communities Directorate; home to our core museological practices.

Purpose of the position

This position is responsible for providing safe storage, transit, display supports, and related advice for collection items. It also supports the wider Exhibitions Services team by assisting with the installation and deinstallation of collection items from exhibitions when required.

What success looks like

After your first year, you will have built close working relationships with your team members across Exhibitions Services, as well as with other key teams, such as Collection Care, Curatorial and Design. Your colleagues would describe you as flexible, adaptive to change, collaborative and a strong problem solver.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, fabricate and generate documentation of storage, transit and display supports for collection and loan items.
• Effectively deliver storage, transit and display supports for collection items, including maintenance of workshop spaces, to support the work programme.
• Provide technical advice, assistance and solutions.
• Share skills and knowledge and build internal and external networks and capabilities.
• Ensure that any delivery risk is monitored and managed on a day-to-day basis.

Skills, experience, behaviours. We are looking for someone who brings:

• Proven experience in the design, fabrication and documentation of supports to store, transit and display collection items or similar.
• Experience in a similar museum, gallery or creative design industry.
• A relevant technical qualification.
• Sound carpentry, metalwork and sewing skills, with experience working across diverse materials such as wood, plywood, steel, acrylic, resins, fabrics and paint. Ability to interpret design plans, estimate quantities, time and costs. Familiarity with Vectorworks is a bonus.
• A working knowledge of safe workshop practices.
• A team player with excellent communication and time management skills. The ability to work with minimal supervision and co-ordinate with multiple staff across teams to complete activities.
• Awareness of cultural considerations. Knowledge of Māori protocols when handling, supporting and displaying taonga.

What we offer

• A supportive, values-driven team environment
• A workplace committed to Te Tiriti
• Comprehensive benefits including onsite Kindergarten, subsidised parking, café and store discounts, and free entry to paid exhibitions

Other Information

This is a permanent part-time position, 32 hours per week, based at Te Papa Tongarewa, Tory Street site, Wellington.

For more details, please refer to the attached Position Description.

If you are viewing this advertisement on a website other than the Te Papa job board, the Position Description may not be accessible. In this case, please visit jobs.tepapa.govt.nz to view the Position Description and apply.

Applicants must have the legal right to work in New Zealand. Pre-employment checks will be undertaken.

The starting salary will be between $67,669 - $80,357 gross per annum (pro-rata to part-time hours), based on skills, experience and internal relativities.

How to apply

Please ensure you submit your CV and a cover letter via jobs.tepapa.govt.nz

Applications close: Sunday 11 October

If you have questions, please get in touch

For a confidential discussion, contact Tijana Cvetkovic - Manager Exhibitions Services via [email protected]