Have you ever wanted to manage a conservation lab at a world-renowned museum? Do you thrive in a collaborative environment where you lead and motivate a team? The Denver Museum of Nature & Science (DMNS) invites applications for the position of Conservation Laboratory Manager. This position serves as the operational anchor for the Museum’s Avenir Conservation Center, providing the structure and oversight necessary for the team to excel. The role is designed for an organized professional who thrives on operational excellence and personnel management. Rather than focusing on independent conservation projects, the Manager serves as the primary architect of the laboratory’s workflows, ensuring the successful delivery of departmental goals through high-level project coordination and team leadership.

Job Class: Full Time
Hiring Range: $80,000 - $96,000
Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, evenings and weekends as needed
Direct Reports: 4

Key Responsibilities:

Team Leadership:

Supervise the Conservation Lab staff and oversee the professional development and contributions of interns and volunteers.

Operational Management:

Provide direction for the effective and efficient execution of all conservation and preservation tasks, ensuring the highest standards of excellence in laboratory operations and ethical care.
Develop short- and long-term plans for lab and the team and implement these by developing priorities and workplans for staff.
Facilitate the essential coordination between departments required for the long-term preservation of Museum collections.

The Avenir Conservation Center (ACC) at DMNS was established in 2022 through an extraordinary gift. The ACC is an advanced conservation laboratory and an entity that carries out expansive and culturally inclusive projects. At DMNS, conservators mainly engage with ethnographic and archaeological collections; however, other collection areas may be incorporated into the work of this position.

For the successful candidate there is future potential to support long-term strategy and direction for the Avenir Conservation Center in partnership with the Director of Anthropology and Conservation and other Science Division Staff.

Minimum Requirements

Master’s Degree in Conservation. 
5 years’ experience in conservation leadership, laboratory and staff management, and administration.  
Deep understanding of conservation standards, ethics, and preventative care to effectively guide the work of specialized practitioners and ensure institutional excellence.

Preferred Experience

Experience working with a wide range of materials, including organic, inorganic, and composite objects, and a variety of different natural history collections (anthropological, biological, geological, paleontological, and archival).
Experience with budget management
Ability to translate technical conservation needs into actionable plans for non-technical stakeholders, including exhibition teams and public programming departments.

Application Instructions

Applications must include a single merged PDF that contains: (1) a one- to two-page cover letter stating the rationale for interest in this position, and (2) a curriculum vitae with a list of names and contact information of three references.

Please submit your resume by 6:00 p.m. MT on Friday, May 8th. Applications will not be accepted after this time. DMNS reserves the right to close the position prior to this date. Applications may only be accepted electronically via the Museum's website.

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Conservation Lab Manager