Position at Cultural Heritage Project, Iraq

Program Director
Collections Conservation and Management Program
Iraq Cultural Heritage Project

Reports to: Project Director
Location: Erbil, Iraq
Department: Iraq Projects

Cultural Heritage Project (CHP) in Iraq, being implemented by
International Relief and Development (IRD), is designed to focus US
and international resources and expertise on rebuilding the
professional capabilities of Iraq's museum, heritage and archaeology
organizations, and antiquities preservation and management.

This is a two-year project funded by a grant from the U.S. Embassy
in Baghdad and administered by International Relief and Development.

CHP is a high profile project which will implement three key program
areas that have definable, tangible, measurable results: a) the
establishment of a new conservation and historic preservation
Institute in Erbil to serve preservation and training needs
throughout Iraq; b) the establishment of a professional environment
within the Iraq Museum to support its core objectives of
preservation and promotion of scholarship; and c) professional
development and capacity building of Iraq's museum and antiquities
staff

The Program Director will be stationed in historic Erbil, located in
northern Iraq, and will lead the Collections Conservation and
Management Program at the newly established National Training
Institute for the Preservation of Iraqi Cultural Heritage. This
Institute is designed to focus US and international resources and
expertise on rebuilding the professional capabilities of Iraq's
museum, heritage, and archaeological organizations.  The Institute's
primary areas of focus are:

    *   to serve preservation and training needs throughout Iraq;

    *   to assist with the re-establishment and expansion of the
        professional environment within the Iraq Museum in Baghdad
        and to support its core objectives of preservation and
        scholarship; and

    *   to identify and facilitate opportunities for professional
        development and capacity building of Iraq's museum and
        heritage staff

The Institute comprises two programs:  Collections Conservation and
Management and Sites, Monuments, and Buildings Preservation.  The
Sites, Monuments, and Buildings Preservation Program will be
developed by the US National Park Service in consultation with the
Iraq State Board of Antiquities and Heritage (SBAH).  It will have
its own Program Director who will be responsible for implementing
that program.

The Collections Conservation and Management Program will be
developed by the Walters Art Museum, Winterthur Museum and Country
Estate, the University of Delaware Art Conservation Department, and
the SBAH as a custom-designed curriculum formulated to meet the
short- and long-term preservation needs of Iraqi collections and
cultural institutions. Coursework will encompass the philosophy and
ethical issues of preservation; relevant science and analytical
methods; documentation; preventive conservation practices, including
cost-effective methods for proper display and storage of
collections, emergency recovery, and risk management; as well as
stabilization and treatment of collections. The development of
critical thinking, professionalism, advocacy skills, and practical
solutions will be emphasized.

The Program Director of the Collections Conservation and Management
Program will work in consultation with the program's partners on all
aspects of the program, including curriculum development, delivery,
and assessment, faculty selection and supervision, admissions,
student mentoring, and overall program evaluation.

The Program Director of the Collections Conservation and Management
Program will also work with the resident Erbil Project Coordinator,
who is appointed by IRD and is responsible for logistical oversight
and planning, financial administration and compliance,
infrastructure, and coordination with IRD, the US Embassy/Baghdad,
the Department of State, and other related programs.

The Program Director of the Collections Conservation and Management
Program will also coordinate as appropriate with the Program
Director of the Sites, Monuments, and Buildings Preservation
Program.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

    Master's degree or equivalent education and training

    Established knowledge of historic preservation issues

    Expertise in developing and /or implementing emergency
    preparedness plans

    Knowledge of Middle Eastern cultural heritage

    Strong interpersonal and communication skills

    High degree of flexibility and collaborative abilities

    Strong written and verbal skills in English

    Arabic language proficiency preferred but not required

Required Experience:

    7 years experience in object/archaeological conservation,
    including preventive conservation and archaeological site
    expertise

    Significant teaching experience and record of research and
    scholarship

    Project management and supervisory experience involving
    initiatives with multiple partners

    Experience working with people of diverse cultures

Please apply on-line through the "Careers" section of our website at

    <URL:http://www.ird.org>

Lois Olcott Price
Director of Conservation
Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library
302-888-4633


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 22:38
                Distributed: Saturday, January 10, 2009
                       Message Id: cdl-22-38-029
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