Paper Conservator (Archive)

About the role

We are seeking an experienced and passionate Paper Conservator looking for their dream job. It’s a rare opening to join our dedicated and talented Conservation team. You’ll work across all three of our stunning galleries based in the heart of Edinburgh and with our extensive and exciting collection of world-class art.

You must have a degree with a recognised post-graduate conservation qualification in Paper Conservation or substantial practical experience. Preferably, your hands-on experience will be within an art gallery, museum, or similar cultural/heritage organisation. You’ll be resourceful and enthusiastic, with excellent interpersonal skills and a good network of contacts.

This new role will give you the opportunity to establish an approach for the conservation of our archive, identifying short-term and long-term priorities and setting a work programme. You’ll make a vital contribution to the delivery of our strategy, including our exciting range of exhibitions and displays along with our Equalities and Environment priorities.

Through research and outreach activity, you will enhance our knowledge of our collection and help to attract new audiences. You’ll deliver core work to care for and safeguard the collection and contribute to the delivery of an ambitious exhibition schedule across our galleries, a generous lending programme from our diverse collections, and a busy acquisitions programme.

The Archive collection is extensive, diverse, and complex. It incorporates paper-based material, photographs, slides, glass plate negatives, time-based media (including analogue, digitised, and born-digital film and video), textiles, books, ceramics, artist materials, and artefacts. Therefore, you must be confident undertaking assessments and implementing preventive and remedial conservation measures across varied materials and formats.


The difference you’ll make

Your core activities will include but not be limited to:

1. Delivering paper conservation projects including interventive conservation treatments for objects that fall outside your area of expertise. Undertaking research and benchmarking with other organisations to devise appropriate rehousing and basic treatment approaches.
2. Delivering conservation input for exhibitions involving archive material, sometimes supporting paper conservation colleagues in exhibition preparation.
3. Providing conservation advice for new acquisitions of archival material, and for archival material included within our loans and digitisation programmes.
4. Maintenance of the collection, working with the Archivist and colleagues to ensure high standards of collections care in the archive and library spaces; and implementing preventive measures to safeguard objects during transit.
5. Developing appropriate methodologies for documenting archival material and completing documentation, including entering information into our collections management database.
6. Liaising frequently with colleagues across the organisation, including other conservators, technicians, registrars, and curators.
7. Keeping abreast of sector developments in paper and archive conservation and undertaking appropriate art historical and heritage science research, in order to enhance our knowledge of the NGS collection and inform working practices. Delivering activities to widen our audiences and encourage engagement with conservation.
8. Working with volunteers and external conservation specialists.

Who we are looking for

To succeed in this role, you’ll need the following range of knowledge, skills, and experience:

1. Educated to degree level with a recognised post-graduate conservation qualification in Paper Conservation or equivalent training/experience.
2. Proven work experience in the museums sector (post-education/training).
3. Professional accreditation through the Institute of Conservation (ICON) PACR scheme, or a willingness to work towards this.
4. Experience in condition surveying archive collections, identifying at-risk and hazardous objects, and implementing solutions for safe transport and public access.
5. Experience of delivering paper conservation projects for a range of formats and material types, with the ability to devise innovative solutions to unprecedented challenges.
6. Experience of caring for non-paper-based archival materials (including time-based media) or a willingness to gain this knowledge.
7. Ability to undertake research and experience of writing for publications and social media.
8. Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear and accurate documentation.
9. Ability to work effectively as part of a team, sometimes in a leading role with experience of supervising interns and volunteers.
10. Time management and planning skills, with the ability to work well under pressure and prioritise workload to meet deadlines.
11. Strong connections within the paper conservation sector, and commitment to continuous professional development.
12. Knowledge of relevant Health and Safety regulations.
13. Good IT skills, including MS Office and image processing software.
14. Experience of using a collections management database.

It would also be great if you also have:

1. Experience of factoring equalities and environmental sustainability into your work.

Please apply directly via our careers portal.

Closing date for completed applications is 12 noon on Tuesday, 05 November 2024.

National Museum Directors' Council, Tate Britain, Millbank, London SW1P 4RG.