Conservation jobs in United Kingdom

About the role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a new role of Sculpture Conservator within our Conservation team. This role offers the unique opportunity to establish sculpture conservation as a discipline within the organisation.

You’ll already have extensive work experience in the museums sector with a recognised post-graduate conservation qualification or equivalent training/experience. To succeed, you’ll need to be resourceful, enthusiastic, and possess excellent interpersonal skills, alongside a strong network of professional contacts both in the UK and internationally.

This position is integral to the department, complementing existing conservation specialisms in preventive, paper, paintings, frames, and time-based media. The department has a strong emphasis on keeping up-to-date with developments in the wider profession and fostering a culture of research and teamwork.

Our sculpture collection is diverse, encompassing everything from classical marble busts to contemporary installations. It also involves collaborations such as the Artist Rooms collection, jointly owned with Tate. While you must be confident working across the collection, it’s expected that you will bring or develop expertise in a particular area, likely focusing on modern or contemporary sculpture.

The difference you’ll make

You will contribute directly to the organisation’s mission to make art work for everyone. You’ll identify both short- and long-term priorities, setting a clear work programme. You will play a crucial role in advancing our strategic goals, including our Equalities and Environment priorities. You will deliver core work to care for and safeguard the collection, contributing to the delivery of an ambitious exhibition schedule, a generous lending programme and busy acquisitions programme. Through research and outreach you will deepen our knowledge of our collection and help engage new audiences.

Reporting to the Head of Conservation your core activities will include:

1. Delivering sculpture conservation projects including interventive conservation treatments, potentially involving outsourcing work; managing larger conservation projects and initiatives; and providing conservation input into major cross-organisational projects.
2. Delivering conservation input for exhibitions involving sculpture, sometimes acting as the conservation lead for the exhibition.
3. Providing conservation advice for new acquisitions of sculpture and for sculptures included within our loans and digitisation programmes.
4. Leading the programme of ongoing maintenance of the outdoor sculpture; working with Collections Care and Visitor Services colleagues to ensure high standards of collections care in the gallery spaces and stores; and implementing preventive measures to safeguard the collection during transit.
5. Developing appropriate methodologies for documenting sculpture conservation work and completing documentation, including entering information into the collections management database.
6. Liaising frequently with other colleagues within the organisation; providing updates for the NGS Trustees; collaborating with living artists, artist foundations and trusts; responding to external enquiries; and actively participating in relevant external networks.
7. Keeping abreast of sector developments, and undertaking appropriate art historical and heritage science research, in order to enhance our knowledge of our collection and inform working practices. Delivering activities to widen our audiences and encourage engagement with conservation.
8. Recruiting and supervising interns and volunteers.

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 or equivalent training/experience.
2. Extensive work experience in the museums sector (post-education/training).
3. Professional accreditation through the Institute of Conservation (ICON) scheme, or actively working towards this.
4. Considerable experience of delivering preventive and interventive sculpture conservation across a wide range of formats and material types, with the ability to devise innovative solutions to unprecedented challenges.
5. Ability to undertake research, including using analytical equipment, and experience of writing for publications and social media.
6. Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience of public engagement.
7. Ability to work effectively as part of a team, often in a leading role.
8. Experience of line managing and supervising interns and volunteers.
9. Project management and planning skills, with the ability to work under pressure and prioritise workload to meet deadlines.
10. Strong connections within the sculpture conservation sector both nationally and internationally, and commitment to continuous professional development.
11. Knowledge of relevant Health and Safety regulations.
12. Good IT skills, including MS Office and image processing software.
13. Experience of using a collections management database.

It would also be great if you have:

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

Please apply directly via our careers portal. Applications via email will not be accepted. Closing date for completed applications is 12 noon on Monday, 06 January 2025.

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