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Conservator: Organics

British Museum

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Posted over 30 days ago...

Expired

Seize the opportunity to contribute to the renaissance of a world-renowned institution, The British Museum, as part of its Conservation team

Overview

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£33470

icon Location

Bloomsbury, UK (with occasional travel to other sites)

icon Expires

Expires at anytime

Organisation summary

The British Museum is a globally esteemed institution immersed in an exciting period of transformation, drawing over 6.5 million visitors in 2024. Innovation, culture, and history merge here, showcased by profound elements like the Bayeux tapestry loan.

Role Summary

  • We are looking to hire two Conservators - one on a permanent basis, focusing on the conservation of wood, furniture, and decorative surfaces, and the other for six months with possible extension, specializing in archaeological materials and decorative surfaces' conservation.
  • Key responsibilities include conservation activities, stakeholder engagement across the Museum, and international communities.
  • You will support the Museum's collections care through interventive and preventive methods using your specialist knowledge on organic materials conservation.

Role Requirements

  • Applicants must have a degree-level conservation qualification or its equivalent with a specialization in either wood, furniture, and decorative materials, or archaeological materials and decorative surfaces.
  • Demonstrable skills in the conservation of various organic material objects are essential.
  • An understanding of material deterioration mechanisms, along with conservation theory, ethics, preventive conservation practices, and excellent problem-solving and communication skills is required.

Application Process Details

  • The British Museum values diversity and promotes equality of opportunity without discrimination. We follow the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard for pre-employment screening, and no sponsorship is available for this role.

The British Museum is undergoing an extraordinary transformation, both intellectual and physical, including the loan of the Bayeux tapestry. As a world-renowned institution, we combine history, culture, and innovation, attracting 6.5 million visitors in 2024 alone.

The role: We are seeking two Conservators for our Conservation team. One position is permanent, focusing on the conservation of wood, furniture, and decorative surfaces. The other is a fixed-term role for six months, with the possibility of extension, concentrating on the conservation of archaeological materials and decorative surfaces. Both roles involve engaging in practice work with the collection and collaborating with stakeholders across the Museum and communities globally. You will contribute to the care of the British Museum's collections through interventive and preventive measures, utilizing your specialist knowledge in the conservation of organic materials.

Job requirements: Applicants must have a recognized professional conservation qualification to degree level or equivalent, with a focus on either wood, furniture, and decorative materials or archaeological materials and decorative surfaces. Demonstrable practical skills in the conservation of a range of objects made of organic materials are essential. You should have an understanding of the mechanisms involved in material deterioration and contemporary principles and practice in preventive conservation, along with conservation theory and ethical decision making. The ability to undertake highly detailed tasks under pressure and excellent communication and problem-solving skills are also required.

Benefits: Joining our team comes with several benefits, including 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 days after long service) plus 2.5 privilege days, in addition to bank holidays. We offer a generous civil service pension scheme, complimentary exhibition tickets, free entry at paid national museum and gallery exhibitions, and discounts on gift shop purchases. Employees also benefit from interest-free travel loans, rental deposit loans, and an Employee Assistance Programme for mental health support.

Additional details: The British Museum values diversity and is committed to promoting equality of opportunity without unlawful discrimination. We adhere to the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard for pre-employment screening. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

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