Conservation Housekeeper

Westminster Abbey; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 18,000 - 23,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff discounts: Abbey shop 20%, take‑

Pension and life assurance

Season ticket loan

Job summary

Westminster Abbey is seeking a part-time Conservation Housekeeping Assistant to join the Conservation team. You will help preserve historic interiors and artefacts, working on specialist cleaning of painted surfaces, stonework, woodwork and monuments.

You will monitor the fabric, support the Preventive Conservator and be part of the WA Salvage Team; the role is on-site with a focus on safeguarding heritage assets for future generations.

Qualifications

• Experience in a similar role within a heritage organisation, such as Heritage Cleaner, Housekeeper, Collection Care Assistant
• An understanding of conservation housekeeping practices
• Enthusiasm for the care of historic buildings
• Good attention to detail
• Organised, self-motivated and diligent
• Good communication skills with excellent spoken English
• Able to work at heights

Responsibilities

• To undertake conservation housekeeping in the historic interiors and exteriors of Westminster Abbey including specialist cleaning of painted and gilded surfaces, historic stonework, woodwork, monuments, carvings, historic floors, and other decorative features
• To care for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries and objects on display there, artefacts in storage and historic items regularly used as part of the liturgy
• To monitor and log change and damage to the historic fabric in your care through routine checking
• Assist the Preventive Conservator with the Integrated Pest Management
• Be a member of the WA Salvage Team

Skills

Heritage conservation

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Organised

Able to work at heights

Job description

Westminster, London

Conservation

Permanent Part-Time

16

V isited by well over a million people a year, Westminster Abbey is a working church, top London tourist attraction, and UNESCO World Heritage site. Our varied collection spans over a thousand years and contains artefacts and monuments of national and international significance.

We want to expand our Conservation Housekeeping team and are looking to recruit additional permanent positions. This is an exciting opportunity to become part of a dedicated and highly trained group of specialists who work alongside the Abbey conservators to help preserve the historic interiors and artefacts of Westminster Abbey.

Housekeeping forms the backbone of conservation practice at Westminster Abbey and poses an interesting set of challenges, many unique to the Abbey, not least because much of our historic collection is still used for the purpose it was made.

On a daily basis, the team follow bespoke timetables designed to conserve and protect museum status objects and fragile historic interiors, respond to the effects of mass tourism and meet the demands of a busy working church. In joining our team, you will play a key role in preparing for many important national services and help preserve this incredible building for future generations.

Key Responsibilities include

• To undertake conservation housekeeping in the historic interiors and exteriors of Westminster Abbey including specialist cleaning of painted and gilded surfaces, historic stonework, woodwork, monuments, carvings, historic floors, and other decorative features
• To care for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries and objects on display there, artefacts in storage and historic items regularly used as part of the liturgy
• To monitor and log change and damage to the historic fabric in your care through routine checking
• Assist the Preventive Conservator with the Integrated Pest Management
• Be a member of the WA Salvage Team

About You

• Experience in a similar role within a heritage organisation, such as Heritage Cleaner, Housekeeper, Collection Care Assistant
• An understanding of conservation housekeeping practices
• Enthusiasm for the care of historic buildings
• Good attention to detail
• Organised, self-motivated and diligent
• Good communication skills with excellent spoken English
• Able to work at heights

Working Hours

These are 16 hours per week, Monday and Tuesday, 7:00 am to 3:00 pm and the full-time equivalent hours are 40 hours per week

Onsite Arrangements

As a working church and a major visitor attraction, being present on site allows our teams to deliver exceptional experiences and maintain the unique atmosphere of the Abbey. Working on site each day is the default expectation for all staff to promote collaboration and connection.

Annual Holidays

The full-time holiday entitlement is 33 days per annum, including recognised public holidays.

Staff Discount

All employees receive a 20% discount on purchases from the Westminster Abbey shop and a 30% discount on purchases from the take-away catering outlets.

Pension Scheme and Life Assurance

All employees can join a Group Personal Pension plan, where the minimum employee contribution is 3% and the maximum employer contribution is 9% (as determined by the level of the employee contribution). You will be auto-enrolled into our qualifying workplace pension scheme after 3 months, if you meet the eligibility criteria.

All employees are covered by death-in-service life assurance, whether or not they choose to join the pension scheme.

Season Ticket Loan

A season ticket loan is offered after completion of the probationary period, repayable over 10 months.

Safeguarding

Westminster Abbey is committed to the safeguarding of children, young people and adults at risk. To prevent them from harm, we undertake appropriate checks (including the relevant level of criminal record check) on staff and volunteers and require them to complete relevant safeguarding training. This post requires a basic level criminal record check.