Conservator (Textiles)

The University of Manchester; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK university is seeking a Conservator (Textiles) to ensure the well-being of textile collections. This role involves collaborating with conservators and curatorial colleagues to increase public access through exhibitions and public engagement activities. The conservator will manage the preservation of significant historical and contemporary textiles, providing exciting opportunities to work with renowned collections and contribute to national projects. A fantastic pension scheme and exceptional annual leave are part of the benefits.

Benefits

Fantastic market leading Pension scheme

Employee health and wellbeing services

Exceptional annual leave entitlement

Additional paid closure over Christmas

Local and national discounts at major retailers

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with colleagues in conservation, collection care, and curatorial areas.
• Ensure the physical well-being of textile materials across museum collections.
• Deliver exhibitions, public engagement activities, and manage loans programmes.

Job description

Role Overview

The role works collaboratively with conservation, collection care, and curatorial colleagues, as well as freelance conservators and technicians, with the long‑term aim to preserve and increase public access to our collections, delivered through exhibitions, handling and public engagement activities, research and study visits, loans programmes, and through national and international touring projects.

The Whitworth is one of the UK's leading university art galleries. It holds pre‑eminent collections of historic, modern, and contemporary art, textiles and wallpapers. These collections are internationally renowned and designated as being of national importance. The role of Conservator (Textiles) is responsible for the physical well‑being of all textile‑based material across all these collections, encompassing post‑Pharaonic textiles from Egypt, European textiles and vestments from 15th to 18th centuries, Mediterranean and Islamic embroideries from 17th to 19th centuries, work of William Morris and other Arts & Crafts designers, 20th‑century British furnishing textiles and contemporary art textiles.

What you will get in return

• Fantastic market leading Pension scheme
• Excellent employee health and wellbeing services including an Employee Assistance Programme
• Exceptional starting annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays
• Additional paid closure over the Christmas period
• Local and national discounts at a range of major retailers

Equal Opportunities

As an equal opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit. Our University is positive about flexible working you can find out more here Hybrid working arrangements may be considered.