Head of Conservation & Treatment Development

NHS Connecting for Health; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 51,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading national cultural institution seeks a Head of Conservation and Treatment Development to drive innovative conservation practices. This pivotal role involves leading conservation projects, managing teams, and engaging with global networks to enhance the institution's profile. Applicants should possess a post-graduate qualification in conservation and extensive experience to tackle complex preservation challenges.

Benefits

Generous benefits package

On-site gym

Annual leave entitlement of 25 days

Qualifications

• Extensive experience of conservation in a recognized capacity.
• Strong analytical and practical skills to evaluate conservation approaches.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop The National Archives' conservation programme.
• Manage complex conservation projects to ensure timely delivery.
• Engage with international conservation communities for collaboration.

Skills

Leadership

Problem-solving

Networking

Communication

Education

Post-graduate conservation or heritage science qualification

Job description

As the living, growing home of our national story, The National Archives is already a special place to work. We’re an institution nearly 200 years old with a collection spanning 1,000 years of history. But it’s where we go next that makes things really interesting.

In our strategic vision:Archives for Everyone,we set ourselves the challenge of becoming the 21st Century national archive - a different kind of cultural and heritage institution: Inclusive, Entrepreneurial, Disruptive. We won’t become this overnight. It will take time, focus, effort and daring.

That’s where you come in. Because we can’t do this without you.

Job Overview

Salary: £50,489 per annum

Contract type: Permanent

Band: G / Grade 7

Closing date: Sunday 15th June 2025 at midnight

The National Archives' Collection Care Department has a strong and growing reputation for its outstanding expertise in the conservation of archival collections. Looking after one of the largest and most important archival collections in the world, with documents from William the Conqueror to HM Queen Elizabeth lI, from Domesday to the Treaty of Versailles, from Shakespeare to Darwin, the conservation team provides up to date solutions to the most complex conservation problems.

We are looking for a highly motivated, very experienced, well respected, and creative expert to build on the success of recent years and to further develop The National Archives' conservation treatment agenda. You will build on the existing expertise within the department, drive innovation and firmly establish our team on the world stage of conservation.

Working in tandem with our Heritage Science Conservation Research, Conservation for Imaging, Preservation, and Collection Care Engagement teams, as well as relevant departments across the organisation, you will constantly benchmark our conservation practice against international standards and best practice. You will work closely with the Higher Education Sector and peers around the world to find ever new and innovative solutions to our complex conservation problems and you will expand our professional network to the benefit of the team's professional development and that of our collection.

A highly effective communicator, you will lead on The National Archives' conservation treatment programme, support our exhibition and public engagement agenda, and will push our publication output and presence at international conferences. Responsible for managing teams supporting the delivery of on-going conservation programmes, you will define priorities, manage risks, and will align the conservation programme with The National Archives' strategic plan.

As Head of Conservation and Treatment Development you will form part of Collection Care's Senior Management team, and you will assume strong leadership in the development and delivery of key strategic initiatives for the whole department in line with current and future objectives of The National Archives.

This is a full time post. However, requests for part-time working, flexible working and job share will be considered, taking into account at all times the operational needs of the Department.

A combination of onsite and home working is available and applicants should be able to regularly travel to our Kew site for a minimum of 60% of their work time.

How To Apply

To submit your application please click the 'Apply' button on this page. You will be asked to provide details of your work experience and write a personal statement, not exceeding 1200 words. In your statement please explain, using examples, how you meet the essential criteria below. You may draw on knowledge, skills, abilities, experience gained from paid work, domestic responsibilities, education, leisure interests and voluntary activities. Please note selection for interview will largely be based on the information you provide in this section.

We understand that you might use artificial intelligence (AI) and other resources to assist with your application; however, please ensure all information you provide is factually accurate, truthful, and original and doesn’t include ideas or work that isn’t your own. We encourage you to showcase your unique knowledge and skills using your own voice.

Job Description

Role and Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and foresightedness to ensure the development, promotion and delivery of The National Archives' conservation programme in line with the organisation's business objectives and research priorities.
• Proactively engage in the testing of new theories and practices based on sound evidence to inform the strategic development of Collection Care in line with business objectives.
• Deliver conservation projects to highest internationally accepted standards and develop projects that will serve The National Archives and other interest groups. Ensure the outcomes of your teams' work are published and disseminated widely to enhance our reputation and our international presence.
• Expand Collection Care's capacity through identifying and exploiting funding applications and collaboration at national and international level.
• Manage and deliver highly complex and time sensitive conservation projects in collaboration with multiple partners to ensure projects are completed on time and within budget, exploring new technological solutions wherever possible.
• Represent The National Archives and network with the higher education and wider professional conservation sectors to develop collaborative and peer reviewed projects in the areas of conservation and stipulate wider academic research and interest.
• Ensure communication on strategic issues with internal and external stakeholders to maintain the visibility, credibility and delivery of conservation treatment at The National Archives. Provide technical and scientific expertise to inform The National Archives' strategic planning and practice.
• Identify and exploit funding opportunities to support The National Archives' research programme and work closely with the organisation's Grants Manager in this area.
• Develop strategies to enhance Collection Care's public and academic profile and to target new audiences for future engagement.
  
  

Working Conditions

• Normal office environment
• Conservation Studio and labs
• Display Screen Equipment user
• Moving items up to 10kg in weight
• May come into contact with distressing or harmful material
  
  

Person Specification

Essential

• Post-graduate conservation or heritage science qualification. Expert knowledge and extensive experience of conservation in a recognized capacity.
• Strong intellectual capacity and technical skills to engage conservation experts and scientists within and outside your own specialist field alongside high analytical and practical skills to effectively analyse and evaluate conservation approaches.
• Very strong problem-solving skills and creativity to address the most complex conservation problems and to develop innovative solutions whilst exploring new technological methods, particularly in documentation and knowledge sharing.
• Demonstrably strong ability to develop, manage and deliver high level conservation projects and to explore unchartered territory.
• Very strong networking, collaboration and negotiation skills, with the ability to build strong links with senior staff at The National Archives and with university departments and the public alike.
• Sound judgement, critical thinking and decisiveness to drive The National Archives' conservation agenda.
• Extensive management skills and the ability to prioritise projects relating to their wider impact and to balance competing claims for resources.
• Excellent communication skills both written and oral and for different audiences and a track record of peer reviewed publications and presentations at international level.
  
  

Desirable

• Specific expertise in book and/ or paper conservation.
• Experience of teaching and mentoring.
• Experience of academic and/ or scientific research.
• Experience with the media
  
  

Other Requirements

• A combination of onsite and home working is available and applicants should be able to regularly travel to our Kew site for a minimum of 60% of their work time.
• Must be prepared to travel nationally and internationally as required, at times at short notice
• Occasional overnight stays will be required.
  
  

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is

found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service

D&I Strategy.

Benefits

Generous benefits package, including pension, sports and social club facilities, onsite gym, discounted rates at our on-site cafe and opportunities for training and development. Annual leave entitlement of 25 days per calendar year (rising to 26 days after 2 year’s service, and incrementally to 30 days after six years) and 10½ days public and privilege holidays per annum.

Any move to The National Archives from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility athttps://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk; (opens in new window)

Selection process details

Reasonable adjustments

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact The National Archives via [e-mail] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
• Complete the ‘Reasonable Adjustments’ section of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional
  
  

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

People working with government assets must completebasic personnel security standardchecks. (opens in new window)

Nationality Requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of theEuropean Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in new window)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
  
  

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in new window)

Working for the Civil Service

TheCivil Service Code (opens in new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission'srecruitment principles. (opens in new window)

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

This vacancy is part of theGreat Place to Work for Veteransinitiative. (opens in new window)

Contact point for applicants

• Name: The National Archives Recruitment Team
• Email: [e-mail]
  
  

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact The National Archives via email: [e-mail] If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitment-complaints/ (opens in new window)