Paper Conservator Touring Exhibitions

National Galleries of Scotland; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 41,000; Part time

Job summary

National Galleries of Scotland invites applications for a Paper Conservator to join the Conservation Department in Edinburgh. This part-time fixed-term role (17 hours per week) supports the care and display of works on paper, with a pro rata salary of £37,614–£41,138.

You will have practical hands-on experience in paper conservation within a gallery or museum setting, and ideally a post-graduate qualification in Paper Conservation or substantial equivalent experience.

Qualifications

• Experience conserving paper in a gallery or museum setting.
• Post-graduate qualification in Paper Conservation or substantial practical experience.
• Strong communication and organisational skills.

Responsibilities

• Conserve and prepare works on paper for display and lending.
• Collaborate with the conservation team to safeguard collections on paper.
• Assist in the management of the touring programme and outreach related to works on paper.

Skills

Paper conservation

Hands-on experience

Communication

Project management

Education

Post-graduate conservation qualification in Paper Conservation

Job description

Location Edinburgh Salary £37,614 - £41,138 per annum (pro rata) plus generous benefits. On site with flexible working Application Deadline Thursday, November 12, 2026 Job Summary

Part-time 17 hours per week (2.5 days)

Fixed Term to 31 March 2030

About the role

We are delighted to announce a new opportunity for a Paper Conservator to join our Conservation Department at the National Galleries of Scotland.

We are seeking a skilled and collaborative Conservator to help us share our collection with audiences around the world. You must have practical hands‑on experience in the conservation ofpaper within an art gallery, museum or similar cultural or heritage organisation. Ideally, you will have a degree with a recognised post‑graduate conservation qualification in Paper Conservation or substantial practical experience.

To succeed in this post, you’ll enjoy being resourceful, proactive, testing out new ideas, and providing solutions. You will have excellent interpersonal skills and be a clear communicator. With strong organisation skills you will have the ability juggle several projects simultaneously.

Our extensive works on paper collection is often on the move. You’ll be at the heart sharing this collection with the widest possible audience ensuring that works from our rich and varied collection travel safely, sustainably and look their very best when on display. Your work will play a vital role in delivering our wider strategy, supporting our Public Offer, equalities, and environmental priorities.

You’ll help preserve the collection while enabling us to deliver a generous lending programme from our diverse collections, also an ambitious number of exhibitions across our galleries. Through research and outreach, you will deepen knowledge of the collection and help attract new audiences to engage with it.

This is more than just a conservation role. It is an opportunity to make a lasting difference to the way we care for, understand and share our collection.

About the Touring Programme

National Galleries of Scotland is launching an ambitious international touring programme contributing to our aim to make art work for everyone. This new initiative builds on past touring success and increases opportunities for the collection to be shared with audiences across the world. The touring programme is also part of our strategy to grow our income to ensure our future financial sustainability.

Work has already begun and we are recruiting a number of posts to support taking the touring programme forward. The programme will run initially to 31 March 2030. The success of the initiative will determine next steps for both the programme and the team supporting it.

You will help to deliver this ambitious new initiative. This is an excellent opportunity for a results‑driven individual to demonstrate their impact and contribute to shaping the success of the programme.

The closing date for completed applications is 12 noon on Thursday, 12 November2026.

At the National Galleries of Scotland we’re committed to embedding Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in the way we work. We want everyone to feel a sense of belonging and freedom to be themselves at work or at play with us. Take a look at our Equality, Inclusion and Diversity priorities and commitments for more information.

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