Senior Conservator (FTC until April 2028)

National Museums; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Meaningful work

Career growth

Work/life balance

Healthcare cash plan

Wellbeing support

Pension

Job summary

National Museums is looking for a Senior Conservator (FTC until April 2028) to lead a team at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, delivering collections moves as part of the Masterplan.

You will review, stabilise and pack objects for transport to a storage facility, while planning workflows and coordinating with contractors. A strong focus on RAMS and stakeholder management is essential, with on-site work and occasional unsocial hours.

Qualifications

• Solid, practical conservation experience with 3D objects and handling.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team delivering collections moves and manage object processing for transport.
• Review and stabilise objects, pack for transfer to storage facilities.
• Plan workflows, manage schedules and RAMS with internal and external stakeholders.
• Maintain professional standards and stay proactive under tight deadlines.

Skills

Team leadership

Project planning

Problem solving

Stakeholder management

3D object conservation

Job description

Details:

Location: Manchester, Greater Manchester

Category: Collections Care

Salary: Up to £36043 per annum + 17-month fixed term contract

Contract type: Contract Temporary

Hours: Full time

Telephone: [phone]

Senior Conservator (FTC until April 2028)

Do you enjoy the practical side of conservation and relish a complex logistical challenge? Are you ready to lead a team moving the Science and Industry Museum's collections to their new home?

About us

The Science and Industry Museum is devoted to inspiring our visitors through ideas that change the world, from the Industrial Revolution to today and beyond. It's a story that we're uniquely placed to tell - on the site of the oldest surviving passenger railway station, in the heart of the world's first industrial city, today alive with innovative discoveries in science and technology.

About the role

The Conservation & Collections Care team (C&CC) support all conservation activity across the collection and are responsible for establishing and maintaining conservation and collection care standards. As the Senior Conservator (Masterplan Project) based at the Science and Industry Museum, you will be responsible for leading a team assembled to deliver collections moves as part of changes to collections storage.

You will work to lead and manage the team's time to successfully review and process a range of collections in storage, stabilise and pack the objects ready for transport to the Science Museum Group's storage facility.

This team will work in a complex and varied environment. The work will require a level of physical activity, manual handling and dexterity. You will need to have a flexible, pragmatic approach to work, be a keen problem-solver, and be highly proactive. You will be a confident stakeholder manager, representing conservation on the project to both internal and external stakeholders. You will need effective planning and organisational skills with a practical approach and the ability to prioritise and maintain attention to detail.

Most of the work will be onsite to fulfil the responsibilities of the role.

This is a full-time, 17-month fixed-term role (35 hours per week) based onsite at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester. You may occasionally need to work unsocial hours to support object moves, and you'll be given time off in lieu for these.

About you

We're keen to see applications from candidates who have solid, practical conservation experience with 3D objects, including condition reporting, remedial treatment, and getting objects ready for transport and storage. You'll be an effective team leader who can keep a project running: setting schedules, planning workflows and managing the team's time so that objects are processed efficiently without dropping professional standards. You'll be comfortable working with internal colleagues and external contractors, reviewing RAMS and making sure everyone on site knows what's expected. Experience of collections moves, decants or large install/de-install projects, or of line managing a team, would be a real bonus, but it isn't essential.

This is a practical, physically involved role. The collections are stored in the basement, so you'll sometimes be carrying objects and equipment up and down stairs, and much of the day involves manual handling and careful, dexterous work. You'll be comfortable with that, and you'll bring a good working knowledge of UK Health & Safety practice around manual handling, lifting equipment, power tools and collections hazards. Above all, we'd love to hear from pragmatic, self-starting problem-solvers who stay calm under tight deadlines, make decisions based on evidence, and enjoy supporting and motivating the people around them.

What we offer

• Meaningful work. We are a mission-led organisation where the work you do supports us in Inspiring Futures.
• Career growth. We offer enhanced support with personal and professional development.
• Work/life balance. We offer 27 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays, along with flexible policies which support you and your home life.
• Healthcare cash plan. Digital health tools, gym discounts and cashback towards your everyday healthcare costs.
• All our colleagues can access an employee assistance programme and other wellbeing support.
• Colleague networks. Our colleague-led networks are an informal forum for colleagues to come together to discuss topics of shared interest and lived experience. They create a space for people to exchange ideas, discuss best practice, socialise and build a sense of community.
• Enhanced contributory pension. To support you in saving for the future.
• Interest-free loans. When you need a little extra cash for life events or home improvements.
• Great discounts. Free entry to exhibitions, discounts in our shops and cafes, and access to other museums in the NMDC network.

Open for All is one of the Science Museum Group's five core values and sets out our important aspiration to be a place for everyone. We are working hard to understand our organisation better and to develop a culture that recognises and values different backgrounds, mindsets, skills, experience, knowledge, and expertise. By having greater diversity, we believe that we will be a stronger and better organisation, capable to continue to Inspire Futures.

National Museum Directors' Council, National Museums Liverpool, World Museum, WilliamBrown Street, Liverpool, L3 8EN